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The Ultimate Guide…

Waterfall Model

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What Is the Waterfall Methodology in Project Management?

The phases of the waterfall model, waterfall software development life cycle.

• What Is Waterfall Software?
• Desktop vs Online Waterfall Software

Must-Have Features of Waterfall Software

• The Waterfall Model & ProjectManager.com

Waterfall vs. Agile

• Pros & Cons of the Waterfall Model

Benefits of Project Management Software for Waterfall Projects

Waterfall methodology resources.

The waterfall methodology is a linear project management approach, where stakeholder and customer requirements are gathered at the beginning of the project, and then a sequential project plan is created to accommodate those requirements. The waterfall model is so named because each phase of the project cascades into the next, following steadily down like a waterfall.

It’s a thorough, structured methodology and one that’s been around for a long time, because it works. Some of the industries that regularly use the waterfall model include construction, IT and software development. As an example, the waterfall software development life cycle, or waterfall SDLC, is widely used to manage software engineering projects.

Related: 15 Free IT Project Management Templates for Excel & Word

Gantt charts are the preferred tool for project managers working in waterfall method. Using a Gantt chart allows you to map subtasks, dependencies and each phase of the project as it moves through the waterfall lifecycle. ProjectManager’s waterfall software offers these features and more.

Manage waterfall projects in minutes with ProjectManager— learn more .

The waterfall approach has, at least, five to seven phases that follow in strict linear order, where a phase can’t begin until the previous phase has been completed. The specific names of the waterfall steps vary, but they were originally defined by its inventor, Winston W. Royce, in the following way:

Requirements: The key aspect of the waterfall methodology is that all customer requirements are gathered at the beginning of the project, allowing every other phase to be planned without further customer correspondence until the product is complete. It is assumed that all requirements can be gathered at this waterfall management phase.

Design: The design phase of the waterfall process is best broken up into two subphases: logical design and physical design. The logical design subphase is when possible solutions are brainstormed and theorized. The physical design subphase is when those theoretical ideas and schemas are made into concrete specifications.

Implementation: The implementation phase is when programmers assimilate the requirements and specifications from the previous phases and produce actual code.

Verification: This phase is when the customer reviews the product to make sure that it meets the requirements laid out at the beginning of the waterfall project. This is done by releasing the completed product to the customer.

Maintenance: The customer is regularly using the product during the maintenance phase, discovering bugs, inadequate features and other errors that occurred during production. The production team applies these fixes as necessary until the customer is satisfied.

Related: Free Gantt Chart Template for Excel

Let’s hypothesize a simple project, then plan and execute it with the waterfall approach phases that you just learned. For our waterfall software development life cycle example, we’ll say that you’re building an app for a client. The following are the steps you’d take to reach the final deliverable.

Requirements & Documents

First, you must gather all the requirements and documentation you need to get started on the app.

• Project Scope: This is one of the most important documents in your project, where you determine what the goals associated with building your app are: functional requirements, deliverables, features, deadlines, costs, and so on.
• Stakeholder Expectations: In order to align the project scope with the expectations of your stakeholders—the people who have a vested interest in the development of the app—you want to conduct interviews and get a clear idea of exactly what they want.
• Research: To better serve your plan, do some market research about competing apps, the current market, customer needs and anything else that will help you find the unserved niche your app can serve.
• Assemble Team: Now, you need to get the people and resources together who will create the app, from programmers to designers.
• Kickoff: The kickoff meeting is the first meeting with your team and stakeholders where you cover the information you’ve gathered and set expectations.

System Design

Next, you can begin planning the project proper. You’ve done the research, and you know what’s expected from your stakeholders . Now, you have to figure out how you’re going to get to the final deliverable by creating a system design. Based on the information you gathered during the first phase, you’ll determine hardware and software requirements and the system architecture needed for the project.

• Collect Tasks: Use a work breakdown structure to list all of the tasks that are necessary to get to the final deliverable.
• Create Schedule: With your tasks in place, you now need to estimate the time each task will take. Once you’ve figured that out, map them onto a Gantt chart , and diligently link dependencies. You can also add costs to the Gantt, and start building a budget.

Implementation

Now you’re ready to get started in earnest. This is the phase in which the app will be built and tested. The system from the previous phase is first developed in smaller programs known as units. Then each goes through a unit testing process before being integrated.

• Assign Team Tasks: Team members will own their tasks and be responsible for completing them, and for collaborating with the rest of the team. You can make these tasks from a Gantt chart and add descriptions, priority, etc.
• Monitor & Track: While the team is executing the tasks, you need to monitor and track their progress in order to make sure that the project is moving forward per your schedule.
• Manage Resources & Workload: As you monitor, you’ll discover issues and will need to reallocate resources and balance workload to avoid bottlenecks.
• Report to Stakeholders: Throughout the project, stakeholders need updates to show them progress. Meet with them and discuss a regular schedule for presentations.
• Test: Once the team has delivered the working app, it must go through extensive testing to make sure everything is working as designed.
• Deliver App: After all the bugs have been worked out, you’re ready to give the finished app to the stakeholders.

System Testing and Deployment

During this phase you’ll integrate all the units of your system and conduct an integration testing process to verify that the components of your app work properly together.

Once you verify that your app is working, you’re ready to deploy it.

Verification

Though the app has been delivered, the software development life cycle is not quite over until you’ve done some administrative tasks to tie everything up. This is technically the final step.

• Pay Contracts: Fulfil your contractual obligations to your team and any freelance contractors. This releases them from the project.
• Create Template: In software like ProjectManager, you can create a template from your project, so you have a head start when beginning another, similar one.
• Close Out Paperwork: Make sure all paperwork has been rubber stamped and archived.
• Celebrate: Get everyone together, and enjoy the conclusion of a successful project!

Maintenance

Of course, the nature of any software development project is that, through use by customers, new bugs will arise and must be squashed. So, past the verification stage, it’s typically expected that you will provide maintenance beyond launch. This is an ongoing, post-launch phase that extends for as long as your contract dictates.

What Is Waterfall Project Management Software?

Waterfall project management software is used to help you structure your project processes from start to finish. It allows managers to organize their tasks, sets up clear schedules in Gantt charts and monitor and control the project as it moves through its phases.

A waterfall project is broken up into phases, which can be achieved on a Gantt chart in the waterfall project management software. Managers can set the duration for each task on the Gantt and link tasks that are dependent on one another to start or finish.

While waterfall software can be less flexible and iterative than more agile frameworks, projects do change frequently—and there must be features that can capture these changes in real-time with dashboards and reports, so that the manager can clear up bottlenecks or reallocate resources to keep teams from having their work blocked. Microsoft Project is one of the most commonly used project management software, but it has major drawbacks that make ProjectManager a great alternative .

Desktop vs Online Project Management Waterfall Software

When it comes to waterfall software, you can choose from either a desktop application or online, cloud-based project management software. This might not seem to be a big issue, but there are important distinctions between these two types of offerings.

That’s because there are differences between the two applications, and knowing those differences will help you make an informed decision.

Desktop waterfall software tends to have a more expensive up-front cost, and that cost can rise exponentially if you are required to pay per-user licensing fees for every member of your team.

Online waterfall software, on the other hand, is typically paid for on a subscription basis, and that subscription is usually a tiered payment plan depending on the number of users.

Connectivity

Online software, naturally, must be connected to the internet. This means your speed and reliability can vary depending on your internet service provider. It also means that if you lose connectivity, you can’t work.

Although the difference is minor, desktop waterfall software never has to worry about connection outages.

If security is a concern, rest assured that both options are highly secure. Desktop software that operates on a company intranet is nigh impenetrable, which can provide your company with a greater sense of security.

Strides in web security, like two-factor authentication and single-sign have made online, cloud-based waterfall software far more secure. Also, online tools have their data saved to the cloud, so if you suffer a crash on your desktop that might mean the end of your work.

Accessibility

Desktops are tied to the computers they are installed to or, at best, your office’s infrastructure. That doesn’t help much if you have distributed teams or work off site, in the field, at home and so on.

Online software is accessible anywhere, any time—so long as you have an internet connection. This makes it always accessible, but even more importantly, it delivers real-time data, so you’re always working on the current state of the project.

Waterfall software helps to organize your projects and make them run smoothly. When you’re looking for the right software to match your needs, make sure it has the following features.

Keep Your Project Structured

Managing a project with the waterfall method is all about structure. One phase follows another. To break your project into these stages, you need an online Gantt chart that has a milestone feature. This indicates the date where one phase of the waterfall process stops and another begins.

Control Your Task and Schedule

The Gantt chart is a waterfall’s best friend. It organizes your tasks, sets the duration and links tasks that are dependent to keep work flowing later on. When scheduling, you want a Gantt that can automatically calculate your critical path to help you know how much float you have.

Have Your Files Organized

Waterfall projects, like all projects, collect a lot of paperwork. You want a tool with the storage capacity to hold all your documents and make them easy to find when you need them. Also, attaching files to tasks gives teams direction and helps them collaborate.

Know If You’re on Schedule

Keeping on track means having accurate information. Real-time data makes it timely, but you also need to set your baseline and have dashboard metrics and reporting to compare your actual progress to your planned progress. This makes sure you stay on schedule.

Get an Overview of Performance

Dashboards are designed to collect data and display it over several metrics, such as overall health, workload and more. This high-level view is important, so you want to have a feature that automatically calculates this data and doesn’t require you to manually input it.

Make Data-Based Decisions

Reports dive deeper into data and get more details on a project’s progress and performance. Real-time data makes them accurate. Look for ease of use—it should only take a single click to generate and share. You’ll also want to filter the results to see only what you’re interested in.

The Waterfall Model & ProjectManager

ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software that organizes teams and projects. With features such as online Gantt charts, task lists, reporting tools and more, it’s an ideal tool to control your waterfall project management.

Sign up for a free 30-day trial and follow along to make a waterfall project in just a few easy steps. You’ll have that Gantt chart built in no time!

1. Upload Requirements & Documents

Waterfall project management guarantees one thing: a lot of paperwork. All the documentation and requirements needed to address for the project can quickly become overwhelming.

You can attach all documentation and relevant files to our software, or directly on a task. Now, all of your files are collected in one place and are easy to find. Don’t worry about running out of space—we have unlimited file storage.

2. Use a Work Breakdown Structure to Collect Tasks

Getting to your final deliverable will require many tasks. Planning the waterfall project means knowing every one of those tasks, no matter how small, and how they lead to your final deliverable. A work breakdown structure is a tool to help you figure out all those steps.

To start, use a work breakdown structure (WBS) to collect every task that is necessary to create your final deliverable. You can download a free WBS template here . Then, upload the task list to our software.

3. Open in Gantt Project View

Gantt charts are essential project management tools used for planning and scheduling. They collect your tasks in one place on a timeline . From there, you can link dependencies, set milestones, manage resources and more.

In the software, open the Gantt chart view and add deadlines, descriptions, priorities and tags to each task.

4. Create Phases & Milestones

Milestones are what separates major phases in a waterfall method project. Waterfall methodology is all about structure and moving from one phase to the next, so breaking your project into milestones is key to the waterfall method.

In the Gantt view, create phases and milestones to break up the project. Using the milestone feature, determine when one task ends and a new one begins. Milestones are symbolized by a diamond on the Gantt.

5. Set Dependencies in a Gantt Chart

Dependent tasks are those that cannot start or finish until another starts or finishes. They create complexities in managing any waterfall project.

Link dependent tasks in the Gantt chart. Our software allows you to link all four types of dependencies: start-to-start, start-to-finish, finish-to-finish and finish-to-start. This keeps your waterfall project plan moving forward in a sequential order and prevents bottlenecks.

6. Assign From Gantt Charts

Although you’ve planned and scheduled a project, it’s still just an abstraction until you get your team assigned to execute those tasks. Assigning is a major step in managing your waterfall project and needs to happen efficiently.

Assign team members to tasks right from the Gantt chart. You can also attach any related images or files directly to the task. Collaboration is supported by comments at the task level. Anyone assigned or tagged will get an email alert to notify them of a comment or update.

7. Manage Resources & Workload

Resources are anything you need to complete the project. This means not only your team, but also the materials and tools that they need. The workload represents how many tasks your team is assigned, and balancing that work keeps them productive.

Keep track of project resources on the Workload view. See actual costs, and reallocate as needed to stay on budget. Know how many tasks your team is working on with easy-to-read color-coded charts, and balance their workload right on the page.

8. Track Progress in Dashboard & Gantt

Progress must be monitored to know if you’re meeting the targets you set in your waterfall method plan. The Gantt shows percentage complete, but a dashboard calculates several metrics and shows them in graphs and charts.

Monitor your project in real time and track progress across several metrics with our project dashboard . We automatically calculate project health, costs, tasks and more and then display them in a high-level view of your project. Progress is also tracked by shading on the Gantt’s duration bar.

9. Create Reports

Reporting serves two purposes: it gives project managers greater detail into the inner-workings of their waterfall project to help them make better decisions, and acts as a communication tool to keep stakeholders informed.

Easily generate data-rich reports that show project variance, timesheets , status and more. Get reports on your planned vs. the actual progress. Filter to show just the information you want. Then, share with stakeholders during presentations and keep everyone in the loop.

10. Duplicate Plan for New Projects

Having a means to quickly copy projects is helpful in waterfall methodology, as it jumpstarts the next project by recreating the major steps and allowing you to make tweaks as needed.

Create templates to quickly plan any recurring waterfall projects. If you know exactly what it takes to get the project done, then you can make it into a template. Plus, you can import proven project plans from MSP, and task lists from Excel and Word.

The waterfall methodology is one of two popular methods to tackle software engineering projects; the other method is known as Agile .

It can be easier to understand waterfall when you compare it to Agile. Waterfall and Agile are two very different project management methodologies , but both are equally valid, and can be more or less useful depending on the project.

Waterfall Project Management

If the waterfall model is to be executed properly, each of the phases we outlined earlier must be executed in a linear fashion. Meaning, each phase has to be completed before the next phase can begin, and phases are never repeated—unless there is a massive failure that comes to light in the verification or maintenance phase.

Furthermore, each phase is discrete, and pretty much exists in isolation from stakeholders outside of your team. This is especially true in the requirements phase. Once the customer’s requirements are collected, the customers cease to play any role in the actual waterfall software development life cycle.

Agile Project Management

The agile methodology differs greatly from the waterfall approach in two major ways; namely in regards to linear action and customer involvement. Agile is a nimble and iterative process, where the product is delivered in stages to the customer for them to review and provide feedback.

Instead of having everything planned out by milestones, like in waterfall, the Agile software development method operates in “sprints” where prioritized tasks are completed within a short window, typically around two weeks.

These prioritized tasks are fluid, and appear based on the success of previous sprints and customer feedback, rather than having all tasks prioritized at the onset in the requirements phase.

Understanding the Difference Between Waterfall & Agile

The important difference to remember is that a waterfall project is a fixed, linear plan. Everything is mapped out ahead of time, and customers interact only at the beginning and end of the project. The Agile method, on the other hand, is an iterative process, where new priorities and requirements are injected into the project after sprints and customer feedback sessions.

Pros & Cons of the Waterfall Project Management

There are several reasons why project managers choose to use the waterfall project management methodology. Here are some benefits:

• Project requirements are agreed upon in the first phase, so planning and scheduling is simple and clear.
• With a fully laid out project schedule , you can give accurate estimates for your project cost, resources and deadlines.
• It’s easy to measure progress as you move through the waterfall model phases and hit milestones.
• Customers aren’t perpetually adding new requirements to the project, which can delay production.

Of course, there are drawbacks to using the waterfall method as well. Here are some disadvantages to this approach:

• It can be difficult for customers to articulate all of their needs at the beginning of the project.
• If the customer is dissatisfied with the product in the verification phase, it can be very costly to go back and design the code again.
• A linear project plan is rigid, and lacks flexibility for adapting to unexpected events.

Although it has its drawbacks, a waterfall project management plan is very effective in situations where you are encountering a familiar scenario with several knowns, or in software engineering projects where your customer knows exactly what they want at the onset.

Using a project management software is a great way to get the most out of your waterfall project. You can map out the steps and link dependencies to see exactly what needs to go where.

As illustrated above, ProjectManager is made with waterfall methodology in mind, with a Gantt chart that can structure the project step-by-step. However, we have a full suite of features, including kanban boards that are great for Agile teams that need to manage their sprints.

With multiple project views, both agile and waterfall teams and more traditional ones can work from the same data, delivered in real time, only filtered through the project view most aligned to their work style. We take the waterfall methodology and bring it into the modern world.

Now that you know how to plan a waterfall project, give yourself the best tools for the job. Take a free 30-day trial and see how ProjectManager can help you plan with precision, track with accuracy and deliver your projects on time and under budget.

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Guide to waterfall methodology: Free template and examples

Waterfall project management is a sequential project management methodology that's divided into distinct phases. Each phase begins only after the previous phase is completed. This article explains the stages of the waterfall methodology and how it can help your team achieve their goals.

But what if your project requires a more linear approach? Waterfall methodology is a linear project management methodology that can help you and your team achieve your shared goals—one task or milestone at a time. By prioritizing tasks and dependencies, the waterfall method helps keep your project on track.

What is waterfall methodology?

Waterfall methodology, a term coined by Dr. Winston W. Royce in 1970, is a sequential design process used in software development and product development where project progress flows steadily downwards through several phases—much like a waterfall. The waterfall model is structured around a rigid sequence of steps that move from conception, initiation, analysis, design, construction, testing, implementation, and maintenance.

Unlike more flexible models, such as Agile, the waterfall methodology requires each project phase to be completed fully before the next phase begins, making it easier to align with fixed budgets, timelines, and requirements.

By integrating comprehensive documentation and extensive upfront planning, waterfall methodology minimizes risk and tends to align well with traditional project management approaches that depend on detailed records and a clear, predetermined path to follow.

 For example, here’s what a waterfall project might look like:

The waterfall methodology is often visualized in the form of a flow chart or a Gantt chart. This methodology is called waterfall because each task cascades into the next step. In a Gantt chart, you can see the previous phase "fall" into the next phase.

6 phases of the waterfall project management methodology

Any team can implement waterfall project management, but this methodology is most useful for processes that need to happen sequentially. If the project you’re working on has tasks that can be completed concurrently, try another framework, like the Agile methodology . 

If you’re ready to get started with the waterfall methodology, follow these six steps: 

1. Requirements phase

This is the initial planning process in which the team gathers as much information as possible to ensure a successful project. Because tasks in the waterfall method are dependent on previous steps, it requires a lot of forethought. This planning process is a crucial part of the waterfall model, and because of that, most of the project timeline is often spent planning.

To make this method work for you, compile a detailed project plan that explains each phase of the project scope. This includes everything from what resources are needed to what specific team members are working on the project. This document is commonly referred to as a project requirements document. 

By the end of the requirements phase, you should have a very clear outline of the project from start to finish, including:

Each stage of the process

Who’s working on each stage

Key dependencies

Required resources

A timeline of how long each stage will take.

A well-crafted requirements document serves as a roadmap for the entire project, ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page.

2. System design phase

In a software development process, the design phase is when the project team specifies what hardware the team will be using, and other detailed information such as programming languages, unit testing, and user interfaces. This phase of the waterfall methodology is key to ensuring that the software will meet the required functionality and performance metrics.

There are two steps in the system design phase: the high-level design phase and the low-level design phase. In the high-level design phase, the team builds out the skeleton of how the software will work and how information will be accessed. During the low-level design phase, the team builds the more specific parts of the software. If the high-level design phase is the skeleton, the low-level design phase is the organs of the project. 

Those team members developing using the waterfall method should document each step so the team can refer back to what was done as the project progresses.

3. Implementation phase

This is the stage where everything is put into action. The team starts the full development process to build the software in accordance with both the requirements phase and the system design phase, using the requirements document from step one and the system design process from step two as guides.

During the implementation phase, developers work on coding and unit testing to ensure that the software meets the specified requirements.

4. Testing phase

This is the stage in which the development team hands the project over to the quality assurance testing team. QA testers search for any bugs or errors that need to be fixed before the project is deployed. 

Testers should clearly document all of the issues they find when QAing. In the event that another developer comes across a similar bug, they can reference previous documentation to help fix the issue.

5. Deployment phase

For development projects, this is the stage at which the software is deployed to the end user. For other industries, this is when the final deliverable is launched and delivered to end customers. A successful deployment phase requires careful planning and coordination to ensure a smooth rollout.

6. Maintenance phase

Once a project is deployed, there may be instances where a new bug is discovered or a software update is required. This is known as the maintenance phase, and it's common in the software development life cycle to be continuously working on this phase.

Regular maintenance and updates are essential for keeping the software running smoothly and addressing any issues that arise post-deployment.

When to use waterfall methodology

The waterfall methodology is a common form of project management because it allows for thorough planning and detailed documentation. However, this framework isn’t right for every project. Here are a few examples of when to use this type of project management. 

Project has a well-defined end goal

One of the strengths of the waterfall approach is that it allows for a clear path from point A to point B. If you're unsure of what point B is, your project is probably better off using an iterative form of project management like the Agile approach. 

Projects with an easily defined end goal are well-suited for waterfall methodology because project managers can work backwards from the goal to create a clear and detailed path with all of the requirements necessary.

No restraints on budget or time

If your project has no restraints on budget or time, team members can spend as much time as possible in the requirements and system design phases. They can tweak and tailor the needs of the project as much as they want until they land on a well-thought-out and defined project plan.

Creating repeatable processes

The waterfall model requires documentation at almost every step of the process. This makes it easy to repeat your project for a new team member; each step is clearly detailed so you can recreate the process.

Creating repeatable processes also makes it easy to train new team members on what exactly needs to be done in similar projects. This makes the waterfall process an effective approach to project management for standardizing processes.

Waterfall vs. Agile methodologies

While the waterfall methodology follows a linear, sequential approach, Agile is an iterative and incremental methodology. In Agile, the project is divided into smaller, manageable chunks known as sprints. Each sprint includes planning, design, development, testing, and review phases.

The Agile method emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and rapid iteration based on continuous feedback. It allows for changes and adaptations throughout the project's lifecycle. In contrast, the waterfall model has a more rigid structure with distinct phases and limited room for changes once a phase is complete.

The choice between waterfall and Agile depends on factors such as project complexity, clarity of requirements, team size, and client involvement. The waterfall model is suitable for projects with well-defined requirements and minimal changes expected, while the Agile method is favored for projects with evolving requirements and a need for frequent client feedback and course corrections.

Benefits of waterfall methodology

Consistent documentation makes it easy to backtrack.

