Waterfall Project Management vs. Agile Project Management: Which One Should You Use?

Getting into project management is a fantastic career move. Software development and project management are some of the best tech jobs around today, and they’re becoming more important to businesses every year. If you have both software and managerial skills and want to get into a rewarding and lucrative career, project management is a great option and the number one choice of lots of bright and ambitious folks. You’ll need to choose between different project management approaches, though. Knowing the different characteristics in Waterfall project management vs. Agile project management will let you choose the right methodology for your company’s needs.

We’re here to help you make that decision, so no worries. We’ve looked at both management philosophies and will show you the key differences between the two. You’ll get a rundown of how Agile can get your project off the ground and running, and we also give you a look at how Waterfall might be exactly what your team needs for efficient and reliable production. It’ll be a grand old time, so let’s get this dog-and-pony show moving.

Waterfall: A Linear and Disciplined Approach

Picking up software skills requires discipline and a solid methodology, and so does project management. Of the two project management approaches we’re examining, Waterfall is the more traditional and seasoned member of the team. Waterfall has been around the block and gets tons of use in development teams across the planet. Waterfall-based projects move in a methodical, step-by-step manner. You need to complete each stage before moving on to the next one, and each project includes the same basic workflow from start to finish.

An approach using Waterfall will be straightforward and measured. Since each project follows a similar pattern, your teams will get into the groove and begin to cohere into a lean, mean unit the more they work together. Waterfall aims at completing design early in the development cycle, which makes this approach ideal for multiple-design projects that run in parallel. However, Waterfall projects aren’t always perfectly in tune with end-user requirements, which can result in dissatisfaction with the final product.

Agile: Geared for Rapid Response and Client Inclusion

If you need to get a project up and running in a hurry or want to make sure that you produce a product the customer loves, you might do well with Agile. Agile project management jobs pay well because you need to have both client-facing and developer-facing skills to succeed. Agile works on a give-and-take philosophy and involves the customer in the development process. It’s also the choice for projects that need quick completion, thanks to its time-boxed project phases (known as “sprints”).

Because Agile includes the customer in the development process, you’ll generally wind up with a product that meets all of their needs. And, Agile’s iterative nature means that you can rush a product to market and improve upon it in further refinements and updates. There are some drawbacks, though. Customer involvement can result in confusion and issues with direction or last-minute additions or revisions. Agile is also tougher to implement when your team isn’t all local, as constant communication improves Agile project efficiency.

So, there you go. Project management is an excellent route into high salaries and job satisfaction. When you work in project management, you’ll need to choose between management methodologies, though. Our guide shows you differences in Waterfall project management vs. Agile project management and helps you get your team ready for their next big challenge.