Agile vs. Waterfall Project Management Methodology: 9 Key Differences

What if you had to book an Uber through mail and there was no option available to pay online? You may skip booking it! 

But did you know this was how people used to book cabs through Uber in 2010? At that time, Uber was just a web-based transportation app developed using PHP.

However, as Uber started growing, it became difficult to manage requests through email. That's when Uber adopted agile principles and launched a minimum viable product after doing research. And the rest is history. The Agile project management approach helped Uber build the application you see today. 

But what exactly is an agile project management approach? To understand it, let’s first understand project management. Project management is a methodology used to manage and execute a project to achieve specific goals within a defined timeframe.

There are 2 most commonly used project management approaches today: waterfall and agile. In this blog, you will learn about them and their pros and cons. You will also find out which framework is best for your project's needs.

Waterfall Project Management

In a waterfall project management approach, each phase of a project is completed before shifting to the next one. The project here follows a linear, sequential process. Thus, the progress flows downward and is divided into different phases.

You cannot go to the second phase without completing the first one. 

Key points to consider:

• It offers low flexibility
• Completing deliverables before moving on to next phase
• Goals needs to be decided in the beginning
• It requires highly structured team, a hands-on project manager,

Benefits and Limitations of Waterfall Project Management

Agile Project Management

In 2001, a group of developers decided to find a methodology that provided more flexibility, resulting in the discovery of Agile principles.

The agile software development approach breaks down the project into different deliverable pieces. Each of these time bound phases is called a sprint and is completed in a few weeks. Teams can also work on each phase concurrently. It focuses on continued delivery that involves customer feedback.

With constantly changing business scenarios, agile principles give flexibility to make changes and iterate during the entire development process.

Key points to consider:

• It offers high flexibility.
• It allows constant client involvement
• It has shorter deadlines 
• It requires highly adaptable team with team members that can play various roles as needed

Benefits and Limitations of Agile Project Management

Agile vs. Waterfall: Comparison Chart

Agile vs. Waterfall: Which One is Best for You

The agile and waterfall custom software development methodologies have their own perks and drawbacks. And the decision to select one completely depends on your project's needs. Let’s see which type of project needs which approach to help you make a better decision.

Waterfall Project Management is Appropriate When;

• Your project has some strict regulations or requirements. Each phase is documented in detail in waterfall approach, which ensures the requirements are met.
• Small or highly focused projects 
• Projects with clear scope and predictable timeline
• Repeatable projects that follow a linear sequence of execution. 

Agile Project Management is Appropriate When

• You are uncertain about timeline, budget, and resources of a project
• You have strict time constraints, as agile principles often allow for faster delivery of working software in incremental iterations. 
• You need the ability to respond to changes and incorporate feedback throughout the development process 
• You desire a high level of client involvement

Choosing the Right Approach Makes All the Difference

Looking at both methods, you may find agile a better option, but remember that not every project is suitable for the same. 

If you need more flexibility, complex or changing requirements, high levels of uncertainty, and a need for frequent customer feedback, you can consider being agile. However, in case of well-defined requirements, clear goals, and a need for a more hands-off approach, waterfall is the best. 

Thus, the best approach depends on the specific needs and characteristics of your project. If you need help deciding the approach or want a custom software development solution using these methodologies, we can help. 

At Prioxis, we have successfully helped many businesses decide and develop projects using these methodologies, and your business can be the next. You can contact us and get a personalized, no obligation session to help you decide which one to go for.