Comparing Agile and Waterfall: Differences between two project management models
Agile and Waterfall are two popular project management methods, especially in the field of software development. Each method has its own characteristics suitable for each specific type of project. In this article, 1C Vietnam will compare Agile and Waterfall as well as distinguish the differences between these two methods.
1. What is the Agile model? Advantages and limitations of this model
The Agile model has become one of the most popular concepts in recent years, applied in project management by many large corporations such as Amazon, IBM, Dell, Spotify and Mozilla.
Agile project management is an iterative model: Enterprises divide a large project into sub-projects (sprints) and execute these projects in parallel. Each sprint usually goes through the following stages:
- Planning.
- Solution design.
- Programming/Implementation.
- Test.
- Check.
- Released.
During that process, products and arising problems will be created and handled continuously. At the end of each sprint, the person responsible for the project and relevant teams will evaluate the results and make timely adjustments. This process will be repeated until the project is completed.
Advantage:
- Carrying out multiple sprint projects in a short period of time will help increase efficiency and productivity.
- Can flexibly change requirements and direction for products or projects.
- Customers can participate in feedback and contribute to the project implementation process, thereby helping the product be accepted more easily.
Defect:
- Employees can lose focus and not allocate their time appropriately when they have to take on many small projects at the same time.
- Having difficulty ensuring the overall progress of the entire team.
- Estimating the project completion time from the beginning is quite difficult due to the occurrence of many changes and developments during the implementation process.
2. What is the Waterfall model? Advantages and limitations of this model
Waterfall is a project management model that follows a sequential cycle. This model was first used in 1970 by Winston W. Royce. Specifically, the project is divided into 5 different phases and the implementation team must complete the phases in the correct order. The next stage begins only after the previous stage is completed. This model is named Waterfall based on its sequential nature.
Advantage:
- Clear plan from start to finish of the project.
- Clearly define requirements from the beginning, helping to minimize the occurrence of requirements.
- The process is clear and unambiguous, and only at the end of this stage can we move on to the next stage.
Defect:
- The project may take longer than expected when there is a period of delay.
- It is difficult to detect and handle problems that arise during each stage.
- Complete planning must be done before the project begins, which leads to a lack of flexibility and difficulty in making changes.
3. Compare Agile and Waterfall
Although Agile and Waterfall are both project management models, these two models still have certain differences. Below is a detailed Agile and Waterfall comparison table that businesses can refer to:
Waterfall | Agile | |
Execution time | Implementation time is fixed and determined before starting the project. | Time changes flexibly and depends on the progress and orientation of the project. |
Level of customer intervention | Once the project requirements and goals have been determined, the customer will not have any intervention during the implementation process. | During project implementation, customers can participate directly, interact and provide feedback. |
Degree of flexibility | Low flexibility. The implementation team will have to complete the phases sequentially in a predetermined order and based on the schedule established at the beginning. | High flexibility. Dividing the project into parallel sprints allows for changes in project approach and implementation without too much impact on the overall process. |
Expense | Fixed costs, planned from the beginning, rarely change during implementation. | Costs are flexible, depending on the level of project changes during implementation. |
4. Agile and Waterfall: Which model should you choose in project management?
In reality, there is no model that is considered the best, only the model that is most suitable for each case. Based on the comparison table above, it is clear that to choose a project management model, businesses need answers to the following questions:
4.1. Are the project outputs and scope of implementation fixed?
The Waterfall model in vertical implementation will be suitable for projects with specific requirements and fixed scope. Meanwhile, the Agile method encourages flexibility, experimentation, and adjustment to achieve the best possible results.
4.2. Does the project require strict regulatory compliance?
If the answer is yes, the Waterfall model will be the most suitable choice. As analyzed above, the waterfall model is considered suitable for project management with strict requirements and regulations.
In this case, Agile will be more suitable for technology companies or startups because of their rapid pace of change. Breaking work into parts helps businesses quickly respond to changes, detect and correct errors promptly.
4.3. Are project owners and stakeholders deeply involved in the implementation process?
The Agile model is suitable for projects with close participation of stakeholders. By dividing the project into sprints and executing them in parallel, the team can easily change and adjust according to emerging requirements. The Waterfall model, with its fixed and strict nature, is often not flexible enough in such cases.
Hopefully through the above article comparing Agile and Waterfall , businesses have enough information to distinguish between Agile and Waterfall in project management. The above two models both have their own advantages and disadvantages, businesses can choose the appropriate model based on specific requirements. In addition, businesses can apply supporting software to manage projects more quickly and effectively. Possessing superior features, 1C:Document Management Office software can help businesses manage projects and automate processes effectively with all forms of management. For detailed advice and the best software support, please contact 1C Vietnam today!