When you implement the waterfall project management process, you’re creating documentation every step of the way. This can be beneficial—if your team needs to backtrack your processes, you can easily find mistakes. It's also great for creating repeatable processes for new team members, as mentioned earlier. 

Tracking progress is easy

By laying out a waterfall project in a Gantt chart, you can easily track project progress. The timeline itself serves as a progress bar, so it’s always clear what stage a project is in.

Team members can manage time effectively

Because the waterfall methodology requires so much upfront planning during the requirement and design phase, it is easy for stakeholders to estimate how much time their specific part of the waterfall process will take.

Downsides of waterfall project management

Roadblocks can drastically affect timeline.

The waterfall methodology is linear by nature, so if there's a bump in the road or a task gets delayed, the entire timeline is shifted. For example, if a third-party vendor is late on sending a specific part to a manufacturing team, the entire process has to be put on hold until that specific piece is received.

Linear progress can make backtracking challenging

One of the major challenges of the waterfall methodology is that it's hard to go back to a phase once it's already been completed. For example, if someone is painting the walls of a house, they wouldn’t be able to go back and increase the size of one of the rooms. 

QA is late in the process

In comparison to some of the more iterative project management methodologies like Kanban and Agile, the review stage in a waterfall approach happens later in the process. If a mistake is made early on in the process, it can be challenging to go back and fix it. Because of how the waterfall process works, it doesn’t allow for room for iteration or searching for the best solution.

Waterfall methodology examples

To better understand how the waterfall methodology is applied in practice, let's look at a couple of real-world use cases:

1. Construction Project: Building a new office complex requires careful planning and sequential execution. The project manager first gathers all the requirements, such as building specifications, timelines, and budgets. Then, architects and engineers create detailed designs. After approval, construction starts and strict quality controls follow. Finally, the building is handed over to the client for use and maintenance.

2. Software Engineering Project: A company wants to develop a new mobile application using the software development life cycle (SDLC). The project manager defines the product requirements, including features, performance metrics, and integrations. Software architects create the high-level design and technical specifications. Developers then follow the SDLC phases of coding, unit testing, and deployment. The team follows the waterfall methodology throughout the product development process, making sure that each step is finished before going on to the next. After the successful launch, the mobile app enters the maintenance phase, where the team addresses user feedback and provides updates.

Managing your waterfall project

With waterfall projects, there are many moving pieces and different team members to keep track of. One of the best ways to stay on the same page is to use project management software to keep workflows, timelines, and deliverables all in one place. 

If you're ready to try waterfall project management with your team, try a template in Asana . You can view Asana projects in several ways, including Timeline view, which visualizes your project as a linear timeline.

FAQ: Waterfall methodology

How do you handle changes in requirements during a waterfall project?

Handling changes in requirements during a waterfall project can be challenging, but it's essential to assess the impact of the change, communicate with stakeholders, update project documentation, adjust the project plan, and ensure all team members are informed of the changes. Implementing a change control process can help formally manage and track changes throughout the project.

Can you combine waterfall and agile methodologies in a single project?

Yes, it is possible to combine waterfall and agile methodologies in a single project using a hybrid approach. This involves using waterfall methodology for the upfront planning and requirements gathering phases and adopting agile practices during the implementation and testing phases. The balance between the waterfall model and Agile method can be adjusted based on the project scope.

How do you ensure successful team collaboration on a waterfall project?

Ensuring successful team collaboration in a waterfall project involves establishing clear communication, defining roles and responsibilities, scheduling regular meetings, using collaborative tools, fostering a positive team culture, and providing necessary support and resources. By focusing on these key aspects, teams can work together effectively and efficiently to achieve project goals.

What are the best project management tools for waterfall methodology?

For teams following a waterfall methodology, Asana is the best project management tool available. Its comprehensive set of features, such as Timeline view for visualizing project plans, task dependencies for ensuring proper sequencing, and seamless integrations, make it the ideal choice for managing linear projects. While other tools like Microsoft Project offer waterfall-specific features, Asana's ease of use, collaboration capabilities, and flexibility make it the top choice for teams looking to streamline their waterfall project management process.

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What is project management and its benefits?

• Agile project management
• Waterfall Methodology

Waterfall Methodology: A Comprehensive Guide

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If you've been in project management for a while, you must’ve encountered the Waterfall methodology. It's an old-school software development method from the 1970s.

In a Waterfall process, you must complete each project phase before moving to the next. It's pretty rigid and linear. The method relies heavily on all the requirements and thinking done before you begin.

Don't worry if you haven't heard of it. Let’s break the Waterfall method down and see how it works.

What is the Waterfall methodology?

Waterfall methodology is a well-established project management workflow . Like a waterfall, each process phase cascades downward sequentially through five stages (requirements, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance).

The methodology comes from computer scientist Winston Royce’s 1970 research paper on software development. Although Royce never named this model “waterfall”, he gets credit for creating a linear, rigorous project management system.  

Unlike other methods, such as the Agile methodology, Waterfall doesn't allow flexibility. You must finish one phase before beginning the next. Your team can’t move forward until they resolve any problems. Moreover, as our introduction to project management guide outlines, your team can’t address bugs or technical debt if it’s already moved on to the next project phase.

What are the stages of the Waterfall methodology?

Five phases comprise the Waterfall methodology: requirements, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance. Let's break down the five specific phases of Waterfall development and understand why it’s critical to complete each phase before progressing to the next.

Requirements

The requirements phase states what the system should do. At this stage, you determine the project's scope, from business obligations to user needs. This gives you a 30,000-foot overview of the entire project. The requirements should specify:

• resources required for the project.
• what each team member will work on and at what stage.
• a timeline for the entire project, outlining how long each stage will take. 
• details on each stage of the process. 

But these requirements " may range from very abstract to a detailed mathematical specification ,” writes Steven Zeil , professor of computer science at Old Dominion University. That’s because requirements might not outline an exact implementation, and that’s something development addresses in later stages. 

After gathering all the requirements, it's time to move on to the design stage. Here, designers develop solutions that meet the requirements. In this stage, designers:

• create schedules and project milestones.
• determine the exact deliverables.  
• create designs and/or blueprints for deliverables. 

Deliverables could include software or they could consist of a physical product. For instance, designers determine the system architecture and use cases for software. For a physical product, they figure out its exact specifications for production. 

Implementation

Once the design is finalized and approved, it's time to implement it. Design hands off their specifications to developers to build.

To accomplish this, developers:

• create an implementation plan.
• collect any data or research needed for the build.
• assign specific tasks and allocate resources among the team. 

Here is where you might even find out that parts of the design that can't be implemented. If it's a huge issue, you must step back and re-enter the design phase.

Verification

After the developers code the design, it’s time for quality assurance. It’s important to test for all use cases to ensure a good user experience. That's because you don't want to release a buggy product to customers.

• writes test cases.
• documents any bugs and errors to be fixed.
• tests one aspect at a time.
• determines which QA metrics to track.
• covers a variety of use case scenarios and environments.

Maintenance

After the product release, devs might have to squash bugs. Customers let your support staff know of any issues that come up. Then, it's up to the team to address those requests and release newer versions of your product.

As you can see, each stage depends on the one that comes before it. It doesn't allow for much error between or within phases.

For example, if a stakeholder wants to add a requirement when you're in the verification phase, you'll have to re-examine the entirety of your project. That could mean tossing the whole thing out and starting over.

Benefits of Waterfall methodology

The benefits of Waterfall methodology have made it a lasting workflow for projects that rely on a fixed outcome. A 2020 survey found that 56% of project professionals had used traditional, or Waterfall, models in the previous year.

A few benefits of Waterfall planning include:

• Clear project structure : Waterfall leaves little room for confusion because of rigorous planning. There is a clear end goal in sight that you're working toward.
• Set costs : The rigorous planning ensures that the time and cost of the project are known upfront.
• Easier tracking : Assessing progress is faster because there is less cross-functional work. You can even manage the entirety of the project in a Gantt chart, which you can find in Jira.
• A replicable process : If a project succeeds, you can use the process again for another project with similar requirements.
• Comprehensive project documentation : The Waterfall methodology provides you with a blueprint and a historical project record so you can have a comprehensive overview of a project.
• Improved risk management : The abundance of upfront planning reduces risk. It allows developers to catch design problems before writing any code.
• Enhanced responsibility and accountability : Teams take responsibility within each process phase. Each phase has a clear set of goals, milestones, and timelines.
• More precise execution for a non-expert workforce : Waterfall allows less-experienced team members to plug into the process.
• Fewer delays because of additional requirements : Since your team knows the needs upfront, there isn't a chance for additional asks from stakeholders or customers.

Limitations of Waterfall methodology

Waterfall isn't without its limitations, which is why many product teams opt for an Agile methodology.

The Waterfall method works wonders for predictable projects but falls apart on a project with many variables and unknowns. Let's look at some other limitations of Waterfall planning:

• Longer delivery times : The delivery of the final product could take longer than usual because of the inflexible step-by-step process, unlike in an iterative process like Agile or Lean.
• Limited flexibility for innovation : Any unexpected occurrence can spell doom for a project with this model. One issue could move the project two steps back.
• Limited opportunities for client feedback : Once the requirement phase is complete, the project is out of the hands of the client.
• Tons of feature requests : Because clients have little say during the project's execution, there can be a lot of change requests after launch, such as addition of new features to the existing code. This can create further maintenance issues and prolong the launch.
• Deadline creep : If there's a significant issue in one phase, everything grinds to a halt. Nothing can move forward until the team addresses the problem. It may even require you to go back to a previous phase to address the issue.

Below is an illustration of a project using the waterfall approach. As you can see, the project is segmented into rigid blocks of time. This rigidity fosters an environment that encourages developers, product managers, and stakeholders to request the maximum amount of time allotted in each time block, since there may be no opportunity to iterate in the future.

How is the Waterfall method different from Agile project management?

Agile project management and the Waterfall methodology have the same end goal: crystal clear project execution. While Waterfall planning isolates teams into phases, Agile allows for cross-functional work across multiple phases of a project. Instead of rigid steps, teams work in a cycle of planning, executing, and evaluating, iterating as they go. 

The " Agile Manifesto " explains the benefits of Agile over the Waterfall model:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change by following a plan

If you're looking for tools that support Agile project management and serve the same end goal as Waterfall, consider Jira . It’s best suited for Agile projects, and helps you: 

• Track work : With Gantt charts , advanced roadmaps , timelines, and various other tools, you can easily track your progress throughout the project.
• Align your team : Tracking allows you to seamlessly plan across business teams, keeping everyone aligned on the same goals.
• Manage projects and workflows : With Jira, you can access project management templates that you can use for your Agile workflows .
• Plan at every stage : Jira Product Discovery , another product by Atlassian, offers product roadmaps for planning and prioritizing product features at every stage, from discovery to delivery.

Atlassian's Agile tools support the product development lifecycle. There are even Agile metrics for tracking purposes. Jira  lets you drive forward the Agile process. It uses intake forms to track work being done by internal teams and offers a repeatable process for requests.

These Jira products integrate natively within the app, unifying teams so they can work faster.

Use Agile methodology for project management

Waterfall methodology has a long history in project management, but it's often not the right choice for modern software developers. Agile methodology offers greater flexibility.

Here’s why most teams prefer an Agile process:

• Adaptability to changes : If something arises, your team will be better able to adjust on the fly. Waterfall’s rigidity makes it difficult to deal with any roadblocks.
• Continuous feedback loop : Continuous improvement requires a feedback loop. With Agile, you can gather feedback from stakeholders during the process and iterate accordingly. 
• Stronger communication : Teams work collaboratively in an Agile process. Waterfall is a series of handoffs between different teams, which hinders effective communication. 

Here is where a project management tool such as Jira  comes in handy for an Agile methodology. You can also use a project management template for your Agile projects. Your team can plan, collaborate, deliver, and report on projects in one tool. That keeps everyone aligned throughout any project and streamlines project management.

Waterfall methodology: Frequently asked questions

Who is best suited for waterfall methodology.

The Waterfall methodology works best for project managers working on projects that include:

• Less complex objectives : Projects that don't have complicated requirements are best suited for Waterfall.
• Predictable outcomes : Waterfall works best for those projects that are replicable and proven.
• Reduced likelihood of project scope creep : A project where clients aren't likely to come up with last-minute requirements is suitable for Waterfall.

Agile methodology is perfect for nimble teams with an iterative mindset, such as: 

• Cross-functional teams : A team of people with different skill sets that allows them to work on various aspects of a project. These are collaborative types who are flexible.
• Self-organizing teams : Autonomous teams that don't need a lot of handholding. They embrace ambiguity in a project and are great problem solvers. This mindset also gives them more ownership over outcomes.
• Startups and small businesses : These benefit from the mindset of " move fast and break things ". So they can fail fast, learn, and improve.

Finally, Agile works well for customer-centric projects where their input allows you to iterate.

What factors should I consider before implementing a project management approach?

When deciding on the proper methodology to implement in project management, there are four main factors to consider: project complexity, organizational goals, team expertise, and stakeholder involvement.

Let’s break each one down: 

• Project complexity : Waterfall can help break down larger, more complex projects into smaller sets of expectations and goals. But its rigidity doesn’t deal well with unknowns or changes. Agile is better for complex projects that have a lot of variables. 
• Organizational goals : What does your organization want to achieve? Is it looking to innovate or keep the status quo? An Agile approach is best if your organization wants to break down silos. Teams will work more collaboratively with more autonomy.
• Team expertise : Agile is an excellent way to go if your team is cross-functional and can work across skill sets. If your team members rely heavily on a singular skill set, Waterfall may be better. 
• Stakeholder involvement : If your stakeholders are going to be more hands-on, Agile will help you best because it allows for continuous feedback and iteration. 

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Agile vs. waterfall project management

Agile project management is an incremental and iterative practice, while waterfall is a linear and sequential project management practice

Waterfall Project Management: The Ultimate Guide

Waterfall project management can give your projects a more structured approach.

As a discipline, project management is essential to ensuring end products are produced as intended, while also not blowing the budget or running over schedule. Waterfall project management is a longstanding methodology that adds intense rigor and structure to the discipline so processes can be refined and repeated for future projects. For project managers wanting to formalize their project efforts, the chapters below provide an in-depth rundown of virtually everything you need to know about waterfall, including when it's best to use (and avoid) the methodology, and its phases.

Table of contents, chapter 1: what is the waterfall approach to project management, chapter 2: waterfall phases, chapter 3: waterfall advantages, chapter 4: waterfall disadvantages, chapter 5: waterfall project management methodology examples, chapter 6: how to support a waterfall approach with software.

Waterfall project management is a linear methodology that requires a project to be completed in sequential steps. At the beginning of the project, you create a detailed waterfall project plan that includes requirements and expectations, among other aspects. You then proceed through a series of clearly defined phases—which we describe in Chapter 2—until you’ve fully executed on the plan.

Waterfall is documentation-heavy and can be unforgiving at times because you must fully complete each phase before moving on to the next one. It’s often contrasted with other project methodologies , such as agile—a flexible, iterative approach that develops a project in stages, instead of planning it from start to finish before kickoff. To help draw a distinction between the two approaches, consider several agile methodologies:

• Lean. This philosophy emphasizes cutting waste and inefficiencies, such as choosing only the most valuable features for a software system.
• Kanban. A flexible project management approach that promotes continuous collaboration and emphasizes visualization of work, typically through a collection of boards and cards.
• Scrum. An approach involving a small team led by a scrum master, whose main job is to clear away all obstacles to the team completing work. Work is done in short cycles called sprints, and the team meets daily to discuss current tasks and roadblocks that need clearing.

The flexibility of agile methodologies like the above have inspired some organizations to forego the traditional waterfall project management methodology—according to a PMI survey, 37% of organizations use waterfall approaches, while 41% use either agile or a hybrid approach of waterfall and agile. Still, there are certain industries and projects where the sequential approach is necessary; we explore a few examples of these in Chapter 5.

The waterfall method of project management defines five distinct phases you must carefully plan out and execute on, and each phase is a prerequisite for the next. Below we walk through what to expect in each phase.

1. Planning

The first phase is all about preparing for subsequent phases. You gather important setup information and requirements about the project through interviews, questionnaires, brainstorming sessions, and so on. Be sure to include all key stakeholders to address multiple perspectives.

One essential part of the planning phase is identifying the specific deliverables you’ll need throughout the life of the project, and what it will take to produce them. These should be queued up so as you proceed through each phase, your team has a clear idea of which deliverable they’ll need to work on next. Assigning roles is also important—each participant (even less-involved stakeholders) should know the part they’re required to play.

Remember that waterfall project management requires each step to be thought out in the beginning, so put a sizable amount of time and effort in this first phase to ensure you don’t have to go back to the drawing board down the line.

2. Designing

The second phase is intended to establish the project specifics. Here is where you outline all the actions you’ll take to deliver the agreed-upon scope, and the order in which you’ll take them. This is also where you flesh out and document expected timelines, budgets, and so on.

Design is all about solidifying and documenting your decisions from the first phase—think of the planning phase as the what and the designing phase as the how . For example, if you’re managing a software development project, you would document the programming language you’ll be using and any hardware requirements.

3. Implementation

Here you execute on what you’ve planned and documented. The majority of your time will be spent in this phase. If your company creates software, this stage would consist primarily of coding and hitting product development and release milestones. If your company is in construction, this is where your team would be building a home or commercial property.

Like in the previous phase, remember to document your activities. Good recordkeeping for external and internal use is imperative, for example, if clients want evidence of certain tasks, and to give your team something to refer back to for future projects.

Here you look for any problems in deliverables from the implementation phase. Maybe there’s some errant code (for software) or issues with the roof (for construction). The rigor of the waterfall approach typically makes this phase relatively brief, but you should create a process for finding and reporting issues to keep the project moving smoothly. If your original plan was designed well, you may have a little buffer to remediate problems.

5. Maintenance

The focus of the maintenance phase is to tie up any loose strings, such as making minor modifications to the product to improve performance (typically through change requests) or to shore up any issues or defects.

In addition, you want to optimize your process for the next project. You may hold a lessons-learned discussion (sometimes called an after action review) to determine what went well and what didn’t. This helps identify the changes you should make the next time around. Document everything you discuss and make sure it’s saved where you know where to find it when you start your next project.

The sequential nature of waterfall project management may make the approach seem inflexible, but these characteristics also provide the below upsides.

1. It speeds up training time for new team members.

New team members often have to go through the onboarding process, including shadowing with a current team member. The documentation for the waterfall approach comes in handy when getting new members up to speed. While they’ll still need to connect and establish a good relationship with the rest of the team, reviewing project documentation can give new members a solid foundation of knowledge. It can also help answer many questions they might have, meaning they won’t have to wait for a teammate to get answers.

2. It helps retain knowledge within the organization.

Documentation comes in handy with regard to employee turnover. When experienced employees exit the organization, their knowledge is retained in project documents. When you assign someone to the empty role or source new talent to fill it, they’ll have an easier time learning the ins and outs of their responsibilities.

3. It makes projects easier to manage.

Regardless of team size, the waterfall approach is straightforward. After putting in the work upfront to plan all the necessary details for a successful completion, the only thing left is to walk through the steps as directed. At any point during the project, you should know exactly what’s being worked on and by whom, along with any dependent tasks—this leaves little need to figure out what’s next on the agenda, or who to go to if you have questions about work items.

4. It reduces the time needed to complete projects.

Every waterfall-style project you complete helps you refine your project processes, and find new and better ways to complete similar work. Many companies perform the same type of work repeatedly for different clients or contexts. Construction companies are a good example—whether they’re building a home, an office building, or an industrial space, it requires the same repeatable process.

Assuming they’ve documented their processes—and updated that documentation in subsequent engagements—construction companies can achieve faster build times. They are also well aware of potential issues that can cause delays, and how to quickly remedy them. The same sentiment can be applied to other types of companies that employ a repeatable process to achieve similar end products.

5. It makes project progress simple to measure.

The waterfall technique for project management ensures all project elements are clearly defined, which makes measuring progress a simple task. You always know where you are schedule-wise, how many tasks you’ve completed, which deliverables have been submitted, and so on. Then it’s just a matter of doing the math, determining whether you’re on track, and seeing what corrective measures may be needed if you’re behind schedule.

6. It makes project progress easy to visualize.

Stemming from the last advantage, clear measurements make for easy charting and graphing. A straightforward percentage of completion can be shown with a pie chart to quickly communicate status to management. Gantt charts are also frequently used in the waterfall methodology to show the status of the current schedule, including dependency relationships between activities.

There are also several downsides to the waterfall method of project management. While they don’t take away from the efficacy of the methodology, they do demonstrate why waterfall is not suitable for all projects.

1. It’s unadaptable to change.

As we described above, flexibility is the key difference between waterfall and agile methodologies. Waterfall takes a highly structured, step-by-step approach to producing an end product, whether that be a new office building or a new vaccine. In worst-case scenarios, if you miss an important detail, you may be forced to start the entire project over from phase one. This can be quite costly in terms of budget, client satisfaction, and employee morale.

2. It requires lots of planning.

Since waterfall requires that all project details are known upfront, you have to employ extensive, comprehensive planning efforts. From in-depth interviews to multiple brainstorming sessions, you have to get as much information out of as many people as possible to avoid missing any pertinent details that could impact the project in later phases.

Plus, if you’re looking to get a project up and running quickly, you’ll probably be out of luck—unless it’s a similar project that calls for many of the same requirements, which would reduce planning time.

3. It requires intense focus in each phase.

Waterfall can require that a phase be fully completed before proceeding to the next one, and it’s extremely difficult to go back if you miss anything. That means you and your team must check every box before moving on, or there could be a lot of rework needed. This could easily derail your schedule since there are many dependent relationships between tasks—every day of delay is another day added to your overall schedule.

4. It doesn’t permit working on multiple phases at once.

Agile allows you to move between phases as you learn more about what you’re working on. Waterfall is not so forgiving. In most cases, you’re not able to shorten the timeline on projects by working simultaneously on different tasks. Since there are so many dependent relationships between tasks, you’re forced to complete each one individually before starting the next. Rolling up this concept to a higher-level view, you can see why a project schedule would not have much flexibility. There may be a few places where waterfall steps overlap, but there is usually a gating mechanism to make sure each major area is completed before moving on to the next area of the plan.

The effectiveness of waterfall vs. agile is a hotly debated topic. In truth, every project is different, which means you may need to tailor your approach to fit whatever your current project needs. Below are some use cases where the waterfall methodology is a good fit, and others where another methodology would likely work better.

