Project Management & Delivery Methodologies: Agile and Waterfall

 

Agile Methodology

What is it: Agile is a process by which a team can manage a project by breaking it up into several stagesand involving constant collaboration with stakeholders and continuous improvement and iteration at every stage. 

The Agile methodology begins with clients/ customers describing how the end product will be used and what problem it will solve. This give information and clarification on the expectations and criteria set by the client to the project team. 
Once the work begins, teams cycle through a process of planning, executing, and evaluating; which might change the final deliverable to fit the customer's needs better. Continuous collaboration is key and one of the main aspects of Agile methodology. This collaboration between client and the project team is advocated for continuous improvement and making fully-informed decisions.

4 main values in Agile are expressed as:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

2. Working software over comprehensive documentation

3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

4. Responding to change over following a plan

Waterfall Methodology:

What is it: The waterfall model is a linear project management approach, where stakeholder and customer requirements are gathered at the beginning of the project, and then a sequential project plan is created to accommodate those requirements. The waterfall model is so named because each phase of the project cascades into the next, following steadily down like a waterfall.

It’s a thorough, structured methodology and one that’s been around for a long time, because it works. Some of the industries that regularly use the waterfall model include construction, IT and software development. However, the term “waterfall” is usually used in a software context, but also project management techniques that were used more traditionally.

The waterfall methodology differs from Agile immensely. Where Agile is more collaborative and open to change; Waterfall can be seen as more structured and set according to a defined plan leading to inflexibilities during the projects. In contemporary workplaces, managers are seen to be adopting the Agile method of work as it is more flexible, open to change, and involves continuous improvement opportunities, this in turn also is an opportunities for team members to identify project faults and self-analysis, that leads to improvement initiatives and awareness holistically.

Thank you.