waterfall project management vs agile project

Waterfall project management vs agile project how to#
Waterfall project management vs agile project full#
Waterfall project management vs agile project professional#

Greater ability to respond to issues as they arise.

In many cases, each subsequent iteration is determined by the previous iterations.

Each section or iteration is reviewed and critiqued by the team and/or client before the next section or iteration is completed. Instead, it completes the project in a series of small sections or iterations.

In contrast, agile project management does not use a linear production method. Must be completed within a very specific timeline and budget.Have very specifically-defined requirements at the beginning of the project.Do not depend on client feedback once the projects as started.Are predictable and repeated with little variation within the company.Waterfall project management lends itself best to projects that: Ideal Waterfall Project Management Projects If the customer is somehow dissatisfied with the final project, changes can be difficult and costly to implement. There are fewer points at which the client will review the project while it’s in progress, decreasing their opportunity to monitor the outcomes.The rigid structure means any change to the project often causes the cycle to have to restart to accommodate the changes, making it significantly more difficult to be flexible.This approach only works when the requirements of a project are known.

Waterfall project management vs agile project how to#

More tasks can often take place simultaneously since they are predefined (instead of requiring the outcome of a previous task to determine how to proceed).

It is easier to replace team members on this project since the tasks and outcomes are known quantities.

Reporting and tracking are much simpler and often more accurate.

Waterfall project management vs agile project full#

Budgeting, planning, and job costing are easier since the full scope of work is determined in advance.

Planning and project design are easier since details are determined and agreed upon at the inception of the project.

These requirements are rarely revisited afterward. It is also classified as having a distinct planning phase in which project requirements are defined at the beginning of the project. Each of these phases must be completed before the next stage begins. Waterfall project management is considered a tiered project management approach in which the project is divided into distinct phases. Agile project management is a more successful choice when requirements are vague, undetermined, or dependent on other aspects of the project and in projects where clients are more participative.ĭetermining which of the two different philosophies is right for you requires understanding their pros and cons and which projects best lend themselves to which strategy. Waterfall project management is most successful in predictable environments with repeatable projects or services and little client feedback needed.

Waterfall project management vs agile project professional#

However, in the changing professional and consumer environments - especially with increasing markets, greater complexity in client needs, and industries such as SaaS providing greater flexibility for changing and updating projects - it’s becoming more important to be proficient in both waterfall and agile project management philosophies, as well as understanding which to use and when.

Which you choose is probably dependent on how you experienced project management when you were first starting in the field, what types of projects you first worked on, and your natural comfort zone and approach to tasks. Most project managers naturally lean toward either waterfall or agile project management philosophies.