Waterfall Project Management: Ensuring Success in a Linear Approach

Posted on Dec 03, 2023 at 05:12 PM

Projects today differ from what they used to be; they're more diverse and require a different methodology for each kind. The most direct of those is the waterfall project management approach, which can be considered the setting stone of all project management kinds.

What is waterfall project management?

In the bustling kingdom of project management, the mighty river of Waterfall project management reigns supreme. It flows steadily linearly and captivates with its structured and sequential nature, promising clarity and predictability.

Let's rephrase that: waterfall project management can be described as the management model that happens in sequential stages, each of the 5 project management phases following its precedent, only happening after the former step has been completed.

This process-oriented model entails planning and analysing requirements for a project, then moving to design and later implementation to close with testing to ascertain that all its components are working effectively together. This traditional project management model is widely applied in many industries and software development.

 What is the difference between agile and waterfall?

Agile and waterfall project management differ in their management methodologies and project approaches. While the former is a more flexible approach, the latter is more rigid.

In terms of agile project management, teams can adapt the workflow to the changes that occur within the project. However, the waterfall management approach is successive and linear; returning to previous steps after completing them is impossible.

Another difference is that waterfall project management is a specific and defined process in which the team plans all the tasks upfront with their timeline, whereas agile flows more naturally and involves many circles of review and feedback.

So, if you’re studying project management and wondering which to use, here’s your guide: you'd use a waterfall project management with a fixed project, where you can follow a set of plans and get an expected result, whereas you'd use an agile method where things are more complex and experimental and require more flexibility, where you need to revisit and edit one part or more of the task during the progress.

What are the 5 phases of waterfall project management?

When it comes to the waterfall project life cycle, time is of the essence because you need to plan every stage; there's a distinct flow that a waterfall project follows; let's look at the phases involved in this model of management:

• Requirements phase: To start a waterfall project management process, you must clearly understand the project's purpose within a definite period.

Moreover, you should consider the stakeholder interests, outline an overall aim and explain how the final solution will appear.

• Analysis: The analysis phase separates your project into smaller pieces: dependencies, tasks, and activities (especially the ones that happen in order). On that note, you should construct a task list with specifics about what must be done when performing every task.

• Design phase: The design phase is where you make a detailed plan for getting from point A to point B. Use this time to develop your project scope that entails all the tasks, who is doing what and by when. Furthermore, it is necessary to define the functions of each team member to ensure that each person understands his or her role in the entire project period.

• Implementation phase: Once you have a detailed plan, it’s time to implement it. During this phase, your team will work together to complete all the tasks outlined in the design phase. This includes everything from creating a new website to implementing new software solutions.

• Testing phase: Once all of the tasks have been completed, it’s time for your team to test their work. This ensures that everything is running smoothly and that no problems exist in the final product.

Why should you use waterfall project management?

One of the famous frameworks that managers prefer due to its simplicity, rigour, and strictness is the waterfall project management process. Here are a few reasons why you should implement waterfall project management in your next project:

• It’s efficient: Waterfall project management is among the most efficient global project management frameworks. This straightforward procedure only entails five simple processes that any team member could manage within their limits.

• It's easy to understand. The waterfall project management process is simple; even new managers and employees can understand it. It is also a monitoring tool and gives you a sneak peek of how much work it is for each activity as your project progresses through its roll. It ensures accountability; as strict as this framework may appear, each team member knows his roles in all project stages.

• It’s popular: every training courses in istanbul that discusses project management includes waterfall in its curriculum, and this is enough proof that it’s one of the founding fathers of project management.

•  It enables you to develop a good schedule for your project. Everything in waterfall project management is about planning; it will help you organise yourself and keep you on track throughout the project. It also helps to ensure everyone understands what is expected and when it is supposed to be done.

In conclusion, waterfall project management is a great way to start your project. It's simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. If you're new to project management or want something that will keep things organised without being too complicated, waterfall is an excellent option.