With so many project management methodologies to use, you might be wondering if waterfall project management is still relevant in 2020. Since the 70s, this traditional project management has a long track record of success. So, let’s take a closer look.
What Is Waterfall Project Management?
Waterfall project management runs projects in a step-by-step, linear process. One phase follows the next. The phases are planned before the project begins, and everything is completed in a logical order.
All requirements are defined before the project starts, usually by the client. Once a phase is finished, the next stage begins. Each step leads to the next, like a waterfall.
What Are the Benefits of Using Waterfall Project Management?
The simple and logical nature of the waterfall methodology allows you to carefully plan your projects in advance. You can decide on the work that needs to be done, timelines, budgets, and more, before ever hiring any developers or giving the go-ahead to your team.
Once a project has started, you can monitor all these variables as you move through each phase. If the project isn’t going as planned, you will quickly see where the gaps are and can take action to fix them. A successful waterfall project flows through each phase to deliver a final product or service—on time and within budget.
What Are the Challenges of Waterfall Project Management?
If you aren’t clear about what you want from the project, you’re more likely to encounter problems. This is because everything is planned and agreed upon in advance, so it’s difficult to make changes as the project progresses. You also won’t see any working product or software in action until some time has passed. It may be too late to make changes without impacting your timeline and budget.
If time is limited and you have a big project to run, opt for another project management method. A waterfall-based project takes longer to deliver because each phase follows the next (phases cannot run at the same time).
If something delays or stops one phase, your entire project goes on hold until you fix the issue. And running behind schedule, or racing to meet a deadline, might put undue pressure on resources to cut corners.
Should You Still Use Waterfall Project Management in 2020?
With so many project management options, should you still use a waterfall approach to run projects nowadays? The answer is yes, under certain circ*mstances.
You should use a waterfall project management approach when:
- The project requirements are clearly defined and probably won’t change
- You have set dates to begin and close the project
- The project is simple and has a brief time frame
- The client doesn’t want to be involved in every phase
- Resources are available to develop the product and can be managed to meet important deadlines
- Products are for an established and stable system, not a dynamic and changing environment
Waterfall Project Management in 2020
There are a lot of reasons why the classic waterfall stands the test of time. If you want to learn more about how you can jumpstart your project, Bydrec is the company to call. Reach out to us at 888-203-213 for more information!
FAQs
Yes. Several companies still use waterfall like development model where software still gets released in a phase-based cycle.
Is the waterfall model still used today? ›
It is still used in software development process in which requirements are well-defined and where changes are not expected during project. But when requirements are not well-define and need quick adjustments during the project, then waterfall model cannot work and Agile model is preferred.
Do companies still use waterfall model? ›
Is the Waterfall methodology still used? Yes, even in 2022, a wide range of companies use the Waterfall methodology in various industries.
Is the waterfall method obsolete? ›
The waterfall method is an outdated approach that can result in missed deadlines and inadequate products. If you're still using the waterfall method, it's time to reconsider your options.
Did Agile replace waterfall? ›
Agile was first adopted by software teams, who moved from the traditional, sequential waterfall approach to a method that garnered consistent feedback and adjustment throughout the development lifecycle.
Is waterfall methodology old? ›
It's an old-school software development method from the 1970s. In a Waterfall process, you must complete each project phase before moving to the next. It's pretty rigid and linear. The method relies heavily on all the requirements and thinking done before you begin.
Where is waterfall still used? ›
Senior management in many companies prefer waterfall-style project management because it's structured and predictable. It's easy to understand when and how a project will move to the next phase. Managers like this, because it makes the project's state easy to communicate.
Why is waterfall model not suitable? ›
Waterfall doesn't let processes overlap for simultaneous work on different phases, reducing overall efficiency. No working product is available until the later stages of the project lifecycle. Waterfall isn't ideal for complex, high-risk ongoing projects.
Why is waterfall not used? ›
The whole process is not built to cope with changing requirements. The more the project has progressed, the bigger the effort required to change existing requirements or add requirements that have been missed during analysis.
Why did waterfall fail? ›
The waterfall model assumes that all the customer requirements can be completely and correctly defined at the beginning of the project, but actually customers' requirements keep on changing with time. After the requirements specification phase is completed difficult to accommodate any change requests.
Traditional approach: NASA historically employed the waterfall model for large-scale projects with well-defined requirements. Sequential process: Each phase of development (requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment) is completed sequentially.
Which is better, waterfall or Agile? ›
Agile methodologies offer several advantages over the traditional Waterfall model, particularly in environments characterized by uncertainty and rapid change. Agile allows for changes in project requirements at any stage of development, accommodating evolving customer needs and market trends.
Does Microsoft use Agile or waterfall? ›
Many software development organizations, including many product and online services groups within Microsoft, use Agile software development and management methods to build their applications.
Where is waterfall model used in real life? ›
Who uses the waterfall model? Project teams and project managers use the waterfall model to achieve goals based on the needs of their business. The model is used in many different project management contexts, such as in construction, manufacturing, IT and software development.
Why is the waterfall model not used? ›
Disadvantages of Waterfall Model
The fixed requirements provide less room for creativity. The cost, risk, and uncertainty are high. Misinterpreted requirements, and miscommunication between product owners and developers might cause a project failure. It is not suitable for large projects with complex requirements.
Does anyone use waterfall model? ›
The waterfall model is most commonly used in software engineering and product development, less often – in other projects and industries. Employ the waterfall model only if your project meets the following criteria: All the requirements are known, clear, and fixed. There are no ambiguous requirements.
Does NASA use waterfall model? ›
NASA policy (NPR 7120.5 and NPR 7123.1B) and guidance (NASA Systems Engineering Handbook (SP-2016-6105), Rev 2) are primarily based on the waterfall development model.
