What is the difference between Waterfall and Agile methodologies in SDLC?
Published: 2023-09-24 03:49:15

**Agile and Waterfall** are two well-known project management methodologies. Both of them are popular in software development but each is best suited for different types of projects. The main difference is that Waterfall is a linear system of working that requires the team to complete each project phase before moving on to the next one while Agile encourages the team to work simultaneously on different phases of the project.
**<u>Agile Methodology</u>**
•	Approach: Frequent stakeholder interaction
•	Flexibility: High
•	Requires: Team initiative and short-term deadlines
Agile methodology was developed as a response to Waterfall’s more rigid structure. As a result, it’s a much more fluid form of project management. A software development project can take years to complete, and technology can change significantly during that time. Agile was developed as a flexible method that welcomes incorporating changes of direction even late in the process, as well as accounting for stakeholders’ feedback throughout the process.
In Agile, **the team will work on phases of the project concurrently**, often with short-term deadlines. Additionally, the team, rather than a project manager, drives the project’s direction. This can empower the team to be motivated and more productive, but also requires a more self-directed team.
**<u>Waterfall Methodology</u>**
•	Approach: Hands-off; goals and outcome established from the beginning
•	Flexibility: Low
•	Requires: Completing deliverables to progress to the next phase
Waterfall methodology is a linear form of project management ideal for projects where the end result is clearly established from the beginning of the project. The expectations for the project and the deliverables of each stage are clear and are required in order to progress to the next phase.

In Short, below are the comparisons between both models.

**<u>Timeline</u>**	Waterfall has a fixed timeline. The idea is that the start and finish of the project are already mapped out from the beginning.	
Agile is a lot more flexible and accounts for experimenting with different directions. Rather than a fixed timeline, the schedule adapts as the project progresses. The Agile Manifesto, an online document released in 2001 by a group of software developers, says team members are expected to, “Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.”

**<u>Client Involvement</u>**	Once the end goal is established, Waterfall does not involve the client or project owner during the process, apart from specific check-ins or for deliverables. The course of the project is outlined from the start, so incorporating client feedback is not an ongoing part of the process.	
A fundamental part of Agile is including clients in the project development at every step. The Agile Manifesto states, “Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.” Therefore, business owners are expected to be involved and give feedback to the software development team as they progress through the different phases of the project.
**<u>Flexibility</u>**	Waterfall is not as flexible as Agile because each phase needs to be fully completed before moving on to the next phase. The project is also planned out ahead of time, making this management system ideal for teams with a clear vision of where they are headed from start to finish.	
Flexibility is built into the Agile method. Agile values short bursts of work, which are called sprints. The method welcomes adapting to different directions, incorporating new information even at a later stage of the project.
**<u>Budget</u>**	The budget for projects using the Waterfall methodology is generally fixed. Because the project is determined from start to finish, there is less room to change the budget mid-project.	
Agile is open to adaptation, encourages experimentation and welcomes changes of direction, even in later phases of the project. Because of this, the budget tends to be more flexible.