Project management methodologies provide frameworks for organizing and completing projects efficiently. One of the most traditional and widely used approaches is the Waterfall methodology. For decades, this linear, sequential model has been a staple in industries like construction, manufacturing, and software development.
What is the Waterfall Methodology?
Invented by Dr. Winston W Royce in 1970, the Waterfall method is a structured, linear approach to project management. It outlines discrete, successive phases that a project flows through – with each phase completed fully before moving on to the next one. The methodology comes from this sequential flow, where progress cascades from one phase to the next like a waterfall.
The typical phases in a Waterfall project include:
- Project Requirements Gathering
- System/Software Design
- Implementation/Coding
- Testing
- Maintenance
In the Requirements phase, the project team works to understand all the needs, goals, constraints, and specifications for the project deliverable. The Design phase translates those requirements into technical specs and architecture plans. Implementation brings those designs to life through actual execution work like coding software. Testing rigorously validates the deliverable against requirements before the implementation phase, which is the official project delivery. Finally, Maintenance supports any needed upkeep post-deployment.
Waterfall’s sequential, compartmentalized nature provides clearly defined roles, tasks, and milestones. A heavy emphasis is on upfront planning and documentation to map out execution in detail before implementation begins.
Advantages of Waterfall
One of the most significant benefits of Waterfall is its simplicity and predictability. By completing work in rigid phases, the project scope and requirements are “locked” early on, clarifying the timeline, costs, and resources needed. Its sequential, straightforward flow makes it easy to understand, manage, and replicate.
The structured nature, with extensive project planning and approvals upfront, helps with risk management and helps to find gaps in project requirements before significant work occurs. This can prevent costly rework later. Waterfall also provides clear baselines to measure progress against the predefined schedule and budget.
For teams experienced in a specific type of linear project, Waterfall processes can be efficiently replicated with few changes from past successful implementations. Ample documentation throughout the lifecycle also aids knowledge transfer for new team members.
Disadvantages of Waterfall
While the rigidity of Waterfall is one of its strengths, it is also a fundamental weakness. Once a project is underway, changes in requirements or pivots in direction are complicated and expensive to implement. The client is essentially “locked out” until the final testing and deployment phases.
Because each phase has a hard start and stop, teams must avoid overlapping activities or work ahead in certain areas. This prevents capitalizing on opportunities to improve velocity through concurrent workstreams.
Testing also happens very late in Waterfall, so any defects discovered require rework across multiple prior phases. For complex or uncertain projects, this makes Waterfall very rigid and high-risk.
When to Use the Waterfall Methodology
The Waterfall approach works best for projects with precise, upfront requirements that will likely stay the same over time. It is a good fit for projects with a fixed scope, schedule, and cost – like government or construction projects bound by contracts.
Waterfall is less suited for exploratory projects with lots of ambiguity and a need for agility. The Waterfall model’s rigidity would hinder fast-moving software projects from delivering regular releases. Nonetheless, hybrid approaches using some Waterfall principles alongside more flexible Agile methodology can be practical.
Managing Waterfall with Software
While the fundamentals of Waterfall project management lie in discrete process phases, modern software solutions can bring increased visibility and control. Project management software with capabilities like Gantt charts, task dependencies, stage-gate approvals, and documentation management are extremely valuable for Waterfall teams.
For example, a platform like Smartsheet allows teams to clearly define the start and end of each Waterfall phase as separate projects or project sections. Phases can then be linked together, automatically surfacing delays in predecessors that impact successors. Advanced views and reporting capabilities also help share project progress updates across the organization.
The Right Approach for the Right Project
The Waterfall project management methodology continues to be widely used by organizations and project managers, particularly for projects with very defined requirements and constraints. While its emphasis on planning and compartmentalization provides rigor, it comes at the cost of flexibility.
At CIAT, we recognize the importance of arming future project managers with a comprehensive toolkit to navigate diverse project environments. Our IT Project Management degree program is tailored to achieve this imperative. While covering foundational methodologies like Waterfall, the program seamlessly integrates agile frameworks and hybrid approaches, ensuring that students are well-prepared to manage projects efficiently, anticipate challenges, and drive successful project outcomes in any industry.
