When it comes to digital project management – whether it’s developing new software peace or making significant changes to current information systems – there are a variety of development approaches to choose from. A methodology of development, in layman’s terms, is a system to organize, plan, and control the process. As a result, selecting the appropriate management structure for essentials is any project’s key decision. There were training courses like PMP which help you in understanding these methodologies to manage the products. Now this online course is available at every centre such as PMP Training In Hyderabad which makes the aspirants expertise in implementing these methodologies as successful project management professionals.
There are numerous frameworks available, and each of the most prevalent ones has several variants. Here’s an overview of waterfall, agile and lean options.
Waterfall
It has existed for quite some time, having originated in industrial processes, and is used in software development for the first time in 1970.
The waterfall method is very methodical and linear; it starts with a precise scope and works through each phase in order. It indicates that the developers progress to the next level after completing each of the Eight Stages of a waterfall (conception, preparation, analysing, designing, building, testing, implementing, and maintaining).
The waterfall is ideal for simple, unchanging applications due to its linear and narrow form. It’s simple to handle, with specified objectives and clearly defined start and conclusion points for each step.
The concept is that building doesn’t begin until all the actions related to scoping out have been completed, which helps projects stay on schedule.
Waterfall procedures, on the other hand, have a hard time adapting to change. They struggle as they’re so consecutive, and it is difficult and expensive to get back and modify anything after a phase is completed. Moreover, as development doesn’t begin until the initial few phases are completed, stakeholders will not be able to evaluate working software until late in the process.
Although we rarely see waterfall approaches used in the organizations we work with, they are still employed in a few delivery types – and in studying this post, you will be astonished to view how many projects appear to still employ a waterfall methodology – In 2015, a waterfall methodology was used to deliver 56% of IT projects.
Certainly, there are occasions where waterfall approaches are the ideal solution, such as when requirements are assumed to be unchangeable and it is very little to no ambiguity, or when the project is simple, but those situations are becoming lesser and further between in today’s environment. That said, when you have any instances of a waterfall methodology being used in the development of a digital product, I’d love to learn about them.
Benefits:
- The client understands what must be expected when using the waterfall process. They would have a good sense of the project’s cost, size, and timing. They’ll know exactly what their program would perform in the end.
- Waterfall’s dependable documentation permits for minimum project impact when it comes to workforce turnover.
- Progress is easier to track projects with a waterfall because the whole scope of the job is known ahead of time.
Drawbacks:
- Initial requirements are heavily weighted in waterfall methods. However, if any of these conditions are incorrect, the project is technically doomed.
- Only at the end of the process is the full product tested. When bugs are introduced early in a code but not detected until later, their presence may have influenced the way subsequent code was developed. This leads to a “doomsday” scenario.
When should you utilise it?
- When it comes to success, it’s all about definition rather than speed.
- The project will be simple and short.
- The initiative could have an impact on critical systems like mainframes in banking or government databases (however, this is dependent on a project).
- When the organization or team isn’t mature enough to use an agile methodology.
Agile
Agile was created in 2001 as an answer to the rigid Waterfall project management methods in the software industry; it’s a ‘solution’ to the Waterfall framework’s drawbacks. Many Agile variants have occurred over time, including Scrum, which is perhaps the most widely utilized in teams of software.
Agile methods are built with adaptability in mind. Developers begin by creating a simple design of a project and then work on minor modules. Sprints are used to complete these tasks (monthly or weekly). The project’s priorities are appraised and the tests are conducted at the end of each sprint. Bugs can be detected and client comments included in the design prior to the next sprint are executed in these weekly or monthly sprints.
Each iteration’s purpose is to produce a workable product that can be shown to the stakeholders. Feedback could then be incorporated into the subsequent iterations.
It’s ideal for projects in which the end objective isn’t always obvious at the outset and can change as the project progresses. Clients can provide constant feedback based on a user because there are so many cycles.
There are certain drawbacks to this flexibility. As of the constant frankness to change, it’s more likely that timetables may shift and tasks scheduled would not be completed on time. For instance, any aspiring Xbox enthusiasts might be knowing Crackdown 3, which has been delayed until spring 2019’s, a period of five years after its reveal. It’s also possible that the last product will look nothing like the original concept.
Benefits:
- Testing towards each sprint’s end guarantees that glitches are identified and addressed early in a development cycle. In the end, they will not be found.
- It’s easier to maintain your product updated with the current technological breakthroughs with Agile methods because they allow you to make modifications.
Drawbacks:
- The final output may change from what was originally anticipated due to the lack of a definite plan in the original project.
When should you utilise it?
- If the pace of manufacturing is more important than the product’s quality.
- If the product is intended for an enterprise with rapidly evolving standards.
Lean
Lean approaches are typically able to accelerate the process by focusing only on what is required, lowering project cost and time.
One of the most significant differences among the three stages, and perhaps the most important, is if the product is released into a marketplace.
The end-user/stakeholder/client acquires the product at the project’s end with both Agile and Waterfall methodologies. However, unlike Waterfall and Agile methodologies, a Lean method focuses on producing a small subset of characteristics and delivering that MVP to clients and a market much faster.
The faster delivery aids Lean in removing possible waste by allowing you to immediately determine whether or not you are developing the proper product. If you aren’t, you could abandon ship earlier, saving two valuable project resources: money and time.
Lean approaches are typically able to accelerate the process by focusing only on what is required, lowering project cost and time. It also aids in ensuring that a product meets the user’s exact requirements at the appropriate moment.
On the other hand, this narrow emphasis may result in little effort being spent considering what a product might need to accomplish in the future.
Benefits:
- Lean employs lesser resources to create an MVP, lowering overall expenses significantly.
- By developing strategic goals for the future, Lean assists firm management in focusing on smart work instead of hard work.
Drawbacks:
- Everybody participating in the development process, from the project manager to the developer, must follow the Lean technique for it to work. If one of them fails to do so, it might have a significant influence on production.
When should you utilise it?
- As Lean teams are typically small, and larger projects require many teams, Lean approaches perform best in small projects with a limited period. On a larger, more sophisticated project, this is not impossible, but it could be difficult to handle properly.
Agile and Lean methodologies have grown in popularity over the last decade or so, and are now essential for delivering digital services and products in the jobs.
Conclusion:
In this blog, we have learned Lean, Agile, and Waterfall methodologies in more detail. Each of these three methodologies’ benefits, drawbacks, and when to use them were also discussed. Each of these methodologies has got its capabilities that suit the organizations depending on their essentials. So choose the model which meets the requirements of your firm.
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