Waterfall

What Is Waterfall

Waterfall is a project management and development approach.

When it's suitable

• Requirements are well documented, clear and fixed
• Product definition is stable
• Technology is well understood
• No ambiguous requirement
• The project is short
• Suitable resources available

Advantages

• Easier scheduling and control
• Departmentalization

Disadvantages

• Does not allow for reflection or revision

When a revision needed, requirement documentation must be updated and confirmed by stakeholders.

• Once in testing stage, change is hard.

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Pros

• Simple and easy to understand
• Easy to manage
• Phases are completed one at a time
• Works well for smaller projects
• Clearly defined stages
• Well understood milestones
• Process and results are well documented
• Tasks are easy to arrange for a project manager

Cons

• No working software until late in the cycle
• High amounts of risk and uncertanity
• Not good for complex projects
• Not good where change is expected
• Change in scope can end a project
• Integration and delivery is a "big bang"