Software project management is a complex process that requires making a bunch of decisions that determine the work course. Thus, selecting the right development framework is a crucial decision.
There are various project management frameworks, from the traditional Waterfall model to the flexible Agile framework. Each framework has its own set of strengths and weaknesses.
In this article, we'll review and compare the Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall frameworks, their strengths, weaknesses, and which is best suited for your project needs.
What Is Agile?
Agile software development is based on an iterative, incremental approach. Agile opts for a free and fluid approach to perform changes and iterations as and when they are needed.
Requirements can change at almost any stage of the project, so less planning is needed before beginning the project. Agile encourages constant feedback from its users in order to adapt to their changing requirements.
Development teams are organized into cross-functional units that work on iterations over time, with each iteration to produce a working product. Agile leadership encourages teamwork and face-to-face interactions between development teams and stakeholders to meet end-user needs.
The Agile Manifesto lists 12 principles according to which a project following the Agile methodology should behave. Agile principles can also help you shape your life.
Pros of Agile
- Embraces Changing Requirements: With shorter planning cycles, it’s easy to accommodate and accept changes at any time during the project.
- End-goal can be unknown: Agile is beneficial for projects where the end-goal is not clearly defined. As the project progresses, the goals will come to light, and development can easily adapt to these evolving requirements.
- Faster, high-quality delivery: Breaking down the project into iterations (manageable units) allows the team to focus on high-quality development, testing, and collaboration.
- Strong team interaction: As there will be more than one team involved in Agile projects' progress, it increases team interaction and fosters good teamwork.
- Customers are heard: Agile projects encourage feedback from users and team members throughout the project, allowing lessons to help improve future iterations.
Cons of Agile
- Uncertainty in Planning: Since Agile is based on time-boxed deliveries, and project managers often prioritize tasks, some items originally scheduled for release may not be completed in time.
- Organizing the right team can be difficult: Agile teams are usually small, so team members must be highly skilled in a variety of areas that can be difficult to put together.
- Incomprehensive Documentation: The Agile manifesto prefers working software over proper documentation, so some developers may flout proper documentation.
- Final product can be different: Because Agile is so flexible, you may add new iterations based on evolving customer feedback, leading to a different final deliverable.
What Is Scrum?
Scrum is considered the most popular framework for implementing Agile and is a sub-group of it. Scrum is one of the many frameworks, practices, and tools related to Agile.
This model is a tool for managing complex software and product development based on iterative software development principles. Sprints (time-fixed iterations) allow the development team to regularly ship software, resulting in new plans and steps created by key stakeholders and teams at the end of each sprint, driving performance.
Each sprint comprises 4 steps: Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective (including refinement activity).
During Scrum meetings, team members will elaborate on what they have done, what they are doing, and what they plan to do so the team is aware of everyone’s role. It can provide feedback on each element of the project they are involved with.
Pros of Scrum
- More transparency and project visibility: With daily stand-up meetings, the whole team knows who is doing what, eliminating many misunderstandings and confusion.
- Increased team accountability: There is no project manager telling the Scrum Team what to do and when which increases the team members' accountability.
- Easy to accommodate changes: With short sprints and constant feedback, it’s easier to cope with and accommodate changes.
- Increased cost savings: Constant communication ensures the team is aware of all issues and changes as soon as they arise, helping to lower expenses and increase quality.
Cons of Scrum
- Risk of scope creep: Some Scrum projects can experience scope creep due to a lack of a specific end date.
- The team requires experience and commitment: With defined roles and responsibilities, the team needs to be familiar with Scrum principles to succeed.
- Poorly defined tasks can lead to inaccuracies: Project costs and timelines won’t be accurate if tasks are not well defined.
What Is the Waterfall Model?
Waterfall methodology follows a step-by-step, linear process. It is the most straightforward and popular version of the system development life cycle (SDLC) for software engineering and information technology.
The waterfall model is a linear development process. If one task is completed and approved by the client, the development team moves onto the next task.
Due to Waterfall’s linear nature, it is impossible to go back a step or jump forward without starting the entire process again from scratch. The waterfall model is best suited to projects with a fixed scope, deadline, and budget. Similar to Agile, you can use Waterfall Model to organize your life.
Pros of Waterfall Model
- Easy to use and manage: Because the Waterfall model follows the same sequential pattern for each project, it is easy to use and understand.
- Discipline is enforced: Every phase in Waterfall has a start and endpoint. It’s easy to share progress with stakeholders and customers.
- Well documented approach: Waterfall requires documentation for every phase, resulting in a better understanding of the logic behind the code and tests.
Cons of Waterfall Model
- Changes can’t be easily accommodated: The team cannot go back once they have completed a phase. If they reach the testing phase and realize a requirement is missing from the requirements phase, it's difficult and expensive to fix it.
- Software isn’t delivered until late: The project has to complete two to four phases before the coding actually begins.
- Gathering accurate requirements can be challenging: It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what customers want this early in the project. Often, they learn about requirements as the project progresses.
Choose the Ideal Project Management Tool
There is really no hard and fast rule on choosing one particular model for all projects. You should select based on the nature of the project, team size, and delivery deadline.
The Waterfall model is best suited to projects with rigid rules and structures, fixed scope, deadline, and budget. On the other hand, Agile is suitable if the project depends on getting to market first and then iterating upon customers' feedback.
However, if you prefer structure within your Agile model that guides your team to follow some defined rules, then Scrum is the best-suited model. As a whole, you should consider these methodologies in the context of the work at hand and the desired end-goal.