Why Agile Methodology Is Better Than Waterfall ?

Learning Mudra, Category - PMP


What is Project Management?

Project management has been in existence for a very long time now, and as everything changes with time, so has the definition and working of project management. Projects have existed in this world for centuries, and they continue to do so, but the way we handle these projects, that has changed. From a manual shift to out dependency on the technology and automation, the architecture and structure of projects get impacted due to this. Project Management as a term has evolved so much that one can’t even recall what the Project managers of the past used to do, or in what way did they use to handle their projects.

The last ten years have changed the landscape of project management, and as the world in which projects operate evolves, Project management will need to evolve as well. Project managers who can correctly predict change demands and adjust their plans to satisfy them would have a competitive advantage over those who can't. And it is because of this radical change, that various methods of project management have been developed and executed so well throughout. Be it PMP, Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall management, all of these have been created and executed in such a way that they have transformed the meaning of Project Management for all of us.

What is Agile Methodology?

The Agile philosophy promotes the delivery of early and consistent value in an enterprise. When the pressure to succeed outweighs the risk, Agile comes to the rescue. Agile project management focuses on delivering optimum value in the time and budget allotted to meet business objectives. In an agile project, collaboration is encouraged, especially with the customer. The agile project reflects, observes, and updates at regular intervals to ensure that the customer is always satisfied and that benefits are provided. The agile strategy blends planning and execution, allowing an organization to create a working mindset that allows a team to rapidly adjust to changing requirements.

The Agile philosophy promotes the delivery of early and consistent value in an enterprise. When the pressure to succeed outweighs the risk, Agile comes to the rescue. Agile project management focuses on delivering optimum value in the time and budget allotted to meet business objectives. In an agile project, collaboration is encouraged, especially with the customer. The agile project reflects, observes, and updates at regular intervals to ensure that the customer is always satisfied and that benefits are provided. The agile strategy blends planning and execution, allowing an organization to create a working mindset that allows a team to rapidly adjust to changing requirements.

What is Waterfall Project Management?

The waterfall model is a linear project management methodology in which stakeholders and consumer preferences are gathered at the outset of the project, and then a sequential project plan is created to fulfil those needs. The waterfall model is named for the way each project phase cascades into the next, just like a waterfall. And it works because it's a tried-and-true method that's been around for a long time. The waterfall model is commonly used in the construction, IT, and software development industries. The term "waterfall" is most often used in the context of apps.

Which of the two is better?

So, which of these two is better, seems to be the debate and it has been going on for ages now! When should Waterfall project management be used and when should Agile project management (with either of the framework like Scrum ) be used, it all depends on the type of projects that are given to us. Waterfall Project Management is the way to go with projects that are established and have a stable climate, and if resources are restricted in nature. Agile Project Management is the way to go for projects with complex criteria that require daily stakeholder/customer input.

why agile methodology is better than waterfall

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Many comparisons and studies have been done, and a lot of surveys have shown various results. A famous survey by KPMG on what project management techniques are adopted by companies worldwide revealed that 81% of the companies in the last 3 years have started adopting Agile as the method for project management. Many companies are still resistant to change, despite the advent of Agile Transformation and the advantages of business agility. Each transition comes at a price, and senior management is suspicious that Agile is yet another management fad, that may run out of trend in the coming years.

One more study has revealed that Agile happens to be at least 40% more effective as compared to the Waterfall style of project management. Agile follows a technique which is known as MVP – minimum viable product. Agile provides the consumer with the MVP as soon as possible. MVP consists of the product's core features (no frills or nice-to-haves features), and it serves the product purpose, and offers simple customer capabilities. Agile teams generate value in iterations after the MVP. A Waterfall traditional project management strategy, on the other hand, would provide all value at once; or, in rolling-wave planning, the main product would be released first, followed by smaller features.

Conclusion to the Topic: Why Agile Methodology Is Better Than Waterfall ?

Now, many organizations have shifted to the customer centric approach, as they know that customer is the king, and with the upgrade in technology, the customer has now access to all the information first hand. And this is one of major reasons that why more and more companies are shifting to Agile method. All these factors cumulatively make a very strong case for agile methodology to be used throughout, but some are still afraid of it. “When failure becomes an opportunity to succeed in the future, then there’s no stopping.” This phrase is working wonders for Agile, as companies learn their failures through customer feedback, and come back stronger time and again!

The Author : Learning Mudra


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