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

01. Linear / Sequential Phases

02. Detail Documentation

03. Predictability

04. Rigidity

05. Late discovery of issues

06. Incompatibility with change

07. Unsuitability for undefined projects

• Defined Phases

• Strict Progression

• Comprehensive Documentation

• Clear Milestones

• Predictability

• Emphasis on Planning

Waterfall

Linear / Sequential Phases

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

Waterfall

Detail Documentation

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

Waterfall

Predictability

• 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

Ridgity

• 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

Late discovery of issues

• 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

Incompatibility with change

• 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.

Waterfall

Unsuitability for undefined projects

PROS & CONS

Easy to Visualize

Time-consuming

Limited client involvement

Simple

Inflexibility

Late testing

Speeds up Training

Faster Completions

Lots of Planning

Strong control

Intense focus

Costly changes

Predictability

Easier to Manage

Difficulty mngt complex projects

Risk management

Risk of delays

Retain Knowledge

PROS

CONS

Examples

Construction

Examples

Manufacturing

Examples

Goverment

Examples

Research and Development

Examples

Department of Defense

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

Practitioner Sources

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

Annotated Bibliography

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