Dive into the Battle of Titans Agile vs. Waterfall.pdf

Dive into the Battle of Titans:
Agile vs. Waterfall
Published on: March 18, 2024
It is far easier said than done to wrap up a project on schedule, within
budget & scope, as anyone who has ever worked on one can attest,
whether as a project manager or a member of the larger project team.
Numerous systemic or external issues might impede a project's
development, and their effects on the project's outcome can be profound.
As it goes, "Creating the desired project management model is essential
to ensure your project operates well."
There are advantages and disadvantages to both the widely used project
management frameworks, waterfall and agile. It is your responsibility as a
project manager to decide on the best strategy based on the
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requirements of your team and the specifics of the project. Whichever
model you choose, flexibility is needed for modifying to altering work
settings.
Hence, in this MarsDevs article, we will examine the benefits and
drawbacks of waterfall and agile project management & what each offers
in terms of producing fruitful results. So, let’s get started!
Content Highlights
Agile vs. Waterfall: At a Glance
Agile vs. Waterfall: The Differences
Agile vs Waterfall: When to use what?
Agile vs Waterfall: How To Choose the Right Methodology?
In Conclusion
Agile vs. Waterfall: At a Glance
The two software development methodologies that are often utilized to
complete projects are Agile and Waterfall. Agile uses a technique that is
iterative & adapts as the project moves forward. In contrast, Waterfall
requires that requirements be satisfied to advance to the next phase.
The benefits of each of these project management approaches vary
greatly depending on the type of project. While Waterfall forces teams to
complete each phase before moving on to the next, Agile allows teams to
collaborate across stages at the same time. Let’s know some more about
them.
Agile Methodology - Building software
quickly and efficiently

Agile development is an incremental, iterative software development
process that prioritizes client happiness, adaptability, and teamwork. Its
foundation is the Agile Manifesto, which was drafted in 2001 by a team of
programmers.
Agile development's primary objective is to generate functional software
while upholding high-quality standards. As developers put it, “Agile teams
design, develop & test new features through brief "sprints" or iterations.
Additionally, they remain in continual contact with stakeholders or clients
to gain their input & ensure that the finished product satisfies their
expectations.”
Agile development is far more flexible and readily adapts to changes than
waterfall development. Additionally, it works better on projects with
ambiguous criteria or those that can change over time.
Waterfall Methodology - A direct concept to
software development

Software development is traditionally approached in a linear manner
using the waterfall methodology. Each project phase in a waterfall project
must be finished before going on to the next. If modifications are required
in the latter stages of the project, this can frequently result in delays and
dissatisfaction since previous stages may need to be reviewed.
A sequential design process frequently used in software development
processes, the Waterfall model envisions progress through the phases of
conception, initiation, analysis, design, construction, testing,
production/implementation, and maintenance as flowing downwards (like
a waterfall).
Agile vs. Waterfall: The Differences

The primary difference between waterfall and agile development is that
waterfall projects don’t have flexibility since all planning and requirement
collecting is completed at the outset, leaving little opportunity for revision
or adaptation later. In contrast, agile emphasizes flexibility and delivering
work in iterations and increments. Let’s look at some critical differences.
Roles: Waterfall allocates team members to projects in an orderly way,
giving each member a clear set of tasks and responsibilities. On the other
hand, the agile approach fosters a more self-organizing team structure by
enabling team members to work together on various project components
throughout time.
Planning: Planning in a waterfall process is a sequential process that
starts at the start of the project and involves outlining all needs and goals
in great detail. Agile planning, on the other hand, is a continuous process
that is modified when new needs or information become available during
the project's life cycle.
Project time frames: The waterfall approach is intended for lengthy
projects with set deadlines. Each project stage depends on the one before

it and is performed linearly. On the other hand, Agile employs brief
iterations to produce value quickly, enabling teams to make changes to
their plans over time and complete tasks in less time.
Speed: Because all needs must be agreed upon before development can
start, waterfall projects often take longer. On the other side, agile uses
iterative development cycles, and projects are completed faster than
waterfall ones.
Delivery: Agile makes it possible to complete projects more quickly since
each iteration produces a usable result. Before any work is published,
waterfall demands that all tasks be completed.
Testing: The waterfall and agile processes depend heavily on testing, yet
their methods are different. Incremental testing is emphasized by Agile to
find and fix problems as they arise during the development process. In a
waterfall project, testing is completed at predetermined project
milestones, frequently toward the end.
Agile vs Waterfall: When to use
what?

Frequently, the project manager isn’t the one who decides when to utilize
waterfall vs. agile. The best indicator of how you will manage your projects
based on organizational procedures. It isn't always the ideal method to
tackle this subject, as every project has distinct requirements. You cannot
choose the perfect concept without having extra information about the
project and its background.
Take into account the following while assessing methodologies:
Size of the project
Duration
Complexity
Ways of working at your organization
Clients or stakeholders, external and internal
So, use waterfall for:
Dealing with outside entities in situations when extensive cooperation
would not be feasible

Projects with set parameters for time, money, and scope
Smaller, more manageable, and well-defined projects
Projects involving non-engaged clients
However, agile is most preferred for:
Projects in which your company is in charge of the complete
procedure
Situations where there is room for requirements to change
Massive, unclear, more challenging projects
Projects involving a client
Agile vs Waterfall: How To Choose
the Right Methodology?
When deciding between Waterfall and Agile, there are several things to
consider. Here are some things to think about:
Does your project have any stringent rules or specifications? Because
each phase's deliverables and tight processes guarantee that get
accomplished, waterfall projects are better suited for those with
restrictions or requirements. Since safety is a primary concern, several
industries—such as the Department of Defense and the aerospace sector
—would adopt Waterfall over Agile.
Dr. Chris Mattmann explains, “Agile methodology is for IT firms that fail &
move rapidly, types of destinations where you can operate parallelly in
multiple phases.”
In the end, imagine how involved the project owners or stakeholders will be
while choosing between Agile and Waterfall. Projects with closely involved

stakeholders at every stage are better suited for the agile methodology.
There won’t be much freedom with the waterfall project management
process since it is more organized.
In Conclusion
The waterfall and agile project management methodologies have unique
benefits that might suit your project team. By combining the best features
of both approaches—Waterfall and Agile project management—a blended
approach might outperform them in terms of communication and
expectations while avoiding some inherent limitations.
Combining the two frameworks allows project managers to use different
approaches at different project stages. For example, Waterfall may be a
better general framework choice for project managers.
Individual team members like agile methods because they produce better
results at desired project milestones. Allowing team members to choose
the framework that best suits their particular roles will allow us to optimize
both Waterfall and Agile methodologies concurrently, enhancing our
digital transformation process.
Do you have more questions? MarsDevs can answer! Reach out to us at
MarsDevs & we are happy to help you.
FAQ
1. Agile vs. Waterfall: What’s the Difference?
There are two common approaches to project management: agile and
waterfall. A more conventional method of project management that
follows a linear flow is called waterfall. Agile, in contrast, values iterative
development. It calls for quick thinking and extreme adaptability.

2. Which method is more successful - Agile/waterfall?
Statistics unequivocally demonstrate that agile approaches routinely
produce more successful projects than the waterfall model, considering
the extent to which the constraints are accomplished.
3. When Agile should not be used?
Agile is not ideal for projects that must meet extremely stringent
standards are legal & regulatory. In these situations, the specifications and
deadlines for delivery are concise & there are usually consequences for
not meeting them.
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