Project management methodologies: Agile vs. Waterfall

The Role of Project Management (PM) in Software Development

Project Management is pivotal in driving the development process. PM involves planning, executing, and closing projects. It ensures the project stays on schedule, within budget, and meets quality standards. PM methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, and Lean are often used in Agile environments, emphasising continuous improvement and efficiency.

 

Agile vs. Waterfall Methodologies

Agile is a flexible, iterative approach to software development. It emphasises collaboration, customer feedback, and small, rapid releases. Key features include:

• Iterative Development: Software is developed in small increments with frequent deliveries.

• Collaboration: Close collaboration between the development team and stakeholders is encouraged.

• Adaptability: Agile is adaptable to changing requirements even late in the development process.

 

Waterfall is a more traditional, linear approach to software development. It is characterised by:

• Sequential Phases: The development process is divided into distinct phases (requirements, design, implementation, verification, maintenance).

• Detailed Documentation: Each phase has specific deliverables and a review process.

• Predictability: Waterfall suits projects with well-defined requirements and less likelihood of change.

 

Summary

Given the complex nature of software development, and the fact that it is common for the scope to change mid-project, Coreblue favours the Agile methodology but ultimately the choice between Agile and Waterfall depends on project requirements, team size, stakeholder involvement, and flexibility needs. Agile is suited for projects requiring a degree of flexibility and implementation of feedback, while Waterfall is ideal for projects with well-defined, unchanging requirements.