Agile versus Waterfall Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Agile versus Waterfall - Assignment Example Each of these methods has its own area of influence in which it is applicable. I briefly present the background of two methodologies before comparing them. Waterfall is traditionally defined to be a sequential approach or linear method for project management and implementation. In this approach, the project is completed in distinct stages with proper planning from start of the project right till the end. Each segment of the project is completed by different sections or groups of the team for ensuring the timely completion of the project (WATERFALL vs. AGILE METHODOLOGY, 2008). The stages of the waterfall method are presented below. Design: In this phase of project analysis and implementation, design of the software is performed. The desired IT solution is proposed that considers the use of specific tools like programming languages or other software and algorithms required for implementation of projects. This is a classical approach. Modern software and IT developers are moving towards modern tools like Agile framework that is based on iterative approach. The salient features of Agile Software Development approach are presented below (Kroll, 2004). Figure 3 shows the comparison between two approaches for project management in the light of various factors as time scale between specification and implementation, discovery of problems time duration, distance between customer and developer, and planning scale. We can observe, each project management approach has its own applications and none can be universally regarded as better over the other. Figure 4 shows the cost of changing the requirements of the project for the two approaches of project management. It is pretty much clear that, we cannot reverse the project implementation in sequential style of waterfall. While in Agile approach, we are continuously adapting our approach according to the results and requirements. The implementation is not planned completely. It adapts to the