Waterfall Model for Software Development Processes, Waterfall VS Agile

Project management includes the navigation of countless processes and resources. Everyone wants to get the best outcome based on what he has and create the best product or service to present to the customers.

To ensure the project is progressing according to plans and you are covering every aspect of the project lifecycle, every company integrates one of the many project management methodologies or their combinations. The Waterfall model stands next to the Agile method in its popularity in software engineering.

This software development methodology was developed in the 1970s and has been widely used ever since. In this article, you will learn what a Waterfall model is and its different phases and compare it to the Agile methodology.

The Definition of Waterfall Methodology

Waterfall methodology, or a Waterfall model, is a software or product development process used for even the most complex projects, where one phase continuously proceeds into the next one, which resembles a waterfall. The next phase can not begin before the previous one is fully completed.

Every development phase is thoroughly planned in advance with detailed documentation, possible outcomes, and necessary resources. The Waterfall method does not provide the flexibility like Agile.

However, the Waterfall model relies on profound analytics and more accurate estimations. This allows teams to meet project requirements, deadlines, and planned resources.

Waterfall Model Features

The waterfall process is mostly applied in software development projects that have strict deadlines and require a structured approach. There are 4 main features of waterfall projects that help ensure successful completion.

Quality Assurance

The waterfall model implies quality control and acceptance testing throughout every process phase of the software development life cycle. Such processes ensure successful project delivery and high customer satisfaction.

Sequential Approach

The sequential approach is a feature of a waterfall model in software development projects where each project phase is finished before the next one starts.

Upfront planning

The waterfall model includes detailed upfront planning, which includes calculating project scope, deadlines, and resources that are meticulously defined as well as monitored throughout the software development lifecycle.

Documentation-Based

The waterfall model is based on thorough documentation. This is necessary to ensure the project team has an outlined set of goals and a clear understanding of the process.

Phases of the Waterfall Model

Since waterfall project management is based on the sequential approach, there is a specific set of phases you need to complete. Make sure to take this fact into consideration when choosing an approach.

Waterfall model phases must be finished in a specific order. We have listed each of them to help you and your development team get a hold of the entire process.

Requirements Phase

The first phase of the Waterfall model is the requirement. During this stage, project managers determine the project scope, complete the necessary analytics, and gather all the data team members might require to reach the desired outcomes.

Waterfall project management methodology implements tasks dependency on the previous phases. This is why detailed planning is a crucial base of the approach and takes up most of the project's timeline.

The first step of a successful waterfall process is outlining a thorough plan that covers every phase. The furnished file is commonly named a project requirements document and must include the following:

• project phase outline;

• team task allocation throughout the entire project;

• task and phase every team member will be working on;

• project timeline, as well as deadlines for every phase;

• list of all necessary resources;

• additional details for every stage.

Getting started with tasks & projects

Enter your email to download a guide that will get you started with any project management software.

You acknowledge that you have read and understood Bitrix24 Privacy Policy

Software System Design Phase

The next stage of the waterfall development model is the design phase. Here, the team ensures the software will comply with the functional and performative requirements set by the customer. The specifications include processes like:

• choosing the programming language;

• unit testing;

• creating blueprints of the software parts;

• outlining potential milestones;

• creating the project of the final product.

The design phase can also be divided into 2 other phases: high-level and low-level design. In the high-level design phase, team members work on the general software system architecture and data access pathways.

In the low-level design phase, the focus is on developing more explicit parts of the product. The waterfall project management process requires team members to constantly document their actions to monitor the progress.

Implementation Phase

The implementation phase of the Waterfall approach is the step where all planning turns into action. The actual software development process starts based on the results of the requirements and design phase.

All actions use the requirements document and system architecture as guidelines. The software engineers focus on coding and unit testing to measure progress until they create the product the customer is satisfied with.

To sum up, the developers and project managers are working on the following:

• resource allocation;

• task assignment;

• unit testing;

• coding;

• additional data collection.

Testing Phase

The next step of the Waterfall process is to hand the project over to the system testing team. The quality assurance (QA) testers review the software in search of potential errors and bugs before they finish the project.

In case any issues are found, the team must stand back to the previous phase to fix the software development project. During the testing, every error must be documented. Such notes can be used in the future to solve similar problems.

Deployment Phase

The next phase of the waterfall method is deployment to the final software used. This is the step of the product launch when it becomes available to the public.

This phase is a focus of the marketing team since they are the ones building anticipation among the potential customers. The responsibility of the development team is to make sure the final version of the software is ready.

Maintenance Phase

After the deployment is over, the maintenance phase begins. Many buds are discovered by the customers after the launch, and your team must be prepared to act when needed.

This part of the software development life cycle is usually continuously ongoing. The system requires constant updates and new fixes to keep the system running smoothly.

Benefits of the Waterfall Development Process

There are several benefits of applying the waterfall methodology to your project management.

Easy Project Progress Tracking

Waterfall projects are often outlined in a Gantt chart. With an outline timeline showing each phase, managers can easily track what stage the project is on.

Documentation for Backtracking

Waterfall methodology implies thorough documentation filling at every phase. This makes it easy to backtrack in case of errors that were not located initially. The records can also be used to train new team members and prevent bugs in other projects.

