Waterfall Vs. Agile: Which is more suited to your Organisation?

The most important phase before starting a project begins with selecting an implementation method that is better suited to your needs. Nowadays, there are two popular strategies used for project implementation; namely Waterfall and Agile. Both of these methodologies come with their own set of unique advantages and disadvantages. In order to truly decide between the two project management methodologies, we need to look closely into how they actually function.

Properties of Waterfall: 

Traditionally, the Waterfall method follows a strict planning schedule. The most important thing in the Waterfall method, and perhaps the biggest difference between the two, lies in the fact that Waterfall has no feedback loop. The gathering and documentation of data, meeting to discuss the fulfillment of customer’s needs, testing of codes followed by system and user acceptance tests, fixing any issues found with the products and finally, delivering the good to the consumer remain free of any customer feedback loop. This means that if a customer is unhappy with the final deliverable, then the project has to extend its deadline and go back to earlier phases to fix these problems according to the new feedback.

Properties of Agile:

Agile, on the other hand, is most notable for its frequent feedback loops, which keep the consumer involved along all the stages of the production process. This saves on both time and money if utilised correctly by the organisation. Agile is also free from strict scheduling, and documentation also takes a back-seat as the customer retains the ability to review the work as it progresses. Even teamwork in Agile follows a different pattern than Waterfall, with the Agile method not adhering to any strict structure. All members of the team are interchangeable so the work continues at a faster pace and there is no need for a sole project manager.

How to choose between Agile and Waterfall:

In order to finalise your decision between the two, it is necessary to know and analyse the needs of your customer. If your customer is available and present throughout the developmental process, then Agile would be a more suitable method.

Agile also comes out on top with reference to the scope and features of the product. This is because 9 times out of 10, the consumer will have some feedback that will require for minor adjustments or revamping of the product. Keeping this in mind, adaptability might be a more useful quality rather than adherence to outlines indicated in the initial phase of the project, where it is often times difficult for the customer to visualise the entire product beforehand.

The size and integration of your team can also help determine which method would be better suited to the completion of your project. If your team is highly integrated and small in size, it might be more beneficial to go with Agile. This also means that if your team is not located in the same place then coordination might be slightly more difficult (although this issue can be somewhat taken care of through webcams and online collaboration). In case you have a large team that requires coordination only at the hand-off stages, then the Waterfall methodology would be more suitable in helping you meet your project objectives.

Agile also involves feature prioritisation, so that the more expensive of the features are implemented first. This reduces the risk of having an unusable project once funding runs out and can ensure some level of success of the product. The Waterfall methodology follows an ‘All or Nothing Approach’, such that all the agreed upon features that are mentioned in the initial contract are catered to. This increases the risk of failure of the project. However, it is very rare for a consumer to be satisfied with a project that is imperfect or partially done so Waterfall might be a better approach in this regard.

If funding is not fixed, then Agile is a more suitable approach otherwise the Waterfall methodology would be better due to its adherence to stick to Fixed Price contracts.

Ultimately, the decision to choose between the more traditional Waterfall approach or the relevantly current Agile Methodology is completely up to you. Take note of your organisational structure and pick the method most suitable for you accordingly in order to achieve the best results.