Use Cases Where Waterfall Works Well

In general, traditional waterfall project management is a good fit for projects that:

• Can be planned from beginning to end before they start
• Don’t require work on multiple phases at the same time
• Have a clearly defined product and process

Both the construction and manufacturing industries have long used waterfall project management. In fact, over 25% of manufacturing companies still use the methodology.

Given the sequential operating nature of the two industries, this reality isn’t surprising. Construction companies build houses and commercial spaces literally from the ground up; changes in a construction plan can be extremely costly and, in some cases, not possible after certain points in the project. While there may be room for preparing certain materials in advance, buildings are constructed in a specific order, making it a great match for waterfall.

Manufacturing also calls for orderly operations—personnel and machines work together to turn various components into a cohesive product for additional processing or final product for consumer consumption. The rigid nature of waterfall project management helps ensure process outcomes are consistent, so products turn out the same way every time.

‍ Healthcare is another area that can benefit from using waterfall, specifically pharmaceuticals. Scientific research is naturally an orderly practice, and the end product is clearly defined. To develop a new drug, for example, scientists form a hypothesis and proceed through a rigorous set of steps. Each time they fail, they start over, forming an adjusted hypothesis to explore.

Here’s a brief overview of how a waterfall project might go in a pharma context:

• Planning. Scientists perform research about the disease they’re trying to cure, including studying it in a lab and interviewing patients affected by it. They form a hypothesis on a potential cure.
• Designing. The scientists develop a waterfall project plan as to how they will explore the hypothesis and what resources they need.
• Implementation. The scientists execute on their plan and develop a drug that potentially cures the disease.
• Testing. The scientists perform relevant testing to verify the efficacy of the drug. If it doesn’t work, they start over.
• Maintenance. The scientists reflect on the process, identify lessons learned, make changes to their hypothesis and development process, and document all these aspects to optimize their next drug development project.

The waterfall method of project management also works well for local governments and municipalities that build or reopen any type of public works project. For example, consider the reopening of a seasonal public space such as a park or recreation center. A waterfall project may proceed in this manner:

• Planning. Government staff conduct interviews with maintenance workers and park officials to determine the appropriate steps and resources needed to reopen the space to the public.
• Designing. The staff outlines a plan, assigning people to relevant responsibility areas and creating a work timeline.
• Implementation. The staff oversees the execution of the project, ensuring each task is completed successfully and on time.
• Testing. The staff carries out appropriate tests to ensure the space is safe and operating correctly, and that it will hold up well under public use.
• Maintenance. The staff holds a review discussion to evaluate the reopening process, and make any necessary changes to the process for next year’s reopening.

Use Cases Where Waterfall Isn’t Suitable

In general, traditional waterfall project management would not be a good fit for projects that:

• Necessitate different phases or tasks be worked on simultaneously
• Have an unclear end state, where you’re not exactly sure what a product or outcome will be or even how best to approach creating it
• Require feedback at multiple points throughout the life of the project that impact processes and deliverables

Software development is a great example. Historically, waterfall was used to develop software; it is still sometimes used for prepackaged software products, such as Microsoft Office 2010. However, subscription-based software has become the norm in recent years. This type of software is maintained continuously and typically uses customer feedback to roll out new features frequently. Instead of packaging together a set of features for a given year, then restarting the development process to roll out a new version the next year, customers are continually presented with the latest version every time they log in.

Dubbed software as a service (SaaS), this development and pricing model requires lots of flexibility to accommodate changes based on customer input and updates. That’s why many modern software development companies choose agile over waterfall project management.

Sometimes waterfall doesn’t work because technology is evolving so quickly that you cannot plan out an entire year-long project. It doesn’t allow for you to learn from your clients along the way or include a new innovation in underlying software. That being said, you may take an agile development approach, but still have aspects of waterfall in the release process to make sure that testing is completed and customer communications occur as a product or enhancement is being released.

Whether you decide to follow the traditional waterfall project management methodology or a hybrid approach, you can increase your chances of success by using a solution designed to track and support the progress of your projects. ClearPoint strategy execution software not only keeps your projects running in an orderly fashion, but also ensures they align with your overall goals.

ClearPoint brings together all your project data in one place to help you easily keep your team and management informed about project status. You can also upload all your requirements documents so your whole team can stay on the same page throughout the life of the project.

In keeping with waterfall’s focus on optimizing processes for future projects, you can even save your project data as a template and duplicate it when you start a new project—saving a significant number of hours and money. Other features that help you manage your waterfall projects successfully are:

Project Tracking

You can build and track your entire waterfall project plan in ClearPoint, from planning to maintenance. Use the project management dashboard to maintain a high-level view of progress. Track milestones to see which ones are complete, on track, or falling behind. Assign tasks to users based on their responsibilities, including due dates and notifications alerting you to their completion, and link those tasks to higher-level project phases.

Visualizations

Recall that waterfall makes visualizing project progress easy; ClearPoint has a number of charts and graphs to help you accomplish this. For example, Gantt charts are an essential visual tool for waterfall project management—these are automatically built into ClearPoint as you enter start and end dates for individual tasks. You can see the status of each project through standard colors like red, yellow, and green, making it simple for anyone to quickly gauge project status.

Another important aspect of waterfall is reporting. You have to keep your team, department leaders, and executives in the loop about progress. ClearPoint helps you easily report on KPIs—including adherence to the budget —to each of these audiences by enabling you to quickly build and save reports that show varied levels of data and different visualizations.

The traditional waterfall project management methodology can help add structure and rigor to any project, but it’s not necessarily best suited for every project. Consider whether your project fits the criteria described above, and remember you can always opt to try a hybrid approach of waterfall and agile if you need more flexibility.

Whether you choose to go the traditional route or follow a hybrid model, ClearPoint can help your project make it to the finish line on time and within budget—all while supporting your strategy.

Ryan Wherrity

Ryan serves as a "player-coach" on ClearPoint's sales team, managing major accounts while also overseeing his fellow Account Executives' efforts.

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What Is Waterfall Methodology? Here’s How It Can Help Your Project Management Strategy

Updated: May 28, 2024, 9:56pm

Waterfall methodology is a widely used project management method with a linear approach. In Waterfall, each stage of the workflow needs to be completed before moving on to the next step. While there are various types of project management methodologies, Waterfall is well suited for projects where the objectives are clearly outlined from the beginning. This article covers how Waterfall works, what projects the methodology is best suited for and how it compares with Agile, another project management method.

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Waterfall Methodology Definition

The Waterfall approach was established in 1970 by Winston w. Royce. It contains five phases of management, where each requires a deliverable from the previous phase to proceed. Waterfall is ideal for projects like software development, where the end result is clearly established before starting, and is best suited for projects that require a lot of predictability.

Waterfall Methodology Phases

There are five phases of the Waterfall methodology: Requirements, Design, Implementation, Verification and Maintenance. Below, we discuss each phase and the purpose for each one.

• Requirements. During this phase, you outline the big picture of your project’s requirements. These are, “high-level statements that could be implemented in many different ways,” according to Dr. Chris Mattmann , Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO) at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For example, a requirement could be that a B2B software process a million transactions per day, or serve a community of 10,000 concurrent users.
• Design. Once you understand the project requirements, the next step is to come up with ways to design solutions that meet them. For example, if the requirement is processing one million users per day, you’d consider possibilities that will best support this during the design phase. As Mattmann explained, “We probably shouldn’t have a single backend server because that’s not resilient. So maybe our design says we should have redundancy with multiple backend servers so that if one goes, we can still meet that goal of processing a million transactions a day.”
• Implementation. During this phase, you select one of your candidate designs and use technology to implement them. This could involve collecting data and inspecting whether the design is able to support the requirements.
• Verification. During this phase, you take the implementation you created in phase four and test whether it validates your requirements. If, for example, the original requirement was to process one million transactions per day, you would test whether this is possible. If you run into issues—say you can only run 500,000 transactions per day—here’s where you would go back and test where issues could have come up, Mattmann explained.
• Maintenance. The project isn’t over once it has gone through validation and verification. The system still needs to be maintained. During maintenance, you are “designing strategies for updating and upgrading,” Mattmann said. This involves patching systems, upgrading the systems, implementing a software upgrade or testing for errors and fixing them if they do occur.

Waterfall Methodology: Advantages and Disadvantages

One of the advantages of Waterfall is that it has a fixed timeline and budget because the project goals are specific and delineated from the start. Once the goal of the project is established, the Waterfall methodology does not involve frequent feedback or collaboration from the client, apart from established milestones or deliverables for each phase. This makes it easier for project managers to plan and communicate with stakeholders or business partners. However, while this can help with planning, it is also only practical when a client has a clear and fixed end goal and does not need to be involved in the process of the project’s development.

One of the disadvantages of this methodology is that addressing unexpected problems can be difficult and timely. “As you proceed from phase to phase, the phases could inform one another,” Mattmann explained. For example, challenges in the implementation phase could indicate that you had a poor design. The trouble is, “you might not ever figure that out until you implement or do verification and validation.” In these situations, the rigidity of completing one phase fully before moving on to the next can prolong project timelines. The best way to prevent this when you’re using Waterfall is to get as much information as possible to avoid the risk of needing to go back on a phase, Mattmann advised.

Use-Case Scenarios

Waterfall methodology is often used when there is a high level of reliability needed for the project. Waterfall is common for projects that, “require intense human review because the possibility that you got it wrong could lead eventually to loss of life,” Mattmann explained. The Department of Defense and the aerospace industry are two examples.

Waterfall vs. Agile Methodologies

Waterfall and Agile are two project management methods best suited for different types of projects. The Agile method was developed after Waterfall to work more quickly and better prepare for changes in software development. While Waterfall is fixed and more rigid, the Agile method is adaptable and is better suited for a client-facing work process. In the Agile methodology, the team works on multiple phases of a project simultaneously and for short periods of time.

The Agile method follows the same or similar project phases discussed above, but these could be happening simultaneously and don’t need to follow a particular order. One potential downside of the Agile method is that your team could end up doing a lot of unnecessary work. For example, one part of the team might be working on validating a prototype design that later proves to be unnecessary during the implementation process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the steps of the waterfall methodology.

There are five phases of the Waterfall methodology: Requirements, Design, Implementation, Verification and Maintenance. Each stage needs to be completed and validated before moving on to the next phase.

Are there disadvantages to using the Waterfall methodology?

The main downside of Waterfall methodology is that it can take a long time because it requires approval for each phase before moving on to the next one. Another disadvantage is that projects can get stuck in one stage, and the team might not be able to complete them. For example, getting verification for a particular design might prove too challenging, and the project might stop there.

Is Waterfall methodology better than Agile?

Waterfall and Agile are two different project management methodologies. The main difference is that Waterfall requires completing each phase before moving on to the next phase, while in Agile , the team is working on different phases of the project concurrently. Both have advantages and disadvantages and are best suited for different types of work.

What is the best project management methodology?

Which model and method will work best for you depends on the unique characteristics of your team and project. Consider typical methods in your industry, your team’s competencies and the project’s complexity to choose the best methodology.

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The Waterfall Methodology in Project Management

The Empire State Building, huge websites, and some of the most successful marketing campaigns have been built on this tried-and-true process. But is it right for you?

In this chapter, we’ll cover what the Waterfall methodology is, how the Waterfall process works, and the pros and cons of Waterfall project management.

What is the Waterfall methodology in project management?

The Waterfall method is a traditional project management methodology that takes a well-defined project idea to completion through a sequential series of linear steps, tasks, and hand-offs. This straightforward and somewhat rigid method uses early planning and estimation to define and document project requirements prior to executing on the work.

The Waterfall methodology centers around a visual timeline—or gantt chart —of your project. This makes it easy to see how long every task should take, who should be working on it, and what order work should be done in.

The history of Waterfall: A method with roots in software development

The Waterfall model was first presented in 1970 by American computer scientist Winston W. Royce—though he didn’t actually use that term to describe it—in his article titled, "Managing the development of large software systems.” The first mention of “Waterfall” is often attributed to a paper written by T.E. Bell and T.A. Thayer in 1976.

Since then, the Waterfall approach has made an impact on many projects and project managers. It’s still widely used across industries and has even inspired formalized education around project management.

In Royce’s original article, he expressed his personal views on software development and presented Waterfall as a case of a flawed, non-working software development methodology—a critical view that persists today and has led to the rise of newer methods, including Agile project management .

Industries that use Waterfall project management

Any industry that relies on a well-defined process can use the Waterfall methodology. Those may include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Software development
• Design and creative

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How the Waterfall process works

Waterfall project management follows a linear process designed to deliver project quality and cost-efficiency. Each phase of the Waterfall process happens in sequential order, meaning one step must finish before the next one begins. You start at point A, finish that step, move on to step B, and continue that way until your project’s complete.

The Waterfall lifecycle doesn’t allow for a ton of iteration unless it’s planned. So if you’re working with a client, be very clear about how much time is scoped for feedback and iteration on your deliverables. Those steps will be built directly into your project plan. 

The same goes for change! If a client wants to change the direction of your Waterfall project midstream, you’ll face challenges with your project scope , budget, and deadline. That’s because the Waterfall method is grouped by phases and tasks that depend wholly on previous tasks and decisions. The minute you go off track with the plan, things start to fall apart.

Waterfall methodology phases

The Waterfall development process can be broken down into 6 key phases. Let’s take a closer look at the Waterfall methodology phases so you can get familiar with the high-level steps of the process.

Phase 1: Requirements gathering and documentation

The first step of any Waterfall project is to question and analyze business needs and understand project goals with a focus on documenting project requirements . 

This phase is critical to project success because it fully explains what’s needed—in detail—to complete the project both at a high level and as it relates to each requirement, which will be tracked throughout the project.

Phase 2: Planning and design 

The second phase of the Waterfall lifecycle builds on the first step by creating an overall plan for what’s being built. After all, you’ve got to know what you’re designing before setting out to design it.

Here are a few ways this plan might come together, depending on the project you’re working on:

• Architecture plan
• Detailed project brief

In this Waterfall phase, the goal is to come away with a foundational design document everyone agrees on that acts as a true north for your project. Once that plan’s complete, you can hand it to a designer who will bring the plan to life.

That said, it’s important to remember to keep an eye on your project requirements and documentation so the design work can be handed over in the next phase to begin implementation.

Phase 3: Build and development 

The next phase of the Waterfall process involves the actual build or development of a product. 

This is where the documentation you’ve created in the previous 2 steps proves critical, as it will guide your team to implement the design work. Hold your team accountable for checking those requirements—as well as their work in this step—to ease the pain of rework or fixes in the testing phase.

Phase 4: Testing 

Now it’s time to ensure your product meets all the requirements with the utmost quality and precision possible. Here are just a few activities testing might include:

• Review and check of the project requirements and goals
• Design review to ensure the integrity of the look and feel
• Review of usability
• Quality assurance test
• Bug tracking and reporting

The testing step carries the most risk in a Waterfall project because you just don’t know what issues or defects will pop up and how they’ll impact the timeline. That’s why careful planning is so important. Adding a buffer into your testing schedule can help ensure your team has adequate time to make fixes. 

You’re close to completion, so do everything you can to perfect the project in the testing phase before it launches.

Phase 5: Deployment 

At this point, requirements have been met, the product’s fully tested and approved, and everyone’s confident your product is 100% ready to release.

Depending on the type of product you’re launching, you’ll have a plan to ensure your deployment is smooth and drama-free. Be sure to discuss what the deployment or launch will look like far in advance of actually doing it. Working out the details early will enable you to approach your release day with a checklist and some confidence.

It may feel like time to celebrate, but you’re not done yet.

Phase 6: Support and maintenance

Not every project needs this step. But many products require a team to hang on for updates. So while you might have a product out in the wild, there’s a chance you might need to continue to support it after launch.

These 6 phases make up the core of the Waterfall process. What you don’t see here are the tasks, milestones , and hand-offs that occur within each phase. To get a sense for that, check out this Waterfall model and example .

Waterfall model pros and cons

Every method has advantages and disadvantages. So let’s take a look at some of the reasons people choose the Waterfall approach for their projects—and some of the downsides you should be aware of.

Advantages of the Waterfall methodology

We’ll start with the benefits of the Waterfall methodology. Here are some advantages you may find when you use the Waterfall method for your projects:

• Clear and complete documentation paves the way for straightforward feedback and decisions. The fact that Waterfall produces detailed project requirements means every piece of your project will be well-defined and documented. If someone wants to change a requirement , discuss it head-on because scope and budget will always be affected.
• Solid estimates set clear expectations. Most Waterfall practitioners will create a work breakdown structure of all tasks and subtasks. That detailed estimate can then translate to a firm project scope that correlates to a detailed project plan , creating very clear expectations about timing and scope.
• Visual project plans are easy to understand. Creating a Waterfall project plan is fairly straightforward because projects run in a linear manner with defined dependencies and responsibilities. Plus, the division of steps and tasks is simple to interpret. This makes planning your team’s time easier (and expected) and leads to a clear hand-off or end date.  ‍
• It’s easy to measure the impact of project changes. While it’s difficult to make up for changes or missed deadlines, it’s easy to determine the impact of a change and quickly make adjustments (though that does usually mean your deadline will be affected). ‍
• Communicating progress is simple. It’s easy to measure the completeness of your project because all tasks and milestones are mapped out with dependencies . ‍
• Accountability is clear. Each person can see when they’re expected to do their part and what happens if there’s a delay. ‍
• Communications are easier. When everyone can visualize the project, you’re able to easily communicate with bosses, clients, and team members. Everyone can review the project plan together when it’s drafted and spot potential issues or areas that might require special attention.

Waterfall method disadvantages

Of course, Waterfall project management comes with a few limitations too. Consider these important factors before deciding if the Waterfall method is right for you:

• Silos and lack of collaboration : Because team members work on specific tasks in phases and hand work off to someone else, it leaves little room for collaboration. Instead, it’s all about getting work done to documentation and ensuring the next person in line can use what was previously created or documented.
• Speed to launch : When you build one thing at a time, it means you take a considerable amount of time to get just one thing done—even if you could be working on other things at the same time.
• Ideation : If you don’t know what you want to build, Waterfall project management is not for you. The idea here is to receive or create project requirements and act on them—not iterate on them throughout the process.
• Change and documentation : Things change in business, and when documentation is built at the beginning of a project, the project can’t always change with the business without serious impact. (Sometimes that impact might be to start over.) So, while the documentation is strong, it can serve as a risk on longer projects.

Continue your learning

Now that you’ve got the Waterfall basics down, you’re ready to move onto another popular approach to project management! Keep reading to learn all about Agile.

NEXT CHAPTER: Agile Project Management Methodology

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The Complete Guide to Waterfall Methodology in Project Management

Waterfall methodology is a sequential project management approach where progress flows steadily downwards through phases like a waterfall. This structured methodology is often used in software development and other projects from start to finish.

In this complete guide, we will cover everything you need to know about using the waterfall model for project management: the phases, benefits, how to build a waterfall project plan, tips for managing your waterfall project, common pitfalls and more. Read on to learn whether waterfall could be the right project management approach for your next project.

What is Waterfall Methodology?

The waterfall methodology is a sequential, linear approach to managing a project from start to finish. It divides project development into sequential phases like requirements gathering, design, build, test and deployment.

Teams must complete one phase fully before moving onto the next phase, cascading like a waterfall from one phase to the next. The key principles of waterfall methodology are:

Sequential phases that move in one direction

Completion signifies moving to the next phase

No overlapping phases

Process documentation is essential

Changes made only through rigorous change control

The waterfall methodology originated in manufacturing and construction industries with highly structured physical processes. It was then adopted into the software development industry, where its inflexible, linear nature provided needed process control but also posed challenges.

In software projects, changes often crop up during development which can send waterfall projects back to repeat phases. This gave rise to more nimble iterative approaches like agile methodologies. Still, waterfall continues as a viable option due to its simplicity and easy monitoring with project management tools.

What are the Phases of the Waterfall Model?

The waterfall model comprises five high-level sequential phases:

Phase 1: Requirements Gathering

The first phase encompasses understanding project goals, what features need to be built and gathering requirements from stakeholders. Clear requirements documented upfront minimize changes down the line.

Activities in this phase:

Document detailed requirements specifications

Prioritize requirements

Sign-off from stakeholders on requirements

Deliverables:

Requirements documentation

Requirements traceability matrix

Phase 2: Design

With requirements fully gathered, the project enters the design phase. The project team designs architecture, interfaces, components and data for the system based on requirements.

Create technical specifications document 

Design system architecture, interfaces, components etc.

Review design with stakeholders

Finalize design documents

High-level design documents

Detailed design documents

Interface design documents

Phase 3: Development

With design completed, the project now enters the build phase. The development team uses the design documents to code the system and build features. Unit testing verifies pieces of code work correctly.

Create actual system and source code

Unit test code pieces

Fix defects

Review progress 

Source code

Updated design documents

Phase 4: Testing

In the testing phase, the focus moves from building to verifying the developed system works without issues. QA engineers perform rigorous testing as per the requirements document across parameters like functionality, security, performance etc. Bugs and issues get logged and fixed. 

Perform system testing

Execute user acceptance testing

Fix defects and retest

Finalize test coverage reports

Testing defect reports

Testing coverage reports

Phase 5: Deployment

The final phase marks wrapping up development efforts and getting the system live for users. Activities include final QA checks, user acceptance sign-offs, training users and rolling out the finished system.

Final QA validation

User training

Deploy system into production

Obtain user sign-off and feedback

Deployment documents

User training materials

User feedback reports

Why Use Waterfall Methodology for Project Management?

While newer adaptive approaches like agile grow popular, waterfall methodology retains benefits making it a valid traditional project management approach in many situations:

Provides a Structured Development Process

The rigorous sequential process provides visibility into what happens and when. Stakeholders understand the distinct stages and can monitor progress. This structured approach brings order for teams new to a domain.

Drives Requirements Clarity

Requirements get thoroughly analyzed and locked upfront. This reduces uncertainty around what exactly needs to be delivered for project success.

Enables Simple Project Monitoring

Each completed phase cascades into the next making it easy to manage for project managers. Simple tools like Gantt charts are enough to monitor waterfall projects.

Well-Suited for Sequential Processes

The linear approach suits projects with inherently sequential constraints like constructing a building or bridge. It also works for mature domains with well-known requirements like payroll processing systems.

Controls Scope Creep

With requirements fixed early, change control ensures only the most necessary changes happen preventing scope creep.

In summary, waterfall brings welcome structure, requirements stability and ease of monitoring through rigid staged processes. It continues as an essential project management methodology for many sequenced, predictable projects.

