For years the Waterfall methodology has supported software development projects. Some may consider it outdated with the sheer complexity of most projects and the flexibility required in the modern day. Of course, now agile approaches are very popular, and it could be argued that they were developed to get away from Waterfall altogether. If you’re unfamiliar with the key differences between the two, all you need to know is that agile releases software in increments whereas Waterfall has a strict process leading to a final output followed by verification and maintenance.

Agile was created to put an end to the common notion among project managers who believed Waterfall to be the only approach for software development. In reality, all methods are simply guidelines for problem-solving. Waterfall was super popular in the 1990s since it added structure to huge software development projects. The structure looks something like this:

1. Planning: Identify the goals of the project. This is also where the project manager needs to figure out the requirements for the project. These requirements will depend on the project sponsor's needs and involve identifying risks, dependencies, assumptions, costs, quality metrics, and the timeline. 

2. Design: This is where all decisions are put in writing. The decisions are, in this case, based on legitimizing the requirements for the project. In this phase, you’ll outline the project's goals, budget, and schedule.

3. Implement: This is where you execute the planning and design phase to materialize the product. This is a critical part of the Waterfall; everything done during this phase must be tracked.

4. Verify and Test: During this phase, testing is done to ensure that the product you’ve created serves the requirements of the project. If anything goes wrong, the team must go back as far as the first phase to identify what happened. Quality metrics are used during the testing phase to ensure the client's satisfaction. 

5. Maintenance: The maintenance phase goes past project management and now focuses on the product's longevity. Changes are made as needed to improve what was delivered in the implementation phase.

Let's make it clear that the Waterfall— like any other methodology— is not perfect, but it’s often enough to get the job done and still is. A 2017 study shows over 50% of organizations still use it in their software implementation model. The key to a great software development team is knowing what calls to make in the best interest of your team. Sometimes these calls are going to fall outside the scope of convenience to reach an optimal outcome. 

So, why were other methods created?

One of the primary concerns with the Waterfall method is that a mistake made in an early phase could be costly and detrimental later on. All methodologies are meant to add structure to software development. In 2022, it’s all about speed; whether it's deployment, access to data, or SSL performance, the list is endless. The point is, this is the purpose that agile methods were created to serve. It provides results quickly and continuously innovates to adapt to the needs of the user. 

When would you use Waterfall?

You have to first consider how different every software development project is. There is seldom a product output that doesn’t require changes. In addition, development teams need to make their budget and timelines clear to the client or co-workers from elsewhere. These are the kind of issues Waterfall takes care of since it has a very clear structure. Now, this may frustrate developers who want to interact with the client as much as possible, but it can be a necessary sacrifice to ensure quality over quick deliverables.

Another example is when persuading outside your project, whether attracting investors, seeking department approval or if you think there will be collateral effects. Waterfall can be easier for those outside to understand. Think about it: your intentions for the project are clearly outlined from the planning and design phases which, in effect, kind of drill the end goal into the teams' vision and mitigate the risk of deviating. 

For teams and projects on a small scale, there are a lot of benefits to be found in operating under this kind of focus. Teams can complete the project faster without worrying about allocating time and resources to non-priorities. So, in this instance, working on a small project or in a small team means you’ll need a framework that promotes communication among members and a clear-cut process. 

Waterfall and communication

Waterfall is very systematic and procedural; there should be no shock that communication would be an essential part of every step. Information sharing is far more efficient when documentation is consistent throughout the process. Anyone new brought into the project throughout the phases will be able to refer back to the documentation which makes Waterfall a great communication tool to keep the team in sync. 

In some cases, especially with new teams, communication and getting to know each other can be difficult and negatively impact performance. Of course, this should be mitigated in the case of any team but software development projects are usually operating in a condensed time frame with little to no room for speed bumps. 

So with that being said, take inventory before your team begins a new project. You can do this by considering these questions:

• Who are the stakeholders? How can my efforts serve them?

• Is my team reliable? Do I plan on bringing in extra help?

• What is the primary end goal?

• How much time and budget do we have to work with?

• How will we manage mistakes to not interrupt our end goals?

It’s very difficult to predict the road ahead when beginning a new project, but it will help to first Identify your requirements so you can meet that of the client’s. What hurts a lot of teams is communication barriers and a lack of transparency. 

The Takeaway

Finding the best route to take when beginning a new project is difficult, but choosing a framework that’s right for the team (not just developers) will make the process smoother. The planning stages are usually the most difficult, but when that is the case, execution is often far more efficient. If you’re new to the concept of software development, it likely sounds chaotic, which is why it is so important to work with an experienced team of professionals that can see through the chaos and bring a polished product to the table. 

Written By Ben Brown

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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.