Waterfall or Agile - which project management methodology is better?

Project management is an essential element of a successful business. Companies of all sizes are increasingly turning to both Waterfall and Agile project management methodologies to better manage the development of a project. 

But how does one decide which methodology is more suitable for the project?

In this post, we'll explore the differences between Waterfall and Agile project management methodologies, and highlight the key factors you should consider when choosing one over the other. 

Waterfall

Waterfall project management is a linear project management methodology that is also known as a “predictive” or “traditional” approach. This approach plans the project upfront taking into account all factors like budget, timeline, resources and normal business schedules. Each step is planned out in sequence from start to finish and it may even take into account any potential risks or issues that may arise. 

The key benefit of using the Waterfall method is that it allows for more efficient coordination and a better understanding of the project scope, making it easier to track progress.

Pros:

• A simple and structured framework
  Developing software in line with the pre-defined steps of the Waterfall method gives a simple and easy-to-understand framework, making it easy to manage each step of the development process.

• Easy to measure progress
  As the Waterfall project methodology follows a linear plan, it can be relatively easy to measure and track progress through the development process.

• Minimises risks
  As each phase must be completed before the next can begin, bugs can usually be fixed quickly, minimising the risks of release delays.

Cons: 

• Expensive mistakes can be made
  The linear nature of the Waterfall project methodology can lead to costly delays and mistakes late in the development cycle if early requirements are incorrect.
  
  
• No room for changes
  Without changes in requirements, the Waterfall project methodology does not allow for any changes in the later phases of the project. If a requirement is not clear in the beginning, the entire project can be compromised.
   
• Little feedback
  The Waterfall project methodology can be prone to, if unmanaged, not allowing for any feedback until too late in the process, leaving the development team unable to course-correct it if a requirement is incorrect.

Agile

Agile project management is more iterative in nature and is based on higher levels of customer interaction. In this type of environment, stakeholders are more involved throughout the process in order to help prioritise tasks and then feedback is collected to determine what should be changed or improved. 

This approach allows for more flexibility in the project timeline and reduces the risk of unforeseen delays or other unknowns. Agile also encourages teamwork and problem-solving, and collaboration among all stakeholders.

Generally, for small teams, Agile methodology is usually considered the best choice as it encourages collaboration and quick iteration while providing greater visibility throughout the project. Agile is also better suited for quickly changing requirements, shorter projects, and projects that require frequent feedback.

Pros:

• Flexible
  Agile project management methodology is flexible and emphasises continuous iteration and improvement throughout the development process. This allows for quick responsiveness to changes in customer requirements or changes in the market and helps teams move quickly to adapt to changes.
  
  
• Transparent
  Agile encourages open communication and transparency in every aspect of the development process. This also helps to reduce the bureaucracy of traditional Waterfall project management and improve collaboration across the team.
  
  
• User Focus
  Agile puts the user at the centre of the development process and encourages feedback from the user throughout the development lifecycle. This helps the teams to continuously prioritise the feature set and focus on customer requirements.
  
  
• Empowered Teams
  Agile encourages the team to work collaboratively and move towards common goals. This helps the team stay motivated and feel empowered. 

Cons:

• Time Consumption
  Agile requires more time than traditional project management approaches. This can cause delays in timelines and increase costs for the customer. This can also be a burden to the team who may have tight deadlines to meet.
   
• Communication Issues
  Agile relies heavily on communication for effective collaboration. If communication between the customer and the team is not effective then tasks can not be effectively completed. 
  
  
• Difficulty in Estimating Costs
  Agile does not provide a reliable method for estimating costs and timelines, making it difficult to accurately budget for projects.
   
• Changes in Requirements
  Agile encourages changes in requirements throughout the development process, which can lead to confusion and delays. It can also lead to customer dissatisfaction if the customer was expecting a different outcome than what was delivered.

Choosing the right methodology for your project

Both Waterfall and Agile project management methodologies have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, and there are certain project types that are better suited to each approach.

If your project is complex and may require alterations throughout the development process, then Agile project management might be the way to go. 

Projects that require tight control over budget and timeline, or don’t lend themselves well to rapid development cycles, are better suited for the Waterfall methodology. 

When choosing between Waterfall and Agile project management, it’s important to consider the core goals of the project, the timeline and project budget, the types of stakeholders involved, and the level of customer interaction. 

Customer interaction and input both might be managed within each project management methodology. If customer input is particularly important in a project, Agile may provide the greatest value as it’s designed to accommodate changes during the project’s development. This allows customers to be engaged throughout the project and offers them the opportunity to provide feedback or suggestions as the project progresses. By contrast, the Waterfall methodology is better suited to projects with few or no changes during the development process.

For projects where customer input is less of an influence, the Waterfall method may provide the best project structure. Its highly structured process flow means that clear boundaries can be set at the start of the project and deadlines and budgets can be managed effectively. It may also be preferable if the team is formed of largely inexperienced members that need direction when working on the project.  

Ultimately, when deciding between the two project management methodologies, a company should consider the needs and abilities of the project’s stakeholders, the scope and complexity of the project and the goals that need to be achieved. By weighing these factors carefully, a company can identify which project management methodology will best suit the project. 

Can you use both?

It is possible to have a hybrid approach to project management that combines elements from Agile and Waterfall methodologies under the umbrella of a Hybrid methodology. This allows for specific tasks within the project to adhere to different approaches that best suit their needs. This type of project management works best for teams that are more comfortable with one style but need to incorporate pieces of the other, or for project objectives which are better suited to a variety of approaches.

Combining the two methods into an overall program management approach can be beneficial as it provides flexibility when responding to changes in goals and objectives, while still providing a plan to keep projects on a track optimised for customer value and rapid response to changing requirements.

The key to making this approach successful is effective communication and collaboration between the Agile and Waterfall teams, as well as with stakeholders and customers.

Q.Vate project management methodology

Qubix’s Q.Vate project management methodology combines the best aspects of Agile and Waterfall approaches to create a more efficient and successful approach. 

Q.Vate focuses on creating a balance between the speed of Agile methodology and the control of Waterfall while creating more granular feature deliverables. It takes a holistic approach to feature delivery, eliminating the patchwork of separate deliverables that are the norm in Agile approaches.

Q.Vate also takes an iterative approach to product development, allowing teams to modularise their projects into manageable chunks that are quickly verticalised and tested. This approach allows teams to focus on delivering concrete features, while also taking time to continuously review and improve the overall project.

Finally, Q.Vate structures its process to fit the specific needs of an organisation, allowing teams to customise their project methodology to meet their individual goals. This flexibility allows teams to focus their energy on developing the right product at the right time, instead of simply trying to cram a project into an arbitrary timeframe or process.

Learn more about the Q.Vate project management methodology