How to Plan a Waterfall Project Management Approach

To reap benefits of the waterfall methodology, start by creating a solid project plan covering the key phases. Follow these steps:

Define Project Goals and Success Metrics

Begin with high-level goals on what purpose the project aims to achieve and metrics for success. Goals keep the project focused through the long waterfall process.

For example, goals for a website redesign project could be:

Increase monthly site visitors from 100K to 200K

Reduce website maintenance overheads by 30%

Map Out Project Phases

Outline all the major phases the project will traverse like requirements, design, development, testing and deployment. Define interim milestones between longer running phases for monitoring.

Phase outlines could be:

Requirements (Milestone: Requirements sign-off) 

Design (Milestone: Design reviews sign-off)

Development (Milestone: Code complete)

Testing (Milestone: UAT sign-off)

Deployment (Go-live) 

Estimate Timelines for Each Phase

For each phase, estimate realistic timelines for completion using past data or expert judgment. Buffer extra time for unforeseen issues. Ensure sufficient time for verification activities like testing often shortcut in tight timelines leading to failures down the line.

Assign Resources to Phases

Determine number and skills of resources needed to complete the work defined in each phase like:

Requirements: Business analysts

Design: Architects

Development: Developers, QA engineers

Testing: QA engineers, Business users

Deployment: Operations team

Create High-Level Project Schedule

Plug the phases, timelines and resources into a high level schedule for the entire project lifecycle using a tool like MS Project. Set dependencies between phases sequentially like testing depends on development completion. The schedule becomes the all-important waterfall project plan to execute.

Best Practices for Managing Waterfall Projects

Executing a waterfall project plan brings its own management challenges. Here are tips for project managers to drive waterfall projects:

Control Scope Changes

Scope changes are extremely costly in waterfall projects sending teams back to redo phases. Guard against creep by:

Locking down and validating requirements early with all stakeholders

Carefully assessing proposed changes for necessity

Strict change control governance for approvals 

Review Milestone Transitions

Leverage milestone checks in phase transitions to validate phase closure criteria instead of rubber stamp sign-offs. Prevent problems snowballing across phases. 

Communicate Regularly Across Teams

The long cycles and siloed phases risk communication gaps. Mitigate with regular cross-team updates.

Inspect Rigorously, Adapt Carefully

Rigid waterfall projects need more inspecting than adapting typical of agile projects. Rigorously inspect work products in each phase to catch issues early. Consider adaptations only for critical flaws.

Automate Repetitive Processes

Automate repetitive processes like code migrations, testing, deployments etc. to optimize efficiency.

In summary, waterfall project management requires proactive issue prevention and rigor not to lose time reworking faulty deliverables detected downstream. Leverage reviews, communications and automation helps to stay on track.

Common Challenges Faced Using Waterfall Model

While waterfall lifecycles provide stability, the lengthy processes pose risks visible only in later stages or cumulatively over long timeframes. Be aware of:

Waterfall Model is Less Flexible to Change

Waterfall rigor discourages changes even beneficial ones leading to rigid solutions misfit for shifting user needs after long development cycles.

Hard to Gauge True Progress

Progress limited to phase containment gives little insight into the final solution shaping up much later. Issues can snowball causing downstream headaches. 

Integrating Across Phases Poses Risks

Handoffs between isolated long phases risk misalignment and disjointed systems integration issues later.

Testing Bottlenecks

Saving testing for later stages can overload test teams. Defect fixes may need significant rework this late in waterfall projects.

Cumulative Timeline Delays

Early phase delays compound downstream as schedules have no flexibility to absorb slippages revealed later.

Good project oversight tuned to preventing these risks is key to reaping waterfall benefits.

Choosing Between Waterfall Model vs Agile Methods

Waterfall methodology differs significantly from iterative agile methodologies popularized for software development flexibility: 

ParameterWaterfallAgileRequirementsGathered upfront. Frozen for life of projectGathered initially. Evolved iterativelyTimelinesDefined upfront for entire project lifecycleBroken into releases. Reassessed regularlyDevelopment ApproachSingle build & test cycle after requirements completeCode developed and tested iteratively in sprintsAdaptabilityRigid. Changes strictly controlledEmbraces change within sprint cadencesProgress TrackingBy phase containmentBy working software demonstrations end of each sprintCustomer InvolvementEarly requirements then only user acceptance testingActive customer interactions throughout for constant feedbackWhen to UseClear fixed requirements. Definable sequential processesChanging ambiguous requirements. Need for constant course corrections

In summary, waterfall provides stability while agile enables nimbleness. Choose an approach fitting project and business environment factors rather than blindly follow trends.

Essential Things to Remember

The waterfall methodology delivers a straightforward way to manage projects from end-to-end in a sequence of controlled phases. With thorough planning and oversight, it continues to appropriately serve many projects supporting predictable outcomes.

Wrapping up key takeaways:

Waterfall methodology provides structured processes for disciplined project execution when requirements are clear

Breaking projects into sequential phases makes it easy to plan and monitor progress

Upfront requirements and design optimization prevents downstream changes 

Each phase relies on prior phase completion demanding rigorous governance

Proactive risk management is a must to prevent delays from derailing timelines

Waterfall suits projects with inherent sequences, stable requirements rather than complex ambiguous projects better managed adaptively

The simplicity and predictability of waterfall project management retains validity for many projects today. Use these best practices to optimize success with the mature yet relevant waterfall methodology for your projects needing upfront stability.

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What Is Waterfall Methodology? Definition, Processes, And Examples

Here's why it's actually better than Agile for some projects.

We live in a world where agile methodology is ubiquitous. From famous tech giants to small startups, everyone's using it to build their products. As you learn about agile, you may have come across the term "waterfall methodology."

Most project managers who use agile consider waterfall an outdated methodology that no longer serves a purpose in 2023. But is that really true?

As a senior product manager, I have plenty of experience in both Agile and waterfall. In defense of the waterfall methodology, let's get into the weeds with what it is, how it works, and when it's appropriate to use it.

What Is The Waterfall Project Management Methodology About?

Waterfall represents the concept of managing development projects by breaking them down into distinct phases and handling each one sequentially.

While breaking big chunks of work into smaller pieces has been a concept that humans have used since the dawn of time, the formal “birth” of the waterfall methodology happened much later—in 1970, when Dr. Winston W. Royce, a prominent computer scientist of that era, described it in his book “ Managing the Development of Large Software Systems ”.

Since then, it has become the main way software companies have managed their projects until the world started leaning towards Agile in the early 2000s.

What the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Looks Like With the Waterfall Method

Unlike the iterative and incremental structure of agile, the SDLC for waterfall has both a distinct start and an end. It divides the entire process of creating software into five different phases or milestones and the work on one phase does not start until the previous phase is complete. Visually, it looks like this:

The work flows from one phase to another, then it reaches the bottom and the project is considered “complete”—making it visually similar to a waterfall (hence the term).

Now let’s take a look at each phase in this linear approach and understand what they are about.

Phase #1: Requirement Gathering

It all starts with gathering the requirements for the project from all stakeholders. During the requirements phase, project managers will create a comprehensive and highly-detailed document that covers every aspect of the project, from functional requirements or budget and risk plan.

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Phase #2: Solution Design

Based on the requirements gathered in the previous phase, the project team will start formulating the solution and designing it. The term “design” here refers to the technical structure of the product (system design), the visual and interaction design of the product (UI/UX Design), and the physical design (if it is a physical product).

Phase #3: Implementation

This is when the actual coding happens. Your development team members will start building the product based on the deliverables that you created in the design phase.

Unlike agile, where you are free to change your project scope and design constantly, waterfall assumes that you will follow the design document and not “evolve” your product during the implementation phase.

Phase #4: Testing

As soon as the software engineering team has finished building the product, we can move on to the next phase of our project plan—testing. Your team will start checking your product for any bugs, security flaws, or user experience issues.

During the testing phase, you will also check if the functionality and the design of the final product match the project requirements documents that you created during the first two phases.

Phase #5: Deployment and Post-release Support

Assuming that your team has found and fixed all the significant issues on your product, it is time to do a release and hand your solution over to your customers and end users. 

Your programmers will now move on to the maintenance phase by constantly gathering customer feedback, making the necessary fixes, and releasing new patches and updates of your product.

That’s it, your project is complete and you can move on to the next one!

So, should you use the waterfall method?

If you, the agile-minded PM (at least I assume you are), think that this methodology is out of fashion and you should never consider using it, then I (respectfully) disagree with you and argue that the waterfall approach is actually the better choice for specific types of projects.

Let me go over a couple of examples with you to prove my point.

Case Studies: The Waterfall Method In Action

As with any complex concept, some concrete examples could be helpful for understanding how the methodology works in real life. So, here are a few examples based on real projects (that I may or may not have worked on myself) to help you crystallize how the waterfall approach works in practice.

Case #1: A Customs Clearance Platform for the Government of Egypt

Imagine you are part of a company that has won the contract to modernize the international trade and customs clearance systems of a relatively large country, say Egypt.

What the Egyptian government wants is a port authority system that will manage all ships’ manifests (a customs document that contains information about all the cargo and passengers aboard that ship) that enter the various ports of Egypt.

Moreover, they want this system to directly integrate with another product they want you to build that will handle all of the customs declarations (a.k.a. SADs or single administrative documents) in the country. The form is quite complex for ordinary people to fill in, so they want you to automate it for them.

Egypt has complex taxation and customs duty system that changes rates based on the type of goods you import, their quantity, and other factors. As ordinary citizens have no idea about these rates, the Egyptian government wants your app to automatically calculate everything for its citizens based on what they have declared and let them pay online using their credit cards.

This looks like a massive undertaking, doesn’t it? Well, when finalizing the implementation details, your leadership (and even maybe the Egyptian government) will come to you, the project manager, and ask how you want to organize the implementation of this project.

Why and how you should use the waterfall method in this scenario:

Whatever you build for a national government will most likely be based on a law or a decision that the parliament has ratified. These decisions will include everything from the general terms of the project (e.g. its cost and timeline) to the minute details of how everything is going to work.

It sounds and looks like a requirement document from the first phase of waterfall, right? In fact, it does and it also means that you cannot really change implementation details, design, and requirements on the fly like in agile software development.

I used to lead such a product. One day, we realized that we can significantly improve user experience by making a couple of minor tweaks in the business logic. We immediately shared our idea with the customs authority representative that was working with us.

Well, he said no. You would think that it was a bad idea to reject such an offer, but he had a good reason why they could not do it.

Our little tweaks would mean a change in the formula that the government used to calculate taxes for a particular product. The formula was fixed in law, so changing it would mean gathering the entire national parliament and voting on it.

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The top 10 ux design trends of 2024, 13 brainstorming techniques every product manager needs to know, 10 advanced ideation techniques for product pros, case #2: the flight control system of the ingenuity helicopter.

Ingenuity is the name NASA gave to the high-tech helicopter that they built and sent to Mars back in 2021. Here’s what the little fella looks like.

Well, imagine you were one lucky project manager who was in charge of developing the software for this incredible piece of tech. In particular, your team needed to write the code that would control the flight of the helicopter.

Creating a flight control system for an aircraft (especially a helicopter) is very hard. You will need to consider all of the laws of physics that interact with your aircraft during flight and calculate the necessary speed of rotating your blades, the angle of blades, and a million other things.

But your task is even more complex. Your helicopter will need to fly above the surface of another planet with an atmosphere that is 100 times less dense than what we have on Earth.

In my opinion, waterfall development is your only option here. As opposed to agile project management, in which you’re building something small (your MVP), deploying it, using it in real life, gathering feedback, and gradually improving your solution based on that feedback, the stakes are much too high with a project like this.

Can you really risk making a buggy MVP of Ingenuity and fly it 140 million miles to Mars? There is just no way anyone would agree to that.

So, you will have to build the final version of it and then test all of its systems rigorously before you have the necessary confidence to place it in a rocket flying to the red planet.

The Waterfall Model Is Alive And Well!

In fact, it is much more popular than you would have expected with half of all projects worldwide still using this development methodology.

Although the advent of agile has made the world a better place for many project managers by letting them launch products much earlier and build upon the feedback of their users, waterfall is still a highly valuable methodology that you can employ for projects with limited flexibility and a low tolerance for bugs.

I hope you liked our coverage of the waterfall methodology. If you would like to read a bit more about Agile too, here’s what I can suggest:

• Our guide on Agile Product Management .
• The compilation of best practices for Agile Portfolio Management .
• Our curated list of the best Agile Product Management Tools .

These are only three of the many guides and articles we have on product and project management. For more, subscribe to our newsletter.

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What Is Waterfall Project Management? Phases, Benefits, & Uses

The waterfall project management methodology is a structure, sequential approach to getting projects completed. Learn why you’d use it— it’s more helpful than you’d think.

The waterfall project management process is linear and involves completing planning and meetings upfront to determine the scope, requirements, and risks.

For digital project managers, spending weeks or months planning a project that might span years is less common. Most of the time, the digital world moves much faster, but there is still a time and a place for using waterfall project management.

What Is Waterfall Project Management?

Waterfall project management is a linear project management methodology that moves through distinct phases of work. The next phase of work is dependent on the previous phase, so only one project phase can be worked on at a time.

The project plan in a waterfall project is mapped out in great detail, with milestones along the way.

The 5 Phases Of Waterfall Project Management

When you use a waterfall method for managing projects, you take your work through five distinct phases (this is also often known as the project life cycle ).

1. Project Initiation

The project initiation phase consists of gathering all of the project requirements . You’ll work to understand the business value of undertaking this work and map out the goals of the project.

Then, you'll write the project charter . This outlines the deliverables that will be in scope for this particular project. You'll also identify the stakeholders for your project and create a stakeholder register. Stakeholders are anyone who is impacted by the project and/or who will care about the project’s progress and success.

The end result of your project initiation phase should be buy-in from your project stakeholders. Without buy-in, you shouldn’t move into project planning.

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2. Project Planning

You’ll put together a plan for each step of your project. If initiation is the what and the why, planning is the how—how all that work will get done and by whom.

• Create your work breakdown structure and put your project plan into your project management software
• Establish the critical path or the shortest path through your project tasks that need to be completed sequentially (not to be confused with the critical chain ).
• Use a Gantt chart to visualize when the work will be done and where tasks will overlap with each other (i.e. dependencies)
• Assign the work . Each person on the project team should have a clear understanding of their role in the project and what tasks will be in their area of responsibility. 
• Work with the team to put together a timeline and assign due dates . While the project timeline may shift a little over the course of the project, come up with an anticipated completion date for your project.
• Discuss the possible risks the team might encounter over the course of the project and brainstorm ways to mitigate these risks before they become issues that could impact your ability to complete your project. Track risks in your risk management software .

3. Project Execution

The project execution phase is where the rubber hits the road, as they say. This is go time for your project. During project execution, you’ll hold your official project kickoff and start working through your project tasks.

The beginning of the project might be the biggest challenge for the project team, especially if they have not worked together before. Team members will be learning how to work together and figuring out how to execute the project tasks simultaneously.

4. Project Monitoring & Controlling 

As the development team is executing the project work, you will keep a watchful eye on a number of things to ensure the project stays on track . 

These may include:

• If the work is being completed on time
• How much of the budget has been spent, and has anything come in over/under budget?
• Are project goals being attained?
• How is the progress against any metrics we set during project initiation or planning?
• Is the project being completed at an acceptable level of quality?

If things start to get off track, work with the project team and your stakeholders to adjust your project plan. If the budget is being spent too quickly, try to secure additional funds. If new tasks or requests are being added, ensure change orders are written and accepted.

5. Project Closing

During project closing , make sure every part of the project is complete and hold a post-mortem or retrospective to memorialize lessons learned on this project.

Take the time to celebrate everyone’s hard work and think about what went well on the project and what could have been improved or what they would like to do differently in the next project.

Take notes and archive them along with any final deliverables or artifacts (like the work breakdown structure and final budget) that might help when initiating future projects.

3 Use Cases For Waterfall Project Management

Waterfall project management works best for projects that have well-defined deliverables and constraints as well as fixed budgets and timelines. 

If you think your project scope still has a lot of unknowns or is subject to change, waterfall is probably not the project management approach you want to use. Waterfall works best for the following types of projects:

Construction Projects

Construction lends itself well to waterfall because a strict process helps ensure the safety of everyone working on the project or using the finished product.

This is because plans for buildings need to be signed off on by engineers and often government agencies before they can begin. Plans are not subject to change along the way, and a sequential plan can easily be followed.

Construction projects are sometimes referred to as capital projects. Read more about capital project management here .

Website Design and Build Projects

Website design and build projects might use waterfall or one of many agile methods . Waterfall works well when needs are well-defined.

If you have an exact sitemap and style guide you need to use, it’s easy to plan out the phases and when each page will be ready for review and approval. You can also select your target launch date with a high level of confidence.

Software with specific functionality

If your team is building software with specific functionality and a well-defined set of requirements, the waterfall model might be the right choice. Examples of this might be a CRM system, HR software, or any type of compliance tool.

These will have an initial set of requirements, and the work can be scheduled and completed in a linear fashion. A Gantt chart showing the timeline and when stakeholders will receive status updates and/or need to be available for user acceptance testing will get everyone aligned with your plan.

Benefits of Waterfall Project Management

• Scoping and planning happen upfront : In a waterfall project, all of the scoping and planning happen upfront, and there is less room for ambiguity or changes as the project progresses. Team members should have a clear understanding of who is going to do what and when they will do it.
• A clear plan and objectives : The project team and stakeholders have a shared understanding of the plan. If new ideas come up during the project, they can either be held for a new project or another phase of the work, or the project manager can initiate a change order. This keeps the project running smoothly and helps ensure project objectives are met.

Drawbacks of Waterfall Project Management

• Rigid structure makes change complicated : It can be challenging to make changes along the way on waterfall projects. As technology advances quickly or user needs change, the project is not going to be as flexible as it would be if you were using one of the agile methodologies (ex. Scrum or Kanban) or another methodology that allows for scoping work iteratively.
• The work may take longer to get done : Since the waterfall approach means initiation and planning is done upfront, it may take longer to get to a completed project or usable product. With agile, the agile team releases usable work more frequently, whereas, in waterfall project management, the team waits until everything is ready to release work.

Agile Vs Waterfall Project Management

The main difference between agile and waterfall is that agile focuses on iteration and adaptability. You can change your plan to accommodate new requirements and feedback along the way. The waterfall project management methodology, as we've seen, follows a linear plan from project start to finish.

In agile project management , work is spelled out in a backlog and completed in time boxed sprints. The sprints produce a workable product called an increment, and customer feedback is provided each sprint, usually in a demo.

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What is Waterfall Project Management? Methodology, Benefits and Examples

Navigating the complexities of project management demands the right approach. Among the myriad methodologies available, Waterfall project management stands out for its linear, phase-based structure, guiding projects seamlessly from conception to completion. This approach not only ensures a systematic progression but also streamlines the entire life cycle of a project.

Dive into this comprehensive guide to understand the nuances of Waterfall project management. Discover its distinct phases and explore its advantages, challenges, and real-world applications. Equip yourself with this knowledge and empower your project management journey.

Table of Contents:

• What is Waterfall project management?

The Waterfall Project Management Phases

Advantages of waterfall project management, waterfall project management limitations.

• When to use waterfall methodology?

Waterfall Project Management Examples

What is waterfall project management.

Waterfall project management is a traditional, linear approach to managing projects, marked by its distinct and sequential phases. Each phase follows the previous one without overlap, and once a phase concludes, revisiting it isn’t standard procedure. 

Originating from industries like manufacturing and construction, this method emphasized the critical nature of tasks happening in order. The bedrock of this methodology is meticulous planning and thorough documentation. 

A project’s requirements are established at the outset, ensuring clarity for all team members regarding their roles, responsibilities, and the project’s milestones. 

Documentation, often visualized through flowcharts or swimlanes, is a constant reference for the team, helping track progress and maintain alignment. The Waterfall Project Management methodology prioritizes clarity, order, and documentation throughout its sequential progression.

The Waterfall methodology operates sequentially and chronologically, emphasizing pre-determined dates, requirements, and results. Unique to this approach, teams only frequently interact if specific integrations are necessary, largely operating as independent units. 

Moreover, team members often work autonomously, reducing the frequency of status updates, contrasting the Agile method’s iterative feedback system. Typically, each phase must conclude before the next begins.

The Waterfall method can be broken down into five core stages in software development. Each stage represents a critical step in the development process, ensuring the project progresses systematically and cohesively.

Requirements Phase

The “Requirements phase” is the foundational step in the Waterfall methodology, setting the goal for the entire project. Given the sequential nature of Waterfall, where each task relies on completing the preceding one, this phase demands thorough planning. A significant portion of the project’s timeline is often allocated to this initial planning to ensure no stone is left unturned.

In this stage, the team dedicates its efforts to gathering comprehensive information, aiming to craft a roadmap that will guide the project to success. To harness the Waterfall method’s potential, creating an in-depth project plan detailing every phase is essential. 

This plan, typically known as the project requirements document, should encompass:

• A clear breakdown of each project phase
• Identification of the team members responsible for each stage
• Highlighting key dependencies within tasks
• Enumeration of required resources
• A projected timeline indicating the duration anticipated for each stage

By the conclusion of the Requirements phase, stakeholders should possess a well-defined blueprint of the project’s trajectory, ensuring clarity and alignment from inception to completion.

System Design Phase

In this phase, the project’s details are meticulously defined and structured. Following the foundational planning in the Requirements phase, the Design phase delves into how the project will be executed. It focuses on charting the actions required to meet the project’s scope and establishing the sequence in which these actions will be undertaken.

This phase is pivotal in determining the steps and setting forth key project parameters like expected timelines and budgets. Drawing a parallel, if the Requirements phase (planning phase) answers the question “what?” in terms of project goals and scope, the design phase addresses the “how?” by detailing the execution strategy.

For instance, in software development, this phase would meticulously document choices regarding the programming language and any associated hardware prerequisites. Essentially, the design phase crystallizes the strategy, ensuring a clear and actionable roadmap for the project’s subsequent stages.

Implementation

After extensive planning and design, this phase signifies the actual execution of the project. All the groundwork laid out in the previous stages comes alive through tangible actions.

The key responsibilities to be performed during this phase are:

• Task Allocation: Assigning tasks to respective teams based on priority
• Team Collaboration: Ensuring seamless team interactions, facilitating prompt deliveries and effective handovers
• Resource Management: Overseeing workload distribution and effectively utilizing shared or specific resources
• Progress Monitoring: Keeping a close eye on the project’s progress and initiating corrective measures if any delays emerge
• Risk Management: Actively identifying potential pitfalls and taking measures to prevent scope, budget, or timeline deviations
• Testing: Conducting various tests, including performance and usability, to ensure the project meets the set standards
• Project Delivery: Handing over the completed project to the client or end-user

Verification or Testing

The “Verification phase” ensues after the product has been delivered to the customer. It’s a critical juncture where the product undergoes scrutiny to ensure it aligns with the expectations set during the planning stages. 