Better Time Management

Upfront planning in the early stages of the project management approach helps establish deadlines and time requirements for each task before the implementation starts. This allows for more accurate workload distribution and precise time estimation for the client and stakeholders.

Easy Replication

After successfully delivering the software, the process can be replicated for similar projects in the future.

Lower Project Risks

Planning ahead with the Waterfall method allows us to predict most of the risks. The developers can notice the errors in the early stages, which eliminates the need to adjust the coding.

Disadvantages of the Waterfall Methodology

Waterfall methodology also has some limitations and disadvantages. It is the perfect option for projects with mostly predictable processes.

Yet, if there are multiple variables, this approach might not be the best choice. This is why numerous project managers working on less complex projects or software in the new industry use the Agile methodology. Let's look into the disadvantages of a waterfall project.

Changes due to Client's Requests

Since there is no communication with the client until the project delivery, the launch can cause numerous extra change requests. The customer might require a new feature, a different design, or major software modifications. This can cause launch errors as well as additional expenses.

Prolonged Project Delivery

Waterfall projects could take much longer to complete when compared to more flexible methods like Agile. The sequential approach does not allow working on tasks from different phases at the same time, which can lead to significant delays.

No Flexibility

Unfortunately, the waterfall approach can let the team down in case of an unexpected change. Any issue can diminish the progress made in the current phase, taking the team back.

Phase Dependency

When there is an error in one phase, the entire process is put on hold. Until the said issue is resolved, the team cannot continue with the next phase. In some circumstances, the issue can appear in the early steps, which leads to moving back 2 or 3 phases, influencing the progress made.

Lack of Customer Feedback

One of the main problems is the possibility of low customer satisfaction. Even if it seems that you have discussed everything with the client at the initial stage, your views of the final product can differ significantly. After the implementation is over, not much can be adjusted, yet the result cannot meet the customer's expectations.

Waterfall Model VS Agile Project Management

Both Agile and Waterfall methodologies are commonly used as project management approaches. Both have the same final goal, which is delivering a high-quality product to the client with excellent execution.

Agile is a more flexible and iterative process that allows multi-pase teamwork throughout the project. Here are the main differences between these project management approaches:

Why Do Most Teams Choose Agile Methodology?

Though both Agile and Waterfall Methodology have been around for quite a while, changes in how work processes are established nowadays make many managers choose Agile methodology, no matter the project complexity. The more flexible approach seems to have better results when it comes to modern software development.

Teams tend to choose Agile methods because of the following features of the methodology:

• Constant Feedback: This methodology allows us to gather continuous feedback throughout the process. It can be provided by the customer, stakeholders as well as other team members. This allows for timely improvement and bug fixing, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

• Adapting to adjustments: In such an approach, any change does not influence the previous stages, and the next steps can be navigated. This way, the team will be choosing the best course of action based on the circumstances.

• Better communication and collaboration: Though every team member has assigned tasks, other employees can provide insight and help with analytics. This allows for a stronger connection to the project and better involvement throughout every step.

Agile and Waterfall Project Management Software

Managing an Agile or Waterfall project requires constant monitoring, thorough preparation, and effective resource allocation. There are many other processes involved in management and development tasks. This makes it hard to manually navigate every action and keep track of what has been completed.

Lack of appropriate management and organization can lead to missed deadlines, easy phases starting, and constant errors. Here's where specific software comes in handy.

Every project management tool has its own list of features that can be useful for software development. However, you must look into the ones necessary for reaching your specific goals.

The best software option is a CRM. It has a vast number of tools for your project. These can be both cloud- or desktop-based. The main purpose of the software is to:

• Workload distribution;

• Setting calendars and schedules;

• Outlining the project plan;

• Identifying the bugs;

• Progress Monitoring.

Best Waterfall Project Management Software Features

All software provided different sets of features. When looking for your best option to implement into project management, look for the ones that can help ease project processes.

Bitrix24 is one of the best CRMs presented on the market. This all-in-one tool has everything you might need to establish Agile or a Waterfall method. It provides assistance for all company teams throughout the entire product life cycle, including product development.

Planning

Bitrix24 CRM provides access to the roadmaps and charts to outline every phase of the sprint of the project. You can highlight the priority tasks and add responsible parties.

Monitoring

This software includes features like Gantt charts, roadmaps, calendars, Kanban, and much more to help you monitor the project and keep track of the completed tasks.

General Management

Implement effective cost tracking, analytics, and time management into your working processes. Use numerous collaboration tools, templates, and to-do lists to improve effectiveness.

A shared online store allows you to keep all detailed documentation and provide access to all the involved parties without the need to go through the pile of paper files. It even has a mobile app so your team can access the necessary information on the way.

Assistance for your Team Members

Your employees can have access to the shared calendar to navigate personal tasks and availability. Communication channels allow for necessary assistance and help the team to stay on the same page.

Conclusion

Whether you choose an Agile or Waterfall methodology is completely up to you and your team. Analyze the project and its goals and discuss the best course of action with the team.

To effectively establish all the processes, choose the right software. It can help you get rid of the manual workload and lead you through every step to successful product delivery.

Getting started with tasks & projects

Enter your email to download a guide that will get you started with any project management software.

You acknowledge that you have read and understood Bitrix24 Privacy Policy