In the world of project management, Agile and Waterfall have been the subject of a long-standing debate: Which is better? Does Agile's flexibility and customer-centered nature hold more weight than the thoroughness, clarity, and reliability of Waterfall?
In this article, we explore what sets Agile and Waterfall apart and the difference between determining which is the best and which is most suitable for a given project’s needs. By exploring the unique strengths and weaknesses of each approach, you’ll learn to quickly apply the right one to your work, as well as identify cases where combining both can help you achieve greater success.
What is Waterfall Project Management?
Considered the “traditional” method, the Waterfall methodology is a linear approach to project management, requiring that each phase of the project life cycle be thoroughly completed before moving to the next step.
The Waterfall method places heavy emphasis on the initiation and planning stages of a project, as the entire approach relies on having a clear, well-defined scope of work. This cascades into more precise cost projections and a more structured development cycle. However, this does not mean the approach is foolproof.
Since Waterfall requires a linear approach, it’s infamous for being inflexible to change. The further into the project life cycle you are, the greater the risk for sunk cost, as changes often require significant replanning, forcing teams to scrap previous efforts that don’t align with the new direction.
Another disadvantage of the Waterfall methodology, in comparison to the Agile methodology, is its disconnect from the market. Because the project depends on the successful completion of prior phases, it takes longer for projects to reach their intended customer, leaving little to no room for customer involvement.
What is Agile Project Management?
The Agile methodology takes a more adaptive approach to project management. Following the Agile Manifesto, this method prioritizes realizing value throughout the project, using frequent iteration and feedback loops. In many ways, Agile was built to address gaps in the Waterfall methodology.
The Agile methodology places relatively equal emphasis on each stage of the project life cycle instead of running the cycle in smaller chunks (called Sprints in Scrum). This allows teams to leverage a key component missing in the Waterfall method: customer feedback. This cascades into greater flexibility, as teams can more quickly pivot towards work that directly adds value to the customer.
Of course, not even Agile comes without risk. Where Waterfall vs. Agile methodology succeeds when scope and budgets are more fixed, Agile sacrifices certainty for flexibility, and timelines can exceed projections to meet changing requirements. This cascades into risk in projects where budgets are especially tight, as funding can run out before a full product launch is reached.
Which Model Do I Use?
Many struggle to choose between Agile project management vs Waterfall, and for good reason: every project is unique, and we established that neither approach is completely without risk.
For the same reasons, the answer is simple: it depends.
Below, we created a list of considerations you can use to determine whether Waterfall vs Agile is best suited to your project’s needs.
When To Use Agile Methodology
Agile works best in projects with greater uncertainty concerning the three pillars of project management: scope, budget, and, most importantly, time. As a rule of thumb, an Agile approach is likely your best bet when at least two of those factors require flexibility.
Another case for Agile that isn’t talked about enough is whether or not customer goodwill is important to the final product, which can be said of most products and live services. This coincides with the need for flexible scope, as customer needs can rapidly change both during and after a product is delivered. This is further reinforced by incorporating feedback loops throughout the project life cycle instead of waiting until the end to evaluate customer satisfaction.
The rise of SaaS is prime real estate for Agile vs Waterfall, and the same applies to customer-centered industries like advertising and marketing.
When to Use the Waterfall Method
In contrast to Agile, the Waterfall method works best where a strong structure is required or there are heavy constraints in terms of time, budget, or scope. If your project has heavy regulatory requirements or expects little to no changes to the original plan, use Waterfall project management instead of Agile.
Regulation is king in Waterfall, which works best in industries like construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and government. The common thread between industries benefiting from Waterfall is the emphasis on legal compliance, due process, and heavy documentation—buildings and other infrastructure must have strong, code-compliant foundations, and manufacturing projects have strictly linear processes.
Using a Hybrid Approach
As mentioned above, every project is unique, and with the rise of highly specialized industries, project management continues to grow in complexity rapidly. The line between traditional and modern industries, as well as physical and digital media, continues to blur every day, which can make choosing between the Waterfall and Agile models extra tricky.
Enter the hybrid model.
Here’s a summary of how Waterfall and Agile are best combined in the project life cycle:
Use Waterfall in the Initiation and Planning Phases
With any project, it’s important to have a clear set of goals, informing the final product's key features and selling points. This creates a strong sense of direction, and clearly documenting this vision ensures that all other planning aligns with this value proposition.
Use Agile in the Execution and Control Phases
The biggest advantage of Agile development vs Waterfall is the inclusion of feedback in development. This helps mitigate the sunk cost issue of Waterfall while capitalizing on customer involvement and goodwill as early and as often as possible. The regular feedback loops also benefit the development team in this regard, and collaboration becomes easier because learning is shared and applied in a timely manner.
Use Waterfall in the Closure Phase
A comprehensive plan backed by a flexible approach to development cuts away most of the challenges in closing projects. Important regulatory and security requirements are more likely to have been covered by a Waterfall planning method, and compliance and customer satisfaction are given due importance throughout an Agile development cycle. This removes most of your roadblocks to a successful launch if not all of them.
By strategically implementing the structured planning of Waterfall with the flexibility of Agile in your projects, you can reap the benefits of both across various projects.
Manage Projects Your Way with Workamajig
Whether a Waterfall, Agile, or hybrid approach is best for you, it’s important to equip yourself with the right tools to succeed.
With Workamajig, the premier project management software, you have an all-in-one solution for creating your project timeline and seamlessly transitioning into task and resource management. Scope projects and allocate resources with ease, then use built-in collaboration and reporting tools to ensure that your team stays on top of the work, completing tasks and addressing roadblocks along the way.