During this phase:

• Customer Testing: The customer rigorously tests the delivered product, identifying inconsistencies, issues, or shortcomings
• Performance Assessment: The project’s outcomes are benchmarked against the previously set goals and objectives to gauge its success
• Team Remuneration: If the project involves contractors, this is the time when they get compensated for their contributions upon the project’s culmination
• Administrative Tasks: This often entails the project manager handling various administrative duties, such as endorsing paperwork, settling accounts, or winding up contracts to mark the project’s official completion
• Post-Project Review: The team collectively reflects on the project, analyzing the successes, areas of improvement, and lessons learned. This introspection can be invaluable, providing insights to refine practices, enhance efficiencies, and better handle subsequent projects

The Verification phase is about confirming the product’s quality and functionality, wrapping up administrative tasks, and introspecting for continuous improvement. Doing so sets the tone for better management and execution of future projects.

Deployment and Maintenance

The “Deployment and Maintenance” phase is pivotal to the culmination of a project and its sustained success post-launch.

• Deployment: In the project context, this phase signifies the release of the developed project to the end user. In other industries, it represents the launch and delivery of the final product or service to the intended customers.
• Maintenance: Post-deployment, the focus shifts to ensuring the product operates optimally. This often involves:
• Tweaks and Adjustments: Addressing any lingering issues or enhancing product performance. Such modifications often arise from change requests submitted by users or stakeholders
• Issue Resolution: Acting swiftly to rectify any defects, bugs, or issues that might crop up post-launch ensures the product’s reliability and the end user’s satisfaction

The Waterfall Project Management methodology offers a structured and systematic approach to project execution. Its linear and phased progression ensures clear objectives are set from the outset, fostering meticulous planning and a well-defined path to project completion. 

This clarity reduces ambiguity, streamlines communication, and allows for accurate time and budget estimations.

As each phase depends on the previous one, there’s a built-in quality assurance mechanism, ensuring errors are caught early. Overall, Waterfall provides a predictable and transparent framework that can be particularly advantageous for projects with well-defined requirements and limited scope changes.

Let us now look into a deeper understanding of the benefits of  waterfall project management:

Simplifies Tracking

The Waterfall methodology ensures a project’s smooth progression, even amidst unforeseen team changes. Its strong emphasis on documentation facilitates the seamless integration of new members into ongoing projects. Instead of deducing the intent behind previous steps, everything is chronicled, from project inception to its culmination. This documentation enables newcomers to acclimatize rapidly.

Facilitates Process Review and Replication

With Waterfall’s step-by-step documentation, retracing steps to pinpoint errors becomes straightforward. This consistent record-keeping not only aids in error detection but also establishes replicable processes, streamlining onboarding for newcomers, as discussed earlier.

Accelerates Onboarding for New Team Members

For newcomers, traditional onboarding often entails observing seasoned team members. The exhaustive documentation inherent to the Waterfall model simplifies this process. While interpersonal connections and team integration remain vital, the available documentation offers a robust knowledge base. 

This information can swiftly address many queries, eliminating the need for newcomers to consistently seek out peers for answers.

Comprehensive Record-Keeping

Given Waterfall’s sequential nature without backtracking, meticulous documentation from the outset is imperative. Moreover, these records gain validation from all stakeholders, ensuring all decisions and changes have a justifiable basis in the documentation.

Streamlines Project Management

The waterfall methodology offers a clear-cut structure, making projects manageable irrespective of team size. With the initial phases dedicated to detailed planning, execution becomes a matter of following the charted course. 

While effective in many instances, the Waterfall method has its fair share of limitations. These potential drawbacks underscore why it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for every project.

Limited Flexibility

The rigidity of the Waterfall approach contrasts sharply with the more adaptive Agile methodologies. With Waterfall’s strict step-by-step process, even a minor oversight might necessitate restarting the entire project from the beginning, incurring increased costs, potential client dissatisfaction, and dampening team spirits.

Potential Delays Impact the Entire Project

Being linear, any hiccup or delay in the Waterfall process inevitably cascades, disrupting the overall project timeline. For instance, a delay from an external supplier can halt the entire production line until the required component arrives.

Delayed Quality Checks

Quality assurance activities should be interspersed throughout the project’s lifecycle. In the waterfall approach, these checks often need to be revised, making issues potentially more challenging to address.

Intensive Upfront Planning Needed

Waterfall mandates a thorough understanding of all project intricacies from the get-go. This demands exhaustive planning involving in-depth interviews, brainstorming sessions, and comprehensive data gathering. If a swift project kick-off is the aim, Waterfall might only be the ideal choice if the project closely mirrors a previous one, reducing the planning time.

Sequential Phasing Restricts Parallel Work

Unlike Agile, which permits fluidity between project stages, Waterfall confines teams to a strict sequence. Tasks are interdependent, meaning each has to be concluded before the next begins. This lack of parallelism often extends project durations and diminishes flexibility. Although there might be occasional overlaps in waterfall phases, they’re generally gated, ensuring one significant portion concludes before transitioning to the next.

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When to Use Waterfall Methodology?

The waterfall methodology’s sequential nature makes it most suitable for projects with well-defined, static requirements and specific time boundaries. This is why sectors like manufacturing and construction, which often have predetermined schedules and plans, benefit from the Waterfall approach.

However, its structure, which emphasizes late-stage testing, can make alterations quite challenging. Some purists believe any revision indicates unclear initial requirements, suggesting the project should revert to its initial phase. Such rigidity can pose challenges, especially in dynamic industries like software development, where changes are frequent.

If project requirements evolve or modifications might be required during production, an agile methodology  could be more fitting. In reality, many software development projects fall into this bracket.

The waterfall is ideal for short, well-outlined projects given its rigid nature. If project parameters are set in stone, the waterfall offers a clear, systematic progression, making management and monitoring straightforward and efficient.

With its sequential and structured approach, Waterfall Project Management is aptly employed across various sectors to ensure systematic project execution. From the construction industry, where buildings rise phase by phase, to the publishing world, where a book progresses from conceptualization to distribution, the Waterfall method’s clear demarcation of stages ensures each task is completed before the next begins. 

These examples illustrate how this methodology’s step-by-step progression ensures clarity and coherence, making it a preferred choice for projects with well-defined parameters and goals.

Example 1: Construction Sector: Building a Residential Complex

• Requirements: Stakeholders and architects discuss and finalize the layout, amenities, number of units, architectural design, and specific materials. This involves detailed blueprints, project scope, budget estimations, and deadlines
• Design: Engineers and planners devise structural designs, electrical and plumbing schematics, and landscaping plans
• Implementation: Actual construction begins. This follows a sequential approach – starting from land excavation, laying the foundation, erecting the structure, and completing the interiors
• Verification: Quality checks ensure the construction adheres to the initial blueprints and meets safety standards
• Deployment: The residential complex is opened for residents, and keys are handed over to the property owners
• Maintenance: Any post-construction issues like plumbing or electrical faults are addressed

Example 2: Building a New Mobile Application

• Requirements: Market research is conducted to understand consumer needs. Based on findings, specifications like battery life, screen size, camera quality, and storage capacities are determined. Stakeholders agree upon a budget and a timeline
• Design: Engineers design the smartphone’s internal architecture, including the placement of components, circuitry, and choice of materials. Designers develop the phone’s aesthetic, including its size, weight, and appearance
• Implementation: Production lines are set up. Components are sourced or manufactured and then assembled to produce prototypes
• Verification: Prototypes are tested for performance, durability, and battery life. Feedback leads to refinements
• Deployment: Once finalized, mass production begins. The new model is packaged and sent to retailers and distributors for sale to the public
• Maintenance: Post-release, any issues reported by consumers are addressed. Software updates are rolled out as needed, and potential modifications are considered for future batches or models

Both examples demonstrate the systematic, phase-based approach of the waterfall methodology, ensuring clarity and order from the project’s commencement to its conclusion.

Waterfall project management’s systematic, phase-driven approach can impart significant organization and discipline to projects. While it’s an invaluable asset for projects with set requirements and strict timelines, it might only be ideal for some scenarios. 

Blending Waterfall with Agile methodologies can offer a harmonious balance if you seek greater adaptability. 

Regardless of your chosen method, continuous learning and skill enhancement are pivotal. To delve deeper and master the nuances of project management, consider enrolling in Invensis Learning’s project management courses .

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What Is the Waterfall Methodology?

The phases of the waterfall methodology provide a systematic structure for aspects such as planning, organization, design and testing. Here’s how it works, plus some alternatives.

The waterfall methodology is an approach used by software and product development teams  manage projects. The methodology separates the different parts of the project into phases specifying the necessary activities and steps. For example, at the beginning of the project, the waterfall methodology focuses on gathering all requirements from stakeholders that project team members will later use to design and implement the product. 

However, waterfall has its, well…downfalls, which I’ll discuss in more detail below. In short, waterfall may not be suitable for every development process and you can find modified or extended versions of the waterfall methodology that try to solve some of these issues. 

One example of an extended version of the waterfall methodology is the V-model . A key distinction of the V-model from the original Waterfall methodology is its emphasis on validation and testing during the entire project duration, as opposed to only testing after an implementation phase.

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What Is the Waterfall Methodology in Software Engineering?

The waterfall methodology is a software development life cycle (SDLC) model used to build software projects. 

One thing that distinguishes waterfall from other SDLC models (like Agile ) is that phases are performed sequentially. In other words, the project team must complete each phase in a specific order. If you look at the diagram below, you can see the flow is similar to a waterfall.

Working with SDLC models often includes additional software to keep track of planning, tasks and more. So it’s possible to find tools designed to support the waterfall methodology’s specific workflow, for example.

What Are the Different Phases of the Waterfall Methodology? 

The waterfall methodology was one of the first established SDLC models. In fact, waterfall dates back to 1970 when Dr. Winston W. Royce described it in “ Managing the Development of Large Software Systems .” However, we should note that Royce didn’t refer to the methodology as “waterfall” in the paper. The waterfall nomenclature came later. In his original paper, Royce specified the following phases.

7 Stages of the Waterfall Model

• System requirements 
• Software requirements
• Program design

The system and software requirement phase involves gathering and documenting the requirements defining the product. This process typically involves stakeholders such as the customer and project managers. The analysis phase involves steps such as analyzing the requirements to identify risks and documenting strategies.

The design phase focuses on designing architecture, business logic and concepts for the software. The design phase is followed by the coding phase which involves writing the source code for the software based on the planned design.

The testing phase concerns testing the software to ensure it meets expectations. The last phase, operations , involves deploying the application as well as planning support and maintenance.

Advantages of the Waterfall Methdology

Waterfall provides a systematic and predictable framework that helps reconcile expectations, improve planning, increase efficiency and ensure quality control. What’s more, waterfall documentation provides an entry for people outside the project to build on the software without having to rely on its creators, which is helpful if you need to bring in external assistance or implement changes to the project team.

Disadvantages of the Waterfall Methodology

The structural limitations of the waterfall methodology may introduce some problems for projects with many uncertainties. For instance, the methodology’s linear flow requires that each phase be completed before moving on to the next, which means the methodology doesn’t support revisiting and refining data based on new information that may come later in the project life cycle. A specific example of this limitation is the methodology’s focus on defining all requirements at the beginning of the project. After all, stakeholders may not know everything about the project at the very start or they may change their opinion later about what the product should actually do or what customer segment they’re trying to serve. 

On the other hand, a project with well-defined and stable requirements may benefit from waterfall because it ensures the establishment and documentation of the requirements as soon as possible.

Another disadvantage of the waterfall methodology can be the late implementation of the actual software, which may result in a product not correlating with stakeholders’ expectations. For example, if the developers have misunderstood the customer’s idea about a specific feature due to poorly defined requirements, the final product will not behave as expected. Late testing can also lead to finding systemic problems too late in the project’s development when it’s more difficult to correct the design.

More From the Built In Tech Dictionary What Is Agile?

Waterfall Methodology vs. Agile

Another approach to software development is the Agile methodology . Agile is more flexible and open to changes than waterfall, which makes Agile more suitable for projects affected by rapid changes.

A key difference between the two methodologies is the project’s flow. While waterfall is a linear and sequential approach, Agile is an iterative and incremental approach. In practice this means that software created using Agile has development phases we perform several times with smaller chunks of implemented functionality. 

The two methodologies also have different approaches to testing . The waterfall methodology tests implementation very late in the process while Agile integrates tests for each iteration.

Another key difference is the two methodologies’ approach to stakeholders. When we use waterfall, the customer doesn’t see the implemented software until quite late in the project. When we use Agile, customers have the opportunity to follow the progress along the way.

Which methodology you choose will come down to the project’s context. Stable and well-defined projects may benefit more from the waterfall methodology and other projects affected by rapid changes may benefit more from Agile.

Recent Software Engineering Perspectives Articles

What is the Waterfall Methodology? Guide to Project Management

“A dinosaur process designed for a world that no longer exists.”

That's how Harvard Business Review recently described the Waterfall methodology—a traditional project management process favored by manufacturing industries and, for decades, software developers. 

Haters gonna hate, but we think the Waterfall methodology still has its place in project management. 

From launching social media marketing campaigns to planning complex sales deals, Waterfall can be a good fit for projects that need a solid timeframe. 

In this guide, we’ll look at why the Waterfall process is loved (and hated), and how you can adopt it to simplify your internal processes. 

Let's dive in. 

What is the Waterfall Methodology?

The Waterfall methodology is a linear approach to project management . Each stage is created along a set timeline, and work only moves forward when those key milestones are completed. The goal—to get the whole project done on a clean schedule.

This type of linear approach covers a lot of bases for project managers. First, Waterfall can keep deliverables and timelines on track, and on the back of that, teams can create more accurate quotes and scopes for clients. As the project is mapped out in sequential phases before it begins, everyone is on the same page from day one, which makes it easier to execute and manage progress (and spot any bumps in the road.)

Traditionally, the Waterfall model divides a project into five stages, and each step can't begin until the previous phase is almost over. A project manager is also super important for Waterfall projects to keep task sequences on track and ensure everyone is sticking to the requirements in the original brief.

Project management tools, especially Gantt charts , are essential to making a Waterfall methodology work. These charts show each in the Waterfall with a start/end date, along with other information like next stages and deliverables to keep projects on track. 

Source: TechTarget

The result? 

Well, if everything goes to plan, the Waterfall Methodology is a simple way to deliver projects on time and on budget.

Who Should Use the Waterfall Model?

From governments to software developers and manufacturers, the Waterfall methodology has been used by a lot of different industries. But to use the Waterfall Model effectively, your process must be clearly defined —in other words, you need to know costs, design, and time requirements before you even start the project. 

At its core, Waterfall has three checkboxes: milestones, well-defined deliverables, and documentation. Its functionality and strict structure make it perfect for any project that has:

• Concrete requirements that are tied to a deadline.
• A clear roadmap, including milestones and expectations for everyone involved in the project.
• Clear goals set by upper management or the client—they won’t do a 180 on deliverables.

As one programmer mused on Reddit , Waterfall models are perfect for organizations with processes in place like budget tracking and stakeholder management. As long as the project will swim (and not sink) under clear constraints—Waterfall is a good choice. 

Here's a quick example. A Tesla Model Y takes around 2 ½ hours —start to finish—to get down the production line. But this production rate can only happen if a strict manufacturing model is followed: the seats must be in before the doors are installed, and the engine is lowered into the front of the car before the hood is attached. 

But there's also a downside to this structured approach to projects. 

Remember when the U.S. government launched HealthCare.gov ? 

It was a new platform (built from scratch) where Americans could buy insurance. But to put it bluntly, the launch of the website was a total shitshow. It's believed developers used Waterfall to build the project, and when late-stage testing was carried out before it went live, multiple errors were found. 

The website crashed, and it took months to fix the coding problems. But the biggest kicker was the price tag : the initial $93.7M project budget ended up cashing in at $1.7 billion ! 

This is why so many industries (especially developers) are constantly asking what's best: Waterfall or Agile? 🤔

What’s the Difference Between Waterfall and Agile Methodology?

The major difference between Waterfall and Agile methodologies is how much planning is done before the project kicks off. 

The heavy lifting of any project using Waterfall will have concrete deliverables, deadlines, and a clear roadmap ready before a single hour is spent on client work. Agile projects start working on a project and then hash out the finer details like client demands and final deliverables. For larger corporations, the Agile approach can be tricky and lead to a too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen situation…

Source: Twitter (X)

Here's a quick breakdown of the major differences between the two methodologies: 

Waterfall project management is a strict process without much room to make changes. This can cause projects to be delivered without everything the client wants due to inflexibility. That said, it’s a simpler process due to upfront planning at the beginning of the project and requires less dependency on collaboration and communication during the project. Waterfall also uses Gantt charts to visualize milestones and deadlines.

Agile project management , on the other hand, uses Kanban charts to move tasks along in a sequence. Agile teams are flexible even after the project kicks off, meaning they can adapt to any changes or requests from upper management or the client. This model can be more complex, since there are more moving parts during a project, and it can cause delays and budget overspends due to these changes. The Agile method also requires a lot more communication within the project team during each sprint to make sure everyone is working with the changing conditions.

The 5 Steps of the Waterfall Project Management Workflow

Every Waterfall project flow is going to be different based on the type of project you’re managing, and how your team is going to approach it .

That said, there are five general steps that fit most use cases of this project management approach. You should have a beginning, middle, and end that requires research, implementation, and testing. 

Here are the basic ingredients a workflow should always include. 👇

1. Research and Planning

Before any Waterfall project starts, a butt-ton of work must be done in the research and planning phase. 

You need to hash out who is responsible for what tasks, what the client's budget is, and, most importantly, what the project deadline will look like. A project manager usually takes the lead at this stage to spearhead the work and will create a detailed roadmap for each phase. 

To-do list for this step: 

• Estimate project requirements and outline how/when your team will complete them, preferably in a Gantt chart.
• Communicate with the client about deliverables and timelines to ensure everyone is on the same page. 
• Create a detailed contract for the client to sign, which outlines milestones, deadlines, and budget to avoid any scope creep.

The design phase is when a framework is built for how the project will go from idea to conception. 

What this step looks like depends on what department is using Waterfall to manage a project. For an app build, for example, a project manager will convert the details from step one into a requirements document (usually a Software Design Document (SDD) for the development team. 

This document will be the team's blueprint to build out a physical design of the app. The team can follow the SDD to make sure they hit all the goals, UI, and software descriptions from the planning phase.

Here's an example of an SDD for software teams in the system design phase: 

Source: Lucidchart

• Finalize the design of the project so the team is 100 percent sure what the final product should look like.
• Map out final timelines, milestones, and client expectations on a document that is accessible to every team member working on the project. This keeps everyone on the same page. 

3. Implementation 

This step is when the fun begins. 

Your team will get to work on the goals and roadmap you built in steps one and two. If we use the app build example we used in the previous step, the implementation phase is when developers will start to write code, wireframes, and design interfaces. All of this work must align with the project spec and customer goals to ensure the team can (smoothly) move onto the next phase.

• Start to build out the foundations for your project.
• Daily/weekly standups with the team working on the project to keep everyone on the same page.

4. Testing 

This is the launch… before the launch.

Testing is arguably the most crucial phase of any Waterfall process. Before a project can be handed over to a client or released to customers, it must be put through its paces to catch any errors and ensure the final product aligns with the roadmap. 

Testing using Waterfall usually happens in three steps: 

• Alpha: Internal tests done by your dev team.
• Beta: The product is taken for a test drive by a small number of target customers to give feedback.
• Sign-off: Once Beta testing wraps up and the product is delivered to clients, they will decide if they are happy with the end result.

5. Maintenance 

Once the project has been fully tested and launched—it must be maintained. 

The good news? You don't have to rush the maintenance phase. Continuously improving a product post-release can actually work in your favor. 

Just look at Google's Gmail, which had a beta tag attached to it even after more than 100 million users and 5+ years after its launch. Although it smells of a marketing ploy (co-founder Larry Page once admitted the beta label had more to do with “messaging and branding”), it made users feel like they had a voice in how the product was molded. 

And that's pretty damn powerful.  

• Listen to feedback from customers/clients and implement any ideas to improve the project. 
• Fix any lingering bugs or issues from the original deployment.
• Gather the team to get their thoughts on how the project went and what could be improved for next time in terms of planning, implementation, and testing.

Key Advantages of Using the Waterfall Model

There's a reason the Waterfall model is still talked about for project management—it's a perfect fit for certain projects. 

For projects with hard deadlines and deliverables, Waterfall is a good choice because:

• The development process allows team leaders to build out a detailed project plan. The team working on the project will have a crystal clear idea about what the design, implementation, and launch will look like.
• It keeps the project budget in check. As each phase of the project is planned in advance, it's easier to estimate the final cost for your client accurately.
• Every milestone and deadline is scheduled at the start of the project , so everyone knows what they are expected to deliver (and when). 
• There isn't a ton of room for project scope creep. Clients can't add new requirements once the work kicks off, so there's less chance of delay or blowing up the project budget.

Disadvantages of the Waterfall Approach

• It needs a huge time investment to sufficiently research, plan, and map out the project before any work can begin.
• Any delays during each phase can have a huge impact on reaching project deadlines and milestones. 
• There is no looking back. Once planning or implementation is complete, your team must move on to the next phase. This rigid method doesn't have much flexibility to turn around and have a do-over.
• Clients may change their minds about a final deliverable or outcome. However, Waterfall doesn't really allow for any major changes, so they will be harder to implement, or worse—you will have to tell the client no. 
• The client won't see the project until the testing phase. If they don't like it or they have feedback, it's too late to make any (significant) changes. 

Waterfall Methodology Examples: How to Use this Approach in Your Startup or Small Business

Think Waterfall methodology is just for software engineers? Think again.

Waterfall has a bunch of different use cases, and thanks to its rigid approach, it's perfect for teams who want to create a repeatable system. Think of any recent product launches you did or the last deal you closed—chances are, the process looked similar each time. Waterfall can act as the blueprint for these projects to ensure they are successful. 

Let's take a look at what that looks like 👇

Waterfall Model in Software Development Projects

For developers, Waterfall is a solid choice for any software development life cycle that has high certainty and low (or no) ambiguity. 

