CST 438 Week 7

Agile and Plan-and-Document, also known as Waterfall, are two software development processes with differing philosophy and organizational structure. Waterfall is a linear, sequential process where each stage—gathering requirements, designing, implementing, testing, deploying, and maintaining—is completed before the next is started. The process relies on detailed documentation and forward planning and so is ideal for the projects whose requirements and scope are clear and not expected to change. For example, defense or aerospace industries or manufacturing that need predictability, safety, and compliance are likely to employ the Waterfall model. Agile is the reverse because it is flexible and iterative. It breaks work down into tiny, manageable chunks named sprints, which take anywhere from two to four weeks. Agile requires ongoing feedback from the users and stakeholders in order to allow the product to be altered while it is still being developed. It emphasizes working software and collaboration over documentation and rigid processes. Agile is common where there is an acceleration in change such as in the case of the technology startups, digital product companies, and user experience or quick innovation-focused organizations. These companies are often forced to move at high speed because of market changes, and Agile provides the structure to do this without being bogged down by too much process. In general, Waterfall functions best in situations where requirements cannot change, times are limited, and there can be no acceptance of ambiguity. Agile, on the other hand, performs better in high-change environments where requirements from the customers and market demands will vary.

The choice between the two generally depends upon the project type, corporate culture, and how much adaptability the team is going to need to deal with change. A few contemporary organizations even employ hybrid strategies, using the planned design components of Waterfall and marrying them with the flexibility of Agile in order to fit more effectively with their own needs.