Difference between Waterfall and Agile Methodologies
Let us discuss and observe below in details what is the Difference between Waterfall and Agile Methodologies.Advantages of Waterfall Model:- It is one the easiest model to manage. Because of its nature, each phase has specific deliverable’s and a review process. In each phase we will get to know what to deliver and when to deliver.
- Faster delivery of the project
- Process and results are well documented and documentation plays important role in Waterfall methodology.
- Easily adaptable method for shifting teams.
- This project management methodology is useful to manage dependencies.
- It works well for smaller size projects where requirements are easily understandable.
Disadvantages of Waterfall Model:
- This model is not suggestible for Large projects
- If the requirement is not clear at the beginning, we can’t use waterfall methodology because every phase is dependent on previous phase.
- Here next phase will start once previous phase completed.
- Very difficult to move back to makes changes in the previous phases.
- The testing process starts once development is over. Hence, it has high chances of bugs to be found later in development where they are expensive to fix.
- There is no team work in this model.
- Difficult to manage change requests in this model.
Advantages of the Agile Model:
- Agile teams are extremely motivated and self-organized so it likely to provide a better results from the development projects.
- Client involves in every phase of the SDLC, so requirements are clear and if team needs any clarifications also we can close as soon as possible.
- Agile software development method assures that quality of the development is maintained
- The process is completely based on the incremental progress. Therefore, the client and team know exactly what is complete and what is not. This reduces risk in the development process.
- Change requests are welcomed at any phase of the SDLC.
Disadvantages of Agile Model
- It is not useful method for small development projects.
- It requires an expert to take important decisions in the meeting.
Difference between waterfall and Agile Methodologies
Agile | Waterfall |
It separates the project development lifecycle into sprints. | Software development process is divided into separate phases. |
It follows an incremental approach | Waterfall methodology is a sequential design process. |
Agile methodology is known for its flexibility. | Waterfall is a structured software development methodology so most times it can be quite rigid. |
Agile can be considered as a collection of many different projects. | Software development will be completed as one single project. |
Agile is quite a flexible method which allows changes to be made in the project development requirements even if the initial planning has been completed. | There is no scope of changing the requirements |
Agile methodology, follow an iterative development approach because of this planning, development, prototyping and other software development phases may appear more than once. | All the project development phases like designing, development, testing, etc. are completed once in the Waterfall model. |
Test plan is reviewed after each sprint | The test plan is rarely discussed during the test phase. |
Agile development is a process in which the requirements are expected to change and evolve. | The method is ideal for projects which have definite requirements and changes not expected. |
In Agile methodology, testing is performed concurrently with software development. | In this methodology, the “Testing” phase comes after the “Build” phase |
Agile introduces a product mindset where the software product satisfies needs of its end customers and changes itself as per the customer’s demands. | This model shows a project mindset and places its focus completely on accomplishing the project. |
Prefers small but dedicated teams with a high degree of coordination and synchronization. | Team coordination/synchronization is very limited. |
Products owner with team prepares requirements just about every day during a project. | Business analyst prepares requirements before the beginning of the project. |
Test team can take part in the requirements change without problems. | It is difficult for the test to initiate any change in requirements. |
Description of project details can be altered anytime during the SDLC process. | Detail description needs to implement waterfall software development approach. |
The Agile Team members are interchangeable, as a result, they work faster. There is also no need for project managers because the projects are managed by the entire team | In the waterfall method, the process is always straightforward so, project manager plays an essential role during every stage of SDLC. |
- Usually Waterfall methodology will be used for small projects where requirements are clear and there is no chance to change the requirements.
- Usually Agile methodology will be used for large projects where requirements are not clear and client is changing the requirements frequently.
- Documentation plays important role in waterfall methodology.

3 comments