It is used for everything from game development to building out government software. While some developers say Waterfall is an "old school" process, it still has its place. Mega companies like Ubisoft still use it to develop characters and create initial codes to ensure a well-constructed foundation. Until recently, the US Department of Defense Software Systems baked into their contracts that Waterfall is the preferred build process, at least during the design phase.  

The one gripe about using Waterfall for software development was the lack of movement around timeframes and budgets. If a project is quoted using Waterfall and then shit hits the fan, the developer loses out. 

To avoid this, developers on Reddit have some suggestions: 

• Pad any estimates. Double (or triple) them depending on how long the project will take and how much uncertainty you think there will be when it gets off the ground
• Stay strong and say no to scope creep. The developers suggest setting up an "ice box" to store any additional asks from the client so they don't fall through the cracks—but you don't do them for free either. Then, you can discuss the extras stored in the "ice box" once the major work is out of the way and see if they have any extra budget to pay for them
• Try to get feedback before the final stages. If you can, do mini-project releases at major milestones to show to the client or test out the code. This will help catch any snagging issues and make sure everything is on track

TL;DR Waterfall is perfect for iterative projects with a linear software development process. Just make sure to build a plan with enough padding to keep you safe from timeline blowouts or scope creep!

Waterfall Methodology for Sales Project Management

Most Google searches about Waterfall Methodology will talk about software development, but the method can also be used to close deals. 

Any deal in your sales pipeline will follow a similar journey: a lead turns into a prospect, you nurture them, jump on a few phone calls, perhaps do a demo, and then get the contract signed. So, your sales process can be plotted onto a Waterfall Gantt chart: 

This is perfect if multiple reps are working on one deal. Everyone can keep up to date with different projects and how a deal is progressing by just clicking on the Gantt chart. 

Waterfall is also ideal for onboarding new sales reps . Everything is mapped out on a chart, so they can see how each phase progresses and how long each part of the deal should take. It's a great way to get them used to your process and selling like the rest of your team!

A Waterfall Marketing Approach

Waterfall is also another great fit for larger marketing projects. 

It can create repeatable processes, so it's perfect for more complex projects. We're talking about product launches or important social media campaigns that require weeks/months of work with multiple stakeholders. 

Waterfall can even build interest in a new feature or product if used wisely. For example, Max Leblanc over at Groover explains using a Waterfall marketing approach is a smart fit for industries like musicians who want to create buzz around a new release. 

Take a look at that ⬆️

The artist dropped a new single on Spotify, but also included two other new releases on the playlist. The two bonus singles have separate release dates on them, and the listener will get notified when the artist unlocks them. It's subtle, but Leblanc says this type of "waterfall" album release boosts the chances that the user will listen to every song.

"The hierarchical order of the songs in the waterfall strategy will allow the first single released (Single A) to have a greater exponential growth of streams by simply appearing at the top every time you release a new track. It’s like re-releasing your singles with each release. "

Pretty genius, huh? 🤓

The 3 Best Tools for Waterfall Project Management

Unless you are kickin' it old school and plotting out a Waterfall project on a whiteboard—you need a project management tool. 

Here are our top picks 👇

1. Monday.com: Gantt Charts and More

If you want a solid visual for your next marketing project—take a look at Monday.com . It has basic Waterfall Gantt charts that are perfect for plotting linear projects with individual milestones.

What's great about Monday.com is the team can see what type of task each phase in the project is (e.g., social media department, graphics creation) and if the next phase depends on its completion. This helps prevent bottlenecks and makes it easy to track different phases of every project in the pipeline.  

2. Asana: Adaptable Project Management Tool

Asana is a super flexible tool to manage any project schedule. The tool makes it super simple to work inside a Waterfall project management methodology as it can automatically create a linear Gantt chart from a list of tasks if you attach due dates/timelines. You can then allocate tasks to the right team members and add instructions along with important deadlines to keep the project running on time. 

3. Close CRM: Waterfall Sales Pipeline

We're biased, but Close has everything a sales team needs to build a solid Waterfall process. Close's pipeline gives you a clear view of each linear phase of your sales process. Each phase can be changed depending on your specific process and project life cycle, and you can even build custom Waterfall strategies and Workflows for different customer profiles. 

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Should You Use the Waterfall Method?

This question doesn't have an easy answer—it all depends on what your goals are. Waterfall isn't the most agile approach (excuse the pun) to project management methodology out there, but it still has its place. 

If you have a project in your pipeline with a strict budget or timeline, Waterfall may fit the bill. It's also good for managing projects you don't usually associate Waterfall with, like sales rep onboarding or marketing campaigns. 

Think through what project you need to manage, and don't sleep on Waterfall—it just might be a good fit! 

Wondering how to create a sustainable process for your sales team? Check out our guide to setting up your sales process , and get the free template!

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Discover our latest free sales tools powered by ai, learn from the sales pros with our free sales guides.

Examples Of The Waterfall Model

Anjali works at a technology firm where she’s been assigned to lead a team to deliver an elaborate software program…

Anjali works at a technology firm where she’s been assigned to lead a team to deliver an elaborate software program within a very tight schedule. At first, Anjali tries to coordinate with her associates and create her own model. But as the pressure mounts, her model crumbles and the entire team is rattled.

Anjali spends a couple of days researching solutions and discovers the waterfall model. She goes through the waterfall model in detail and distributes the responsibilities for the project among several departments, based on the different phases of the model.

As the project requires utmost stability, Anjali creates a blueprint and a timeline that aren’t subject to change and feeds them into the waterfall model. Thereafter, the model takes care of everything. With a strict schedule for delivery in place and all departmental roles neatly assigned, the waterfall model brings the project to a close one week ahead of time and in the smoothest manner possible.

Anjali’s success becomes another excellent example of the waterfall model doing what it does best.

What Is The Waterfall Model?

When is the waterfall model used, how to explain the waterfall model with examples, solutions at your fingertips.

Before proceeding to explain the waterfall model with examples, let’s go over the basics of the waterfall model and what exactly it’s supposed to achieve.

The waterfall model was one of the first models to be introduced in project management. As a linear or sequential model, the waterfall model has a number of phases, each of which must be completed before moving onto the next one. This is why the model is known as the waterfall model because its movement from one phase to another in a downward manner similar to  a waterfall.

For smooth functioning, the waterfall model uses the output from one phase as input for the next phase. At the end of each phase, you’re supposed to carry out a review to find out if the project is on the right path or whether it needs to be discarded and restarted.

The term “waterfall” was used for the first time in a 1976 paper co-authored by Thomas Bell and Thomas Thayer to describe their model. However, the first formal and detailed diagram of the model had been published before, in an article in 1970 written by Winston Royce. Royce’s article was largely critical of the waterfall model, particularly on how testing of the model could only be performed at the end of the process.

The waterfall model that you’re likely to come across today includes seven phases, which are listed as follows:

Recruitment Gathering

System Design

Implementation

Integration And Testing

Deployment Of System

Maintenance Or Fixing Issues

Nowadays, the waterfall model is one of several models that are frequently used for project management. Other models include iterative and agile models, which are much more flexible as compared to the waterfall approach.

In order to understand a real-life example of the waterfall model, let’s familiarize ourselves with situations when the waterfall model is usually used:

When the project requirements are laid down at the outset and remain more or less fixed throughout the entire process

When the product definition is stable and a lot of information is required before completing each phase

In cases where a strict timeline needs to be prepared and followed, without alterations

In sectors involving engineering design and software development that generally demand project management on a large scale

In manufacturing and construction industries, where design changes are usually very costly

In the closing decades of the 20th century, the waterfall model was used primarily to develop enterprise applications like Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS), Supply Chain Management Systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, Inventory Management Systems, Point of Sales (POS) systems for retail chains, etc. The model was also extremely popular in software development.

With the evolution of technology, there were cases where large-scale enterprise systems, with the waterfall model as the default choice, were developed over a period of two to three years but became redundant by the time they were completed. Slowly, these enterprise systems switched over to more flexible and less expensive models, but the waterfall model continued to be preferred in systems where:

A human life is at stake and a system failure could result in fatalities

Money and time are secondary factors and what matters more is the safety and stability of a project

Military and aircraft programs where requirements are declared early on and remain constant

Projects with an extremely high degree of oversight and/or accountability such as those in the sectors of banking, healthcare and control systems for nuclear facilities

Now that you’ve grasped the several sectors in which the waterfall model used to be and is still deployed, here is a real-life example of the waterfall model at work.

Here, the waterfall model is used to manufacture a tractor, with each of its phases outlining the work that needs to be done. Before moving to the phases, however, the organization manufacturing the tractor would need to carry out a feasibility study, including planning the budget and adding new features to the tractor that’ll put it ahead of other tractors in the market.

Thereafter, the following phases (only including the most important ones) take over:

This phase of the waterfall model is used to determine the speed, mileage, engine specifications, color and seat requirements of the tractor to be manufactured.

This phase is concerned with developing and designing the frame material, the exterior and interior body quality and material as well as the tyre quality for the tractor.

Implementation:

This phase brings together the two previous phases by combining all the pre-decided features and actually manufacturing the tractor.

This phase is all about trying out the tractor under various circumstances and conditions, from evaluating its performance on different types of roads and weather conditions to checking its durability, fuel consumption and the amount of heat it produces.

Maintenance:

The final phase is about offering regular services to preserve the quality of the tractor and make whatever repairs or adjustments are necessary.

Let’s look at another real-life example of the waterfall model, where the different phases have been used to manufacture and deliver a software program that relies on university rankings and student scores to determine which universities and courses are best suited for students opting for an undergraduate degree.

As with the previous example of the waterfall model, the organization designing the software program needs to perform a feasibility study to find out what kind of programs are already present in the market that can achieve similar tasks in academia. Following this, the most important phases of the waterfall model can start functioning as follows:

This phase will be tasked with gathering all the information available on student scores and university rankings and devising the different parameters that’ll be used for determining a university’s suitability for a student.

In this example of the waterfall model, the design phase is all about fine-tuning the parameters established in the analysis phase and making sure that the structure of the software program is precise enough to avoid any manipulation of or confusion over large volumes of data.

This all-important phase involves doing dummy runs of the software program with a provisional set of data to see the accuracy with which the program can suggest appropriate universities for students. These suggestions should then be matched with results obtained from academic counselors who have arrived at the suggestions through their years of professional expertise.

As with any example of the waterfall model, the testing phase is about ensuring that all features of the software program function smoothly and that there are no glitches that can derail the utility of the overall program.

In the final phase, the software program should be checked for any necessary updates or alterations that may be required, besides the expected inclusion of new data, including a greater volume of student scores and a fresh set of university rankings.

The waterfall model is just one example of the many approaches adopted in project management . At Harappa, the Executing Solutions  course is tailor-made for you to master several approaches, such as the Branding, Leadership And Selling Techniques ( BLAST ) approach (on how to develop a mindset for devising responsible solutions), the Bifocal Approach (a strategy that balances short-term and long-term views).

With the help of a world-class faculty, this course will allow you to closely monitor your progress, navigate crises, scrutinize frameworks and develop a holistic approach to managing all kinds of projects. Sign up for the Executing Solutions course today and join employees from organizations like NASSCOM, Uber and Standard Chartered in elevating your management skills.

Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as  How Does The  Waterfall Model  Help In Project Management,  Advantages & Disadvantages Of Waterfall Model , What Is  Project Management , Introduction To  Operations Management  & How To Do A  PERT  Analysis and monitor your projects efficiently.

What the waterfall project management methodology can (and can’t) do for you

Reading time: about 7 min

If you work in project management, you have probably heard a number of strange terms thrown around as you try to decide what approach will work best for your team: critical path, scrum, PMBOK, Six Sigma, etc. Amongst all these terms, you may have heard about the waterfall project management methodology, even if you’ve never used it.

Curious as to whether this approach would be a good fit for your project management needs? In this guide, learn how the waterfall methodology uses a sequential process to simplify project management and how you might implement aspects of this methodology in your own work.

What is the waterfall project management methodology?

Simply put, traditional waterfall project management is a sequential, linear process of project management. It consists of several discrete phases. No phase begins until the prior phase is complete, and each phase’s completion is terminal—waterfall management does not allow you to return to a previous phase. The only way to revisit a phase is to start over at phase one.

If waterfall methodology sounds strict, that’s because the system’s history demanded it. Waterfall project management has its roots in non-software industries like manufacturing and construction, where the system arose out of necessity. In these fields, project phases must happen sequentially. You can’t put up drywall if you haven’t framed a house. Likewise, it’s impossible to revisit a phase. There’s no good way to un-pour a concrete foundation.  

As you can imagine, proper planning is a must in the waterfall system. A project’s requirements must be clear upfront, and everyone involved in a project must be well aware of those requirements. Each team member should also understand what their role will be in the project and what that role entails.

All of this information must be thoroughly documented and then distributed to everyone on the project. We recommend outlining this information as a flowchart, as shown below, so your team can quickly understand and reference requirements as needed. You may also want to try adding swimlanes to show which tasks go to which team member. 

Team members will refer to the documentation you provide throughout the process. When followed properly, this document makes expectations clear. It will also provide project milestones that will make it simple to determine progress.

Consequently, thorough documentation is a priority in traditional waterfall project management methodology. Documentation should take place throughout every phase of the process, ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page despite the sequential progression of the project.

Phases of waterfall project management

The specific waterfall phases vary somewhat from source to source, but they generally include:

1. Requirement gathering and documentation

In this stage, you should gather comprehensive information about what this project requires. You can gather this information in a variety of ways, from interviews to questionnaires to interactive brainstorming. By the end of this phase, the project requirements should be clear, and you should have a requirements document that has been distributed to your team.

2. System design

Using the established requirements, your team designs the system. No coding takes place during this phase, but the team establishes specs such as programming language or hardware requirements.

3. Implementation

Coding takes place in this phase. Programmers take information from the previous stage and create a functional product. They typically implement code in small pieces, which are integrated at the end of this phase or the beginning of the next.

Once all coding is done, testing of the product can begin. Testers methodically find and report any problems. If serious issues arise, your project may need to return to phase one for reevaluation.

5. Delivery/deployment

In this phase, the product is complete, and your team submits the deliverables to be deployed or released.

6. Maintenance

The product has been delivered to the client and is being used. As issues arise, your team may need to create patches and updates may to address them. Again, big issues may necessitate a return to phase one.

Benefits of waterfall project management

Keeps training simple

This methodology could ensure your project’s success even if there are unanticipated changes in bandwidth. Because waterfall project management emphasizes thorough documentation, you can easily and seamlessly add new team members to any project. There’s no need to intuit what an absent programmer was trying to do, as everything—from the project’s conception to its completion—is recorded. New team members can simply refer to documentation to get quickly up to speed.

Shows progress

Waterfall project management also shows progress simply. The clear milestones delineated in the first phase make it easy to determine if a project is moving forward on schedule. Likewise, the discrete phases indicate how close a project is to overall completion at any given time, as the waterfall system does not allow for revisiting a prior phase. This eliminates much of the guesswork related to a project’s timeline.

Makes the project easy to manage

These benefits, combined with the linear nature of the system, make waterfall projects easy to manage. Because of the sequential system, you’ll know where the project is at any given time and if that’s where it should be. Rather than scrambling to manage a large team, a manager can focus exclusively on team members participating in a given phase. And should there be unexpected outside delays or personnel changes, waterfall documentation allow you to quickly get your team back on track.

Saves time and money

Whether you decide to fully commit to waterfall project management, there’s no question that certain aspects of this methodology—namely, thorough conceptualization and detailed documentation—better prepare you to execute a project the right way the first time. Taking the time early on to discover and plan for requirements can save you time and money down the line.

When to use waterfall methodology

Because of its linear approach, waterfall methodology project management works best for projects that have clear and fixed requirements and/or time constraints. That’s why waterfall steps work well in manufacturing and construction industries, where schedules and plans are clear from the start.

Late-stage testing makes any revision a serious undertaking. In fact, strict adherents to the waterfall timeline would argue that a need for revision means the product requirements were not clear, and therefore the project must return to stage one. This can be a serious problem in many industries, such as the ever-changing world of software.

An agile approach is more likely to suit your project if you suspect that requirements could change during production or that revision will be necessary. Realistically, most software development fits in this category.

Because of its inability to adapt to change, the waterfall methodology is best suited to short projects that are well-defined from the beginning. If you are certain that the project requirements are static, then waterfall project management provides a straightforward way to push a project through a clearly defined process. It’s simple to manage and easy to track.

How Lucidchart can help you document your project

Want to try the waterfall methodology? Now that you’ve seen the importance of documentation within this method, you know the first step is to find a platform to track all the necessary tasks and share them with your team.

Lucidchart can help in every project stage:

• Utilize a mind map as you gather requirements. You can even share your Lucidchart document during a meeting with stakeholders and add suggestions in real time.
• If you work in software development, you might want to create a user flow diagram based on the requirements you’ve received. With this document, developers can see a high-level view of how the software should function.
• Once you finalize requirements and understand the tasks needed to accomplish those requirements, create a workflow for your team. In Lucidchart, your team will be able to see dependencies at a glance. 
• Make documentation available for everyone involved with the project. Sharing is simple since you can access Lucidchart documents from any operating system or embed your diagrams into popular apps  you already use in your workflow.

Try Lucidchart and see how to improve documentation throughout the entire waterfall process.

Explore all the ways Lucidchart can support project management.

About Lucidchart

Lucidchart, a cloud-based intelligent diagramming application, is a core component of Lucid Software's Visual Collaboration Suite. This intuitive, cloud-based solution empowers teams to collaborate in real-time to build flowcharts, mockups, UML diagrams, customer journey maps, and more. Lucidchart propels teams forward to build the future faster. Lucid is proud to serve top businesses around the world, including customers such as Google, GE, and NBC Universal, and 99% of the Fortune 500. Lucid partners with industry leaders, including Google, Atlassian, and Microsoft. Since its founding, Lucid has received numerous awards for its products, business, and workplace culture. For more information, visit lucidchart.com.

Related articles

The pros and cons of waterfall methodology.

Learn about the pros and cons of the Waterfall methodology to determine if it's the right fit for your team. 

Agile vs. Waterfall vs. Kanban vs. Scrum: What’s the Difference?

Check out our complete guide to help you understand the different project management methodologies. Understand what really sets Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, and Kanban apart and determine which is the best fit for your team. 

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Waterfall Project Management: Methodology, Phases, Benefits, And Limitations

Written By : Bakkah

26 May 2024

Table of Content

What is the Waterfall Methodology?

Phases and stages of the waterfall methodology, benefits of waterfall project management, when to use waterfall methodology, when is waterfall methodology less successful, limitations of waterfall methodology, agile vs waterfall, examples of waterfall project management, learn project management with bakkah's comprehensive courses , popular articles.

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The Waterfall project management methodology is a traditional approach characterized by its linear and sequential progression through distinct phases. These phases typically include requirements gathering, system design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Each phase must be completed before moving on to the next, akin to water flowing downstream in a waterfall.

Waterfall emphasizes thorough upfront planning and documentation, providing clear milestones and deliverables for project stakeholders . This structured approach offers benefits such as predictability, clarity of project scope , and ease of management. 

However, Waterfall also has limitations, including limited flexibility to accommodate changes, late discovery of issues, and challenges in managing evolving requirements. Additionally, the sequential nature of Waterfall may lead to inefficient resource utilization and a higher risk of project failure in dynamic or uncertain environments.

The Waterfall methodology is a traditional project management approach that follows a linear and sequential process. In the Waterfall model, each phase of the project must be completed before moving on to the next phase, similar to how water flows downstream in a waterfall, hence the name.

While the Waterfall methodology has been widely used in the past, it has limitations in today's fast-paced and dynamic business environment where requirements are subject to change and stakeholders expect more frequent delivery of value. As a result, iterative and Agile methodologies have become more popular alternatives to the Waterfall model.

In Waterfall methodology, projects advance through sequential phases, each building upon the previous one. However, once a phase is completed, making changes becomes challenging without impacting subsequent phases. This lack of adaptability makes Waterfall less suited for changing requirements compared to Agile methodologies. The typical phases of the Waterfall methodology include:

1. Requirements Gathering

In this initial phase, stakeholders identify and document project requirements, including functional and non-functional specifications. The goal is to clearly define what the system or product should accomplish.

2. System Design

Once the requirements are gathered, the design phase begins. System architects and designers create detailed technical specifications and architectural plans based on the gathered requirements. This phase outlines how the system will be structured and how its components will interact.

3. Implementation (Coding)

With the design specifications in hand, developers start coding or programming the system according to the design. This phase involves writing code, building databases, creating user interfaces, and integrating various components to develop the complete system.

After the implementation phase, the system undergoes testing to ensure that it meets the specified requirements and functions correctly. Testing includes various types such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT). Defects or bugs identified during testing are recorded and addressed by the development team.

5. Deployment (Installation)

Once the system has been thoroughly tested and approved, it is ready for deployment or installation in the production environment. This phase involves installing the system, configuring it as needed, and ensuring that it operates smoothly in the live environment.

6. Maintenance and Support

After deployment, the system enters the maintenance phase. This phase involves providing ongoing support, troubleshooting issues, and making enhancements or updates to the system as required. Maintenance activities may include bug fixes, performance optimization, security patches, and adding new features.

Waterfall methodology provides benefits when project requirements are clear and stable. However, it may not suit projects with changing or uncertain requirements. Its rigid nature makes it less adaptable than Agile methodologies. Therefore, project needs should be carefully assessed before choosing a management approach. Some of the key benefits of waterfall methodology project management include:

1. Clear and Structured Approach

The Waterfall methodology follows a sequential and structured approach, with well-defined phases and deliverables. This clarity helps in understanding project progress and ensures that all stakeholders have a clear vision of the project's direction from the outset.

2. Predictability

Due to its sequential nature, the Waterfall model allows for better predictability in terms of project timelines , costs , and deliverables. Project schedules can be developed based on the estimated duration of each phase, making it easier to plan resources and manage expectations.

3. Emphasis on Documentation

Waterfall projects typically involve thorough documentation at each stage, including requirements documents, design specifications, and test plans. This comprehensive documentation serves as a valuable reference point throughout the project and aids in knowledge transfer among team members.

4. Ease of Management

The linear and sequential nature of the Waterfall model makes project management relatively straightforward. Project managers can focus on one phase at a time, ensuring that each phase is completed before moving on to the next. This simplifies tracking progress and managing dependencies.

5. Well-Suited for Stable Requirements

Waterfall is particularly well-suited for projects with stable and well-understood requirements. If the project scope is unlikely to change significantly, the Waterfall model provides a disciplined approach to project execution, minimizing the risk of scope creep.

6. Client Involvement at Key Milestones

Waterfall projects often involve client or stakeholder reviews at key milestones, such as during the requirements and design phases. This allows for early feedback and ensures that the final deliverable meets the client's expectations.

Waterfall methodology suits projects with stable, well-defined requirements but may not be suitable for those with evolving needs or high uncertainty. Agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban offer better adaptability. The choice between Waterfall and Agile depends on the project's characteristics and requirements. Here are some scenarios when the Waterfall methodology may be appropriate:

1. Predictable Projects

Waterfall is suitable for projects where the requirements, goals, and deliverables are clearly defined and unlikely to change. This includes projects with well-understood technologies, standard industry practices, and stable regulatory requirements.

2. Fixed-Price Contracts

Waterfall is often used in projects with fixed-price contracts, where the scope, schedule, and budget are agreed upon upfront. Waterfall's linear and sequential nature helps define project milestones and manage client expectations.

3. Small to Medium-Sized Projects

Waterfall is well-suited for small to medium-sized projects with relatively straightforward requirements. Projects that do not involve complex integrations, frequent changes, or high levels of uncertainty can benefit from the structured approach of Waterfall.

4. Regulated Industries

Waterfall is commonly used in industries with strict regulatory compliance requirements, such as healthcare, aerospace, and defense. The comprehensive documentation and rigorous testing processes of Waterfall help in ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

5. Projects with Limited Client Involvement

Sometimes, clients prefer a hands-off approach and delegate project decision-making to the development team. Waterfall allows for limited client involvement, with formal reviews and approvals at key milestones.

6. Projects with Fixed Deadlines

Waterfall can be suitable for projects with fixed deadlines, where the delivery date is non-negotiable. The sequential nature of Waterfall allows for better planning and scheduling of tasks to meet the project deadline.

Waterfall methodology may not be well-suited for projects in dynamic or uncertain environments. While it may work for projects with stable requirements, its rigidity can hinder success in complex or rapidly changing settings. Agile methodologies offer greater adaptability and flexibility in such scenarios. Here are some scenarios when the Waterfall methodology is less successful:

1. Projects with Evolving Requirements

Waterfall is not well-suited for projects where requirements are likely to change or evolve significantly throughout the project lifecycle. The sequential nature of Waterfall makes it difficult to accommodate changes once the project has progressed beyond the requirements phase.

2. Highly Complex Projects

Waterfall may struggle to handle highly complex projects that involve intricate dependencies, extensive integrations, or cutting-edge technologies. Such projects often require frequent collaboration, iteration, and flexibility, which are not typically provided by the linear approach of Waterfall.

3. Rapidly Changing Environments

In dynamic and fast-paced environments, such as software development or digital marketing, the Waterfall methodology may be too rigid to keep up with the pace of change. Projects in these environments often require quick responses to market trends, customer feedback, and emerging technologies, which are better addressed by Agile methodologies.

4. Uncertain or Unknown Requirements

If project requirements are unclear or poorly understood at the outset, Waterfall can lead to misalignment between the final deliverable and customer expectations. Agile methodologies, which emphasize adaptive planning and iterative development, are better suited for exploring and refining requirements in such situations.

5. Limited Client Involvement

Waterfall projects may suffer from limited client involvement, particularly if clients are unable to provide detailed requirements upfront or if they prefer to be more involved throughout the project lifecycle . Agile methodologies, with their emphasis on collaboration and continuous feedback, offer greater opportunities for client engagement.

6. Risk of Scope Creep

The sequential nature of Waterfall makes it challenging to accommodate changes to the project scope once development has begun. This can lead to scope creep, where additional features or requirements are added during the implementation phase, resulting in delays and budget overruns.

The Waterfall methodology, while effective in certain scenarios, has several limitations that can impact project success. Thus its limitations make it less suitable for projects characterized by uncertainty, complexity, or rapid change. Some of the waterfall disadvantages include:

1. Rigidity

Waterfall follows a sequential and linear approach, where each phase must be completed before moving on to the next. This rigidity makes it difficult to accommodate changes or updates to project requirements once the project has progressed beyond the requirements phase.

2. Limited Flexibility

Due to its sequential nature, Waterfall is less flexible and adaptive compared to Agile methodologies. It may struggle to respond effectively to changes in project scope, schedule, or requirements, leading to delays and inefficiencies.

3. Limited Client Involvement

Waterfall projects often involve limited client involvement, particularly during the early stages of the project. This can result in misalignment between the final deliverable and client expectations, as well as a lack of opportunities for client feedback and iteration.

4. Late Discovery of Issues

Since testing typically occurs towards the end of the project lifecycle in Waterfall, issues or defects may not be identified until late in the development process. This can lead to costly rework and delays in project delivery.

5. High Risk of Project Failure

The Waterfall methodology carries a higher risk of project failure, especially if requirements are not accurately captured or if there is uncertainty about project constraints. Once a phase is completed, it can be challenging to go back and make changes without affecting subsequent phases.

6. Inefficient Resource Utilization

Waterfall may result in inefficient resource utilization, as resources may be idle or underutilized during certain phases of the project. For example, developers may have to wait until the design phase is complete before they can begin coding.

7. Limited Adaptability to Change

Waterfall is less adaptable to changes in project scope, market conditions, or customer requirements compared to Agile methodologies. This lack of adaptability can hinder the project's ability to respond effectively to evolving needs and priorities.

Agile and Waterfall are distinct project management methodologies, each with unique principles and advantages. Waterfall provides predictability and structure, while Agile offers flexibility and adaptability. The choice between the two depends on project needs, organizational culture, and stakeholder preferences. Here's a comparison between Agile and Waterfall:

Real-world examples across diverse industries showcase the application of the Waterfall project management methodology, highlighting its sequential and structured approach. While advantageous for clear milestones and documentation, Waterfall may face limitations in dynamic or uncertain environments where flexibility is paramount. Here are a few examples:

1. Construction Projects

Many large-scale construction projects, such as building infrastructure, bridges, or commercial complexes, often follow the Waterfall methodology. The project typically starts with the planning and design phase, followed by procurement of materials, construction, and finally, completion and handover.

2. Manufacturing Processes

Manufacturing projects that involve the development of new products or production lines often utilize the Waterfall methodology. The project progresses through stages such as product design, prototyping, testing, manufacturing process development, and finally, full-scale production.

3. Government Projects

Government agencies frequently use the Waterfall methodology for projects involving policy development, regulatory compliance, or infrastructure upgrades. For example, the implementation of a new tax system or the construction of public transportation systems may follow a sequential approach with distinct phases.

4. Pharmaceutical Research and Development

Pharmaceutical companies often employ the Waterfall methodology for drug discovery and development projects. The process typically includes stages such as drug discovery, preclinical testing, clinical trials (phases I, II, and III), regulatory approval, and commercialization.

5. Infrastructure Development Projects

Projects involving the development of large-scale infrastructure, such as airports, railways, or utilities, typically follow a sequential process with well-defined phases, making Waterfall a suitable methodology.

6. Engineering Projects

Engineering projects, such as the design and development of new products, machinery, or systems, often adhere to the Waterfall methodology. The project progresses through stages such as concept design, detailed engineering design, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing.

7. Aerospace and Defense Projects

Projects in the aerospace and defense industries, such as the development of aircraft, spacecraft, or military equipment, frequently follow the Waterfall methodology. The project lifecycle includes stages such as conceptual design, detailed engineering, manufacturing, testing, and deployment.

From mastering Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP®) to becoming a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) , and delving into the intricacies of Projects In Controlled Environments (PRINCE2®) and PRINCE2® Agile methodologies, we have the tools and expertise to elevate your skills. Whether you're aiming for PRINCE2® Agile certification or advancing to Program Management Professional (PgMP®) status, seize the opportunity to excel in your project management career. Enroll now and embark on a journey towards professional excellence with Bakkah.

In summary, while the Waterfall methodology provides a disciplined and methodical approach to project management, it may not be well-suited for projects with changing requirements or high levels of uncertainty. Organizations should carefully assess the characteristics of their projects and consider alternative methodologies, such as Agile, when greater flexibility and adaptability are required.

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What is Waterfall Project Management Methodology? Here’s the Complete Guide

• Written by Contributing Writer
• Updated on March 31, 2023

Project management is a broad term encompassing several methods and strategies to develop, plan, organize, and execute all phases of a project’s lifecycle. There are many popular project management methodologies, each with strengths and weaknesses and best use cases. The most used strategies include Lean, Scrum, Critical Path, Kanban, Six Sigma, Prince2®, Agile, and Waterfall.

The project manager needs to consider several factors to determine the optimal methodology. Initially, the nature of the project itself must be considered, as specific methods may be better suited. In cases where the advantages of one approach aren’t distinct, the company’s objectives, culture, and preferences should also influence the decision. The waterfall project management methodology, a longstanding industry dominator, remains a preferred choice in many organizations. Additionally, a project management bootcamp provides valuable insights and knowledge for professionals seeking to enhance their project management skills.

What Is Waterfall Project Management?

The waterfall approach to project management methodology is a strategy used to manage all aspects of a project using a linear and sequential process. The name is derived from the linear strategy wherein one category “falls” into the next. Much like a waterfall cascade, one process can start once the other has been completed and approved. Once a stage closes and the next begins, it can be difficult and expensive to revisit a previous stage using this method. Because of this, it is preferred when clearly defined goals and processes are in place. Essentially, it is the opposite approach of agile project management, where adjustments and adaptations are made continuously throughout a project to consider feedback and other alternations as they arise.

Also Read: Understanding KPIs in Project Management

Phases of the Waterfall Project Management Methodology

When following the waterfall methodology, there are five distinct phases. Because returning to a phase is immensely difficult and expensive once completed, anyone implementing this strategy must have a deep, thorough understanding of what is included within each phase.

Like most others, the waterfall methodology for project management starts with an initial planning phase. Through planning, the project manager works with leaders/stakeholders to identify the project’s requirements and the goals they aim to meet. They are loosely defined at this point, and any perceived risks and assumptions are identified and detailed.

After the project manager successfully closes the planning phase, the team can begin with the design portion. Here, the basic ideas gathered within the planning phase are narrowed down and transformed into more definitive, actionable concepts. All these factors are then addressed and used to create a project roadmap. This guide clearly defines the budget, timeframe, and overall objectives.

3. Implement

The implementation phase starts after all design work has been hashed out and everyone is on the same page with the project’s direction. After receiving approval to close the design phase, everyone on the team is assigned specific roles and duties. They can begin working on the essential tasks at hand. This phase of the waterfall project management methodology is where most of the time will be spent on each project. While doing the work, project managers will continually document the progress made and mitigate any risks or problems as they arise.

4. Verification

The fourth step when following the waterfall methodology for project management is the verification or testing phase. Moving on to this section verifies that all the work outlined in the design phase has since been completed according to plan. For instance, relying on specific metrics like customer satisfaction allows the project manager to identify any areas of concern. Suppose errors are detected or the project has failed to meet all the objectives outlined. In that case, the team must re-evaluate the project starting at phase one to identify what went wrong before moving on to the final stage of the waterfall method.

5. Maintenance

The maintenance phase is an ongoing process that extends beyond the lifecycle of the initial project and spills over into the whole lifespan of a project/product/service/application. This may last several years as flaws, errors, omissions, and other nuances are addressed to improve functionality. It also involves routine maintenance. The goal is to ensure that the project, over time, continues to meet the needs that it initially set out to fulfill.

Desktop vs. Online Project Management Waterfall Software

Do you want to buy and install project management software on your machines or get a cloud-based subscription instead? Consider the following factors when deciding.

• Accessibility. If your software is installed on a desktop, you only have access to the product if you’re on your machine. Cloud-based software is accessible at any place and at any time.
• Connectivity. Although this is a minor point, it could still matter. You always have access to software on your desktop, but an online product is subject to reliable Internet access.
• Cost. Desktop software tends to be more expensive initially, which can rise sharply if you’re obliged to pay user license fees for every team member. Cloud-based subscriptions typically have very reasonable tiered payment models.
• Security. If security is a big issue, desktop-based software is virtually untouchable. However, online security, such as two-factor authentication, has made huge strides.

Vital Features of Waterfall Software

There are plenty of waterfall software choices available. Whatever you choose, make sure it has the following critical features:

• It can upload documents and requirements efficiently.
• It employs work breakdown structures (WBS) to collect all necessary tasks.
• It lets you work with Gantt charts, which are heavily used in planning and scheduling. Additionally, the software should make it easy to set up dependencies and assign tasks in Gantt charts.
• It allows you to create milestones and phases.
• It should be easy to manage resources and workloads.
• You should be able to easily track a project’s progress in Gantt or a dashboard.
• It generates reports, copies projects, and creates templates easily.

Also Read: 5 Essential Project Management Steps You Need to Know

Advantages of the Waterfall Project Management Methodology

As a more traditional form of project management, the waterfall method has been used for projects within large organizations and software development fields for over 20 years. While it isn’t a suitable approach for all projects, it does offer several advantages over project management methods, including:

Clear Timelines

Because the waterfall approach to project management requires one phase to be completed before moving on to the next, it offers a much more predictable timeline than methods like Agile. Having such distinct phases also helps the team continually assess whether they are on par to meet milestones or need to catch up. They can take this information and adjust their processes to get back on track.

Enhanced Collaboration

With Agile and Scrum methodologies, one of the biggest challenges is keeping everyone involved on the same page. Because continuous evaluations and adaptations are being made, it can take time to keep up. The waterfall method makes collaboration much more manageable because everyone works on the same goals simultaneously before moving on to the next stage.

Reduced Risk of Error

Errors that require teams to restart projects or rework their strategies are costly. A minor mistake can ruin the entire budget and timeline if not caught early. Waterfall project management avoids most errors because all portions are completed before moving to the next stage. This allows most problems to be identified early in the project lifecycle, whereas other strategies do not have this advantage.

Well-Defined Objectives

Before any work is performed, the waterfall method requires all objectives, tasks, and goals to be outlined. This is crucial for keeping all team members committed to the same objectives while ensuring less rework or delays due to misunderstandings or scope creep.

Improved Control of the Project

One of the most daunting challenges project managers face, particularly in large organizations or projects, is losing control of the project. This can happen for many reasons, like misunderstandings, delays, missed milestones, vendor or supply issues, etc. The likelihood of losing control of a project increases with less organized and structured methods. Because the waterfall method is highly structured, project managers have better control over all aspects of the project. When sticking to a budget and goals is a primary concern, this level of control is imperative.

Also Read: Project Management Frameworks and Methodologies Explained

Disadvantages of Waterfall Project Management

Despite the widespread use of the waterfall strategy, there are better options for some projects or industries. Because of this, project managers must ensure that the plan aligns with the needs of the company and the tasks at hand. In some cases, control may be crucial, while flexibility may be needed in others. Let’s explore the most common disadvantages.

Little to No Flexibility

In scenarios where flexibility is necessary, the waterfall methodology for project management is not ideal. Because of its highly structured nature, making changes along the way is inherently tricky. This is particularly true when the changes concern significant project outline or scope alterations.

Limited Involvement of Stakeholders/Leaders

When stakeholders and leaders are interested in being intricately involved in decision-making throughout the project, the waterfall method provides challenges. Because each stage is completed before moving on to the next, there are fewer opportunities for stakeholders/leaders to provide feedback and request changes along the way. Other strategies provide more hands-on involvement and can lead to higher satisfaction.

More Significant Time/Cost Investments

Project management styles that adapt well to changes have an advantage regarding time and cost investments. Because they can adapt at the drop of a dime, little time or money is wasted before errors are identified and remedied. Unfortunately, the opposite is true of the waterfall method. It takes an immense amount of time to complete many of these stages, and once they are finished, it is a hefty investment in terms of both time and money to rework phases to remedy errors.

When to Use the Waterfall Methodology

Although the waterfall methodology is an excellent tool, more comprehensive solutions exist. So, when should you use it?

• The project has a well-defined end goal. Projects with an easily defined goal are perfect candidates for the waterfall method. Project managers can work backward from the goal, creating a clear, detailed path with all the requirements.
• The project has no budget or time limitations. If your team is under the gun with a strict deadline and not counting pennies, waterfall is a great approach since it accommodates tinkering and refining.
• You must create repeatable processes. Since the waterfall model requires documentation at almost every step of the process, it’s easy to repeat the project for new team members. Each step is detailed, so you can easily recreate the process.

Waterfall Software Development Life Cycle

Let’s see the waterfall software development in action. Here’s an example where the team builds an app for a client. Here are the steps the team takes to reach the final deliverable.

• Requirements and Documents. First, the team gathers all the requirements and documentation to get started on the app.
• Project Scope. This is one of the most critical documents in the project, where the team determines the app creation goals: functional requirements, features, costs, deliverables, deadlines, etc.
• Stakeholder Expectations. The team interviews the stakeholders to align the project scope with their expectations and understand precisely what they want.
• Research. The team conducts market research on competing apps, the current market, customer needs, and whatever else is needed to find the unserved niche the app will serve.
• Assembling the Team. The team brings together the people and resources needed to create the app, from the programmers to the designers.
• Kickoff. The kickoff is the initial meeting with the team and stakeholders, covering the information gathered and setting expectations.
• System Design. Next, the team plans the project. They’ve done the research and know what’s expected from the stakeholders. They must create a system design to determine how they will arrive at the final deliverable. The team will specify hardware and software requirements and the system architecture based on the information gathered during the first phase. This step breaks down into two sub-steps.
• Collect Tasks. The team uses a work breakdown structure to list all the tasks necessary for the final deliverable.
• Create a Schedule. With the tasks in place, the team needs to estimate each task’s time. Once the team figures that out, they map them onto a Gantt chart and link dependencies with diligence. Here’s where the team can add costs to the Gantt and construct a budget.
• Implementation. Now, the team is ready to get down to business. This is the phase where the app will be built and tested. The system from the preceding phase is first developed in smaller programs called “units.” Each goes through a unit testing process before it’s integrated. There are six sub-steps here:
• Assign Team Tasks. Individual team members own their tasks and are responsible for completing them and collaborating with the rest of the team. These tasks can be created from a Gantt chart.
• Monitor and Track. While the team executes the tasks, the project manager should monitor and track their progress to ensure the project is progressing per the schedule.
• Manage Resources and Workload. As the manager monitors the progress, issues will inevitably arise, requiring reallocated resources and balanced workloads to avoid bottlenecks.
• Report to Stakeholders. Throughout the project, stakeholders require updates to inform them of its progress. The project manager meets with them and discusses a regular schedule for holding presentations.
• Testing. Once the team has delivered the functioning app, it must go through thorough testing to ensure everything is working as designed.
• Deliver the App. After all the bugs have been addressed, the team is ready to give the finished app to the stakeholders.
• System Testing and Deployment. During this phase, the team integrates all the system units and conducts an integration testing process to ensure the components of your app work properly together. Once the team verifies the app is functioning, it’s ready for deployment.
• Verification. Although the app has been delivered, the software development life cycle isn’t over until some administrative tasks have been completed. There are four sub-tasks here. This is technically the last step.
• Pay Any Contracts. The manager fulfills any contractual obligations to your team and freelance contractors, if any. This pay releases them from the project.
• Create a Template. The manager uses software, such as ProjectManager, to create a template from the project so the team has a head start when beginning another similar project.
• Close Out the Paperwork. The manager ensures all the paperwork has been rubber-stamped and archived.
• Celebrate! The manager assembles everyone and savors the conclusion of a successful project! It’s important for team morale to recognize their hard work and a job well done.
• Maintenance. Is any app development project truly over? Through the course of use by customers, new bugs will arise and must be addressed. So, it’s a given that the team will provide maintenance beyond launch. This ongoing, post-launch phase extends for as long as the contract dictates.

Waterfall vs. Agile Methodology

Waterfall and Agile project methodologies are popular project management styles, and although they share similarities, they also have a few profound differences, such as:

• Workflow. Waterfall project management works on a linear workflow; Agile management prioritizes tasks by their order of importance.
• Customer feedback. Teams using Waterfall present the project to the client upon its completion, while teams employing the Agile method present the project in segments instead of all at once.
• Project planning. With Waterfall, the team plans out the whole project ahead of time, while teams working in Agile plan out sections, and the team reviews each section individually.

Waterfall Project Management Examples

Here are some examples of how different industries could use the waterfall methodology regularly:

• Construction. Waterfall can be helpful in construction because the industry relies on doing work in stages, and Waterfall helps ensure the completion of specific tasks. For example, drywall contractors can only begin work once the wiring is installed.
• Manufacturing. Waterfall helps teams by supporting different manufacturing and production phases and maximizing efficiency. For example, a wearable tech manufacturer could wait until the assemblers finish their work before preparing the project for packaging.
• Software development. Software development uses different coding levels, and waterfall can be beneficial because it effectively organizes those levels. For instance, a software team could set up sequential phases to develop a mobile app, ranging from the initial coding stage to full deployment.

Learn Waterfall Project Management Methodology

Obtaining project management certification through this project management bootcamp, delivered by Simplilearn in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, shows managers are taking the initiative to advance in their careers. For those not currently in leadership positions, it can showcase that they are ready to take on more responsibility and lead a team to success.

The program takes approximately six months to complete and educates participants on the best project management methodologies, such as the waterfall method. It also delves deep into the technologies used to manage projects, like Jira, Microsoft Office, and risk management software systems.

Project managers can earn an annual average of $92,410, according to Glassdoor.com .

You might also like to read:

What is a WBS in Project Management, and How Do You Use it?

What’s a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM), and How Do You Create It?

13 Key Project Management Principles and How to Use Them

Project Management Phases: A Full Breakdown

The Top 24 Project Management Interview Questions

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Waterfall Project Management: Your Complete Guide (Updated 2024)

The Waterfall project management methodology is a “traditional” PM approach. Created in the 70s, the model is designed for clear-cut, linear projects with upfront requirements and firm milestones. While iterative methodologies like Agile have pushed Waterfall out of software development, the model is still popular in industrial, engineering, and construction projects.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Waterfall methodology! 👇

🤔 What Is the Waterfall Project Management Methodology?

The Waterfall project management methodology is one of the classic takes on project management. Unlike Agile which is iterative and based on cycles, the Waterfall model divides projects into linear, sequential phases that unfold one after another.

The Waterfall approach has been successfully used in:

• 🏗️ Large-scale construction
• 🛠️ Engineering projects
• 🏭 Industrial applications
• 🧑‍💻 Software development

It’s difficult to tell when the Waterfall methodology came on stage. Some attribute it to computer scientist Winston W. Royce and his 1970 article “Managing the Development of Large Software Systems.” (1) While Royce didn’t use the term “waterfall”—it was first recorded in a 1976 paper “Software Requirements: Are They Really a Problem?” (2) —he set the groundwork for the model.

In Royce’s design, the yet-unnamed approach divided a project into seven phases the project team had to complete in a linear, sequential manner. The flow included System Requirements, Software Requirements, Analysis, Program Design, Coding, Testing, and Operations.

🏔 5 Phases of Waterfall Project Management

Each phase in the Waterfall process is a separate entity. Unlike Agile where there’s room for innovation and flexibility, the Waterfall approach requires the project team to complete phases one after another. These days, most projects use a 5-step process drawn from Royce’s design.

Requirements Phase

During the requirements phase, the project manager gathers and analyzes requirements from clients. The project team then prepares documentation they will use in the next phases. Project requirements in the Waterfall model don’t change, so this is a critical part of the process.

The project requirements document usually includes costs, risks, timelines, and project duration, among other details. The entire team needs to understand those requirements before they can move on. Any omissions and mistakes in this phase can compound in the design and implementation phases. 

Design Phase

With the requirements and documentation in place, the team creates a systems design that will help them meet the client’s expectations. Engineers then come up with a solution to the problem defined in the requirements. The project team also decides on the technology and languages (if it’s a software development project) they will use.

This phase is usually divided into a high-level design phase (HLD) and a low-level design phase (LLD). HLD covers the overall architecture of the end product/service with a brief description of each module. LLD is a detailed plan of how those modules will be implemented and tested.

Coding / Implementation Phase

This is where the real work begins. The project team starts building the actual product/service. In software development, the implementation is usually done in increments (units) that are later integrated. The project team may decide to conduct preliminary testing at this stage.

This is also the most time-consuming part of the process. Depending on the nature of the project, the implementation can be anything from writing source code to pouring the foundation. At this point, the team has an excellent understanding of project requirements.

Verification / Testing Phase 

Once the deliverables are ready, the project team can start looking for bugs and other issues that may plague end users. This is usually the responsibility of the testing team. The verification phase ensures that the product/service works according to initial requirements.

Due diligence during the Requirements and Design helps the project team save time they’d have to spend fixing things after deployment. The better the documentation and project requirements, the shorter the testing phase gets. Testing usually concludes with a test report.

Deployment and Maintenance Phase

In the final phase, the product/service goes live. Once the product is operational and in the hands of users, the project enters a maintenance phase. The team actively works on any outstanding issues missed during testing and pushes updates according to client feedback.

The maintenance stage can last until the product or service is retired. The team may focus on corrective (issues and bugs), adaptive (new features), perfective (user requests), and preventive maintenance. The maintenance phase makes up a substantial part of the project lifecycle.

⚡ The Benefits of Waterfall Project Management

Clear requirements and documentation.

Diligent research and documentation are key in the Waterfall approach. The process is slower than Agile, but it provides more predictable milestones and outcomes. This helps prevent many of the issues that pop up in iterative models focused on momentum and innovation.

Less Budget and Scope Creep

Methodologies like Scrum often run into scope/budget creep. With milestones and goals set upfront, Waterfall makes it much easier to track progress and stay within set requirements. That makes it a great choice for projects with non-negotiable budgets and fixed timelines. 

A Foundation for Future Projects

The stress on research and planning gives the development team a pool of knowledge they can rely on during Implementation and Maintenance. On top of ongoing support, it also helps create task templates and workflow blueprints for reuse across similar projects in the future.

🌟 Waterfall Project Management Best Practices

Decide if waterfall is a good match.

Before you dive head first into Waterfall (pun not intended), you need to make sure that it’s the right approach for the project at hand. Are the requirements clear enough? Does the project demand high flexibility and continuous iterations? Has the linear, sequential approach worked well in the past?

Choosing the right approach is not an easy task, but making a u-turn mid-project is rarely an option. Keep in mind that there’s no “best” or “worst” methodology. Consider the timeline, nature of the project, the extent of client involvement, and timeline/budget constraints before moving on.

Understand the Requirements

Project phases in the Waterfall methodology unfold sequentially. That means you can’t move back and forth to make adjustments and react to fluctuating requirements. It’s important to do all the research upfront and thoroughly understand client expectations before implementing deliverables.

Remember that testing and actual customer feedback comes at the very end of the Waterfall model. Customer satisfaction is the priority, so focus on careful planning, documentation, and following the process. All that will ensure that the end product/service is as close to perfection as possible.

Plan and Organize

The Waterfall methodology makes planning and preparation a breeze. With all the requirements available from day one, there’s little ambiguity about due dates and timelines. Make sure to work with clients, scope their expectations, and create realistic deadlines for each phase of the project.

👎 The Disadvantages of the Waterfall Approach

Of course, even the best free project management apps won’t help much if the workflow is full of potholes. And the Waterfall model isn’t exactly pitch-perfect. Here’s what you should keep in mind.

Lack of Flexibility

Unlike Agile project management, Waterfall offers limited flexibility. Project phases are sequential so it’s much more difficult to adapt to changing requirements. Just imagine building a massive bridge that’s too narrow to handle the traffic. Once you’re past the Design phase, it’s already too late.

Careful planning, diligent research, and quality documentation are key. But the requirements are not always clear from day one. Clients may decide to move in a different direction, prioritize different features, or challenge design choices agreed on in the initial phases of the project.

If the requirements change mid-project, the project team usually has to go back to the drawing board and rework the design to match new specs. This is time-consuming and expensive.

Compounding Problems

Research is a key ingredient in the Waterfall model, and so is due diligence. Initial research will serve as a reference point for the project team throughout the entire project lifecycle. If the project team doesn’t apply diligence early on, the issues can quickly compound down the road.

Poor documentation and poorly formulated requirements may lead to mistakes in the implementation phase. While you can fix small bugs and issues in testing, the Waterfall leaves no place for backtracking. Major design flaws may lead to delays or project failure. 

Of course, there are also external forces the project team can’t fully control. Sometimes the client may struggle to accurately describe the end product or service at the early stage. They may prefer to offer a rough draft and refine the vision as the project unfolds. This is not possible in the Waterfall model.

🐑 How to Use Waterfall Project Management in Taskade

Whether you want to go the Waterfall route or adopt a hybrid approach (a.k.a. “WAgile” or “Agifall”), Taskade will help get work done.

From research, gathering requirements, and writing documentation to setting milestones and tracking progress, we have you covered.

Here’s what you need to know.

Research and Discuss Specs

Meticulous documentation is an invaluable resource during all kinds of Waterfall projects. Taskade lets you organize project documentation, requirements, specifications, and other resources in one place. 

• 💬 Chat and add comments: Collaborate and chat with your team in the same window in one app. Start a video conference , jump on a call, and chat in real-time as you write specs, upload documents, and manage tasks. Need an extra bit of context? Leave a project comment instead.
• 🧠 Build a single source of truth: Don’t like starting from scratch? Taskade features 300+ quality templates you can use to get your projects off the ground. You can even create your own Waterfall blueprint so it’s easier to tackle similar projects in the future.

Define Milestones and Track Progress

Where is your project going? How will you get there? Who is responsible for key deliverables? Managing large, multi-layers projects can be difficult. That’s why Taskade makes it super easy to schedule action items, track progress, assign tasks, and keep everybody on the same page. 

• 🗓️ Set due dates and assign tasks: Taskade lets you assign tasks to project team members , set due dates, and track all the moving parts in a Shared Calendar or on a convenient Roadmap. Assigned tasks are also visible in a master agenda (My Tasks).
• 🔔 Stay in the know with notifications: Do you want to stay on top of project updates like comments, @mentions, and completed tasks? You can customize push notifications on a Workspace, Folder, and Project level so nothing slips through the cracks again.

Work in Hierarchies

Cramming project resources into walls of text isn’t the most effective approach. Taskade lets you transform projects and visualize workflows in several ways, all thanks to the power of databases.

• 👁️ Toggle Project views: Even if you’re a firm believer in the Waterfall methodology, you can still think outside the box. Toggle between a list, org chart, board, calendar, mind map, and action view to view your project from a different perspective. 
• 👑 Create a hierarchy of tasks: Every task in Taskade can have an unlimited number of sub-tasks, each with its own dependent tasks on infinite levels. That means your projects can be as simple or as complex as you need. Isn’t that fun? 🙂

👋 Partings Words

These days, most software teams use fast, iterative approaches like Agile and Scrum. After all, Sprints are the thing in a fast-paced environment where shifting requirements and quick fixes are the norm. But that doesn’t mean Waterfall is already out of the picture.

Many businesses stick to the Waterfall approach, and for good reasons. Waterfall projects are predictable, produce high-quality deliverables, and face fewer issues and bugs compared to other models. They’re also less likely to suffer from scope and budget creep.

“So, is Waterfall the right approach for my project?” If you still haven’t decided, check the FAQ section below where we answer some of the most popular questions about the Waterfall model.

🤖 Custom AI Agents : Design teams of AI agents to guide your team and automate routine tasks, powered by GPT-4 Turbo.

🪄 AI Generator : Use AI to generate detailed project plans and timelines, offering clarity and structure, regardless of what you’re working on.

✏️ AI Assistant : Use powerful /AI commands inside the project editor for smart writing and task management support.

🗂️ AI Prompt Templates Library : Access hundreds of AI prompts designed for smart project planning and progress tracking.

💬 AI Chat : Engage with AI Chat for advice on managing projects, overcoming challenges, and ensuring successful delivery.

📄 Media Q&A : Extract valuable insights, patterns, and key points hidden in documents, spreadsheets, and other textual resources.

And much more…

💬 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What kind of projects are suitable for waterfall model.

The Waterfall model works best for shorter projects with clear and precise requirements. It’s also a good match for projects that have little tolerance for issues and bugs. If you want to produce refined deliverables and can’t afford to fix things “later,” you can’t go wrong with Waterfall.

What kind of projects are not suitable for Waterfall project management?

Waterfall project management won’t work well for projects with ambiguous and fluent requirements. If there’s a lot of discovery and innovation involved, you may want to consider more flexible approaches like Agile. This is especially true when you need to ship quickly and iterate often.

Where is Waterfall used in project management?

The Waterfall methodology is often used in projects where requirements can’t change mid-project. For that reason, it’s been widely used in critical infrastructure, healthcare, the military, and other types of projects with a narrow margin of error.

Some examples of the Waterfall model include big-scale construction projects like bridges or apartment buildings that need to unfold sequentially. Once the groundwork is in place, it’d be extremely costly to tear the underlying structures down and rebuild them according to new specs.

What are the steps in Waterfall project management?

The Waterfall approach usually consists of 5 phases based on Royce’s original design. They include Requirements, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance. While those phases are frequently used in most situations, project managers can modify the flow to better service projects.

Is Waterfall good for large projects?

In theory, no, simply because large, complex projects are usually difficult to divide into clear-cut phases. Far-reaching deliverables are also impossible to pinpoint early.

In reality, there are other considerations. How skilled is the project team? Do they have experience with the method? How much do you need to involve the client throughout the process? You’ll also need to decide how much flexibility the project needs and how strict the budget/timeline is.

What is the difference between Agile and Waterfall?

The key difference between Agile and Waterfall is that Waterfall is linear, with clearly outlined steps from start to finish. Agile, on the other hand, is less organized and more dynamic. Going back and forth between project stages is the bread and butter of Agile teams, whereas Waterfall prioritizes stability.

As far as risk is concerned, Agile is much more flexible and forgiving. In Waterfall, shifting requirements can derail the entire project and usually mean going back to the drawing board. The tradeoffs are higher-quality deliverables, detailed documentation, and a shorter testing phase.

Is there a time when Waterfall is preferable over Scrum?

The intensity of meetings and feedback sessions across the entire project may be a burden for larger groups. That’s why Scrum works best with compact teams. In Waterfall, the project team starts with clear requirements and complete documentation so they can progress from one phase to the next on autopilot.

Scrum is also not the best approach if the project budget and timelines are set in stone. With all requirements defined upfront, Waterfall is less likely to run into scope or budget creep. Clear documentation is also a plus and makes the maintenance phase much easier.

🔗 Resources

• https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Managing-the-development-of-large-software-systems%3A-Royce/4afe47371b891778c6cc6fa401bfc1673ea0d63f
• https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Software-requirements%3A-Are-they-really-a-problem-Bell-Thayer/0527650938389231472a4b87292bc8b5635d55d3
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waterfall_model.svg

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Step-by-Step Waterfall Methodology Example: A Classic Approach To Project Management

By Mustafa Bilal -

- 7 mins Read

Are you seeking a step-by-step illustration of the waterfall methodology ? Look no further. This guide offers concrete waterfall methodology examples, including a detailed “waterfall methodology example” from crucial industries that put the classic, sequential stages of the waterfall system into perspective. It doesn’t just tell; it shows - walking you through the planning, execution, and delivery phases in construction, healthcare, and manufacturing, illuminating the strengths and addressing the inherent limitations of this methodology .

Key Takeaways

• The Waterfall methodology is appropriate for construction, healthcare, and manufacturing projects due to its systematic, phase-by-phase approach that allows for clarity, precision, and comprehensive planning.
• While beneficial in controlled environments with stable requirements, the Waterfall methodology faces challenges in dynamic sectors like healthcare, where flexibility and adaptability are essential to meet changing needs and feedback loops.
• The Waterfall methodology’s success is highlighted in specific case studies, such as the street fashion industry, where precise requirements and a firm timeline allowed for timely delivery of production.

Waterfall Methodology in Construction Projects

The construction industry, with its complex projects and towering ambitions, finds a reliable ally in the waterfall methodology. With its well-defined phases, project managers navigate from concept to completion with clarity and precision. The planning phase lays the foundation as project teams define the project scope and gather project requirements. This is where project managers shine, using project management software like Wrike to choreograph the intricate dance of resources and timelines.

Transitioning to the design phase , architects and engineers bring the project’s vision to life, crafting a system architecture that not only meets but exceeds expectations. This phase is a testament to the waterfall model’s strength in handling detailed work that requires a high degree of accuracy and foresight.

Before a single stone is laid, the pre-construction phase meticulously plans every aspect of the project, aligning resources, finalizing contracts, and setting the stage for the subsequent steps.

Then comes the action - the construction phase. It’s here that the project’s timeline is put to the test as project teams work diligently to track progress, measure success, and adhere to the project schedule. Gantt charts become the roadmap, guiding project progress and ensuring that each stage of the waterfall model phases cascade smoothly into the next.

The journey culminates in the closeout phase, a final review where the project is scrutinized for any deviations from the initial waterfall project plan. It’s a period of reflection and celebration as project managers and teams witness the transformation of blueprints into tangible structures.

The structured progression from planning to the final phase epitomizes the effectiveness of the waterfall methodology in construction projects, valuing foresight and precision and accounting for every detail while preemptively addressing potential issues.

Waterfall Methodology In Healthcare Projects

As we pivot from construction to healthcare, the application of the waterfall methodology encounters new challenges. In healthcare IT projects, the need for precision remains, but the rigidity of the waterfall project management methodology can sometimes clash with the dynamic nature of healthcare needs.

The waterfall model provides a clear roadmap with its structure and timeline, which is beneficial for managing complex projects that can impact patient care. However, this same clarity can be a double-edged sword. With client involvement primarily limited to the initial requirements gathering and subsequent reviews, the development process risks producing a system that, while technically sound, might not fully align with the nuanced needs of healthcare providers.

This is where the rigid backbone of the waterfall approach reveals its limitations. Once the project scope is defined and the waterfall project plan is set in motion, veering off the established path to accommodate new insights or user feedback can lead to deadline creep, budget overruns, and a final product that may fall short of expectations.

Healthcare projects, perhaps more than any other, benefit from an iterative process, where continuous improvement and agile methodology could offer a more responsive approach to project management. The waterfall model, with its sequential phases, struggles to adapt once the project is underway, which can result in a less-than-optimal solution for the end users.

Despite these challenges, the waterfall methodology’s precise delineation of project processes and its traditional advantages can still contribute to project success, provided the project requirements are stable and the scope well-understood from the outset.

The healthcare sector’s takeaway is nuanced; the waterfall methodology can provide a structured framework for project management, but recognizing the need for flexibility and adaptability is imperative when managing projects directly affecting human health and wellness.

Waterfall Methodology In Manufacturing Projects

Shifting the focus to the manufacturing sector, we encounter a landscape where the waterfall methodology’s sequential nature is not just beneficial but often necessary. In manufacturing projects, predictability and stability reign, making the waterfall an ideal candidate for managing the entire process from design to delivery.

Right from the start, the planning phase in manufacturing is exhaustive, with teams preparing detailed project scopes, conducting market research, and assembling experts to ground the project in reality and gear it toward success. This phase encapsulates the waterfall methodology’s emphasis on a thorough approach to project management.

Then comes the design phase, where specifications for hardware and system components are laid out with precision. The implementation phase follows, where the entire production process kicks into gear, adhering strictly to the predefined project requirements.

As products take shape, quality assurance becomes paramount. Testing ensures that only defect-free products make it to the deployment stage, where they are finally launched and delivered to eagerly awaiting customers.

But the Waterfall process doesn’t end at delivery. The maintenance phase is where the product’s lifecycle is managed beyond the initial launch, addressing any issues that arise and ensuring customer satisfaction.

In manufacturing, the Waterfall methodology’s methodical and repeatable process has demonstrated its value. Take, for example, the case of tractor production; here, the model’s strength in environments with predictable and stable requirements was once again validated.

To summarize, in manufacturing, the Waterfall methodology’s structured phases and emphasis on quality assurance and lifecycle management make it a powerful tool for ensuring that projects are completed successfully, on time, and within budget.

Case Study: Successful Waterfall Methodology Implementation

To highlight the potential of the waterfall methodology for successful project management, consider the case of Toyota Company. Tasked with developing a payroll management system, Toyota adhered to the waterfall model to deliver a solution that not only met the client’s specific needs but also respected a critical deadline.

The project’s success, a software development project, was rooted in precise, well-defined requirements and a stringent timeline that was expertly managed by the project team within the waterfall framework. This methodology was particularly well-suited for this project, with its understood risks and repetitive tasks.

The choice of the waterfall model, also known as the waterfall method, was strategic for their waterfall projects. The project demanded higher code quality, thorough documentation, and a level of testing that only the waterfall model’s sequential phases could accommodate. Here, each phase of the waterfall allowed for a meticulous review and refinement of the software, ensuring that the final product would be robust and reliable.

The extensive testing phase, a hallmark of the waterfall process, was pivotal. The testing team worked systematically to identify and resolve any issues, ensuring that the final software would perform flawlessly upon deployment.

Client feedback throughout the process was minimal, a characteristic of the Waterfall approach, yet the final product met all expectations. The client was presented with a payroll management system that functioned seamlessly, reflecting the thoroughness of the Waterfall methodology’s planning and execution phases.

The case study shows how the Waterfall methodology can lead to exceptional project outcomes when the project’s requirements are precise, and the timeline is firm. It showcases the methodology’s strengths in a controlled environment, where each phase builds upon the last towards a successful conclusion.

In conclusion, the sequential nature of the Waterfall methodology, emphasizing extensive planning and testing, makes it a potent approach to project management. It shines in scenarios where project requirements are well-defined and the end goal is clear, allowing teams to produce high-quality deliverables that meet or exceed client expectations.

In the realm of project management, the waterfall methodology stands as a testament to systematic and orderly progression, akin to the precision of solid beams in construction or the meticulous protocols observed in healthcare operations. Despite its lesser adaptability compared to agile methodologies, waterfall’s strength lies in offering an unambiguous and consecutive roadmap for bringing a project to fruition. Allow this method’s successive flow of stages to steer your forthcoming projects towards triumphant completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use a waterfall model in a project.

In a project utilizing the waterfall model, adhere to this sequential six-step process: commence with the requirements phase, transition into the system design phase, proceed to the implementation phase, advance to the testing phase, move onto the deployment phase and culminate in the maintenance phase. Confirm that a clearly articulated final objective underpins your project and operates without constraints on financial or temporal resources.

What are examples of waterfall projects?

Projects in manufacturing, like the creation of automobiles, household appliances, or electronic devices, are typical instances of waterfall projects. These projects go through successive stages that include planning, design, procurement, production and delivery.

Which is an example of a company that used the Waterfall methodology?

Traditionally, many companies have used the Waterfall methodology. Toyota is one example, though they are currently exploring Lean approaches.

How does the Waterfall methodology ensure project success in construction projects?

The structured phases, careful planning, resource distribution, and commitment to a specific project timeline inherent in the Waterfall methodology contribute significantly to the success of construction projects.

Adopting this method provides thorough oversight and administration of projects within the realm of construction.

What are the limitations of the Waterfall methodology in healthcare IT projects?

In healthcare IT projects, the Waterfall methodology is often critiqued for its lack of adaptability to implement modifications after a project has begun and for offering minimal opportunities for client engagement during the developmental phase, which can lead to a result that may not completely satisfy the requirements of the client.

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A complete guide to the Waterfall methodology

The analogy of a waterfall for the Waterfall methodology isn’t the best. When someone thinks “well-controlled, step-by-step process,” whose mind jumps straight to a waterfall?

Maybe someone who has never seen its chaos and churn in person…A staircase would be a better analogy to illustrate how the methodology works. Waterfall gives your team a structure to help them navigate the treacherous terrain of project management — just like it’s easier to walk up or down stairs than a steep incline.

It adds predictability and stability to the process — a key priority for many projects.

In this guide, we’ll explain what the Waterfall method is, how it compares to other options, and how you can better implement it in your own company.

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What is the Waterfall methodology in project management?

The Waterfall methodology is an approach to project management where you break down a large project into clear-cut linear stages, from requirement gathering to implementation.

The linear approach allows you to plan and set a structure for the project early on. That makes it easier to execute and manage progress in your projects. Traditionally, the Waterfall model divides a project into 5 specific phases or stages. Let’s take a closer look.

What are the 5 phases of the Waterfall method?

• The Requirements phase: estimating requirements and assessing the viability of a project or proposed solution.
• The Design phase: planning the schedule, milestones, and deliverables of the project; this may also include creating the designs or blueprints for the final deliverable(s).
• The Implementation phase: implementing the plan and making the project a reality.
• The Verification, or testing phase: testing and checking that the resulting product or feature solves the intended problem.
• The Maintenance phase: phasing out older products, implementing a maintenance plan for the new machinery, or anything else needed after project completion.

If you’re familiar with the project life cycle, you might notