What is Waterfall PM

BS PROJECT MANAGEMENT

What is Waterfall Project Management?

Author: Edgardo Betancourt Professor: Thomas Brantle Date: 20 Nov 2024

'Waterfall project management is a sequential, linear approach to project execution where each phase must be completed before the next one begins

(Rigby et al., 2023)

Waterfall

05. Late discovery of issues

01. Linear / Sequential Phases

06. Incompatibility with change

02. Detail Documentation

07. Unsuitability for undefined projects

03. Predictability

04. Rigidity

Waterfall

Linear / Sequential Phases

• Defined Phases

• Strict Progression

• Comprehensive Documentation

• Clear Milestones

• Predictability

• Emphasis on Planning

Waterfall

Detail Documentation

• Each phase involves creating detailed documentation, such as requirements specifications and design documents, which guide subsequent stages.

Waterfall

Predictability

• The linear nature of the approach makes it easier to predict timelines, resources, and costs if the requirements are well-understood upfront

Waterfall

Ridgity

• Once a project is underway, changes in requirements or direction are complicated and expensive to implement, as the methodology resists significant deviations from the original plan

Waterfall

Late discovery of issues

• Testing typically occurs towards the end of the project lifecycle, after the implementation phase is complete.

• Any fundamental problems or defects in the design or implementation are not identified until late in the process.

• Significant time and resources have already been invested

Waterfall

Incompatibility with change

• Any alterations to requirements or scope can be costly and time-consuming.

• It may required to return to previous phases and potentially rendering completed work obsolete

Waterfall

Unsuitability for undefined projects

• Requires clear, well-defined requirements and objectives from the outset, as each phase must be completed before moving to the next.

• It can lead to misalignment between the final deliverable and customer expectations.

PROS & CONS

Retain Knowledge

Easier to Manage

Speeds up Training

Faster Completions

Easy to Visualize

Simple

PROS

Predictability

Risk management

Strong control

Inflexibility

Late testing

Time-consuming

Difficulty mngt complex projects

Limited client involvement

Risk of delays

CONS

Costly changes

Intense focus

Lots of Planning

Examples

Construction

Examples

Manufacturing

Examples

Goverment

Examples

Research and Development

Examples

Department of Defense

Annotated Bibliography

Academic Sources

Rigby, D. K., Sutherland, J., & Noble, A. (2023, October 10). It's time to end the battle between waterfall and agile. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/10/its-time-to-end-the-battle-between-waterfall-and-agile

Practitioner Sources

Bakkah. (2024, May 26). Waterfall project management: Methodology, phases, benefits, and limitations. https://bakkah.com/knowledge-center/waterfall-project-management ClearPoint Strategy. (n.d.). Waterfall project management: Methodology, phases, benefits, and limitations. https://www.clearpointstrategy.com/blog/waterfall-project-management Project Management Institute. (2013, October 29). Waterfall methodology vs. agile approach. https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/waterfall-methodology-agile-approach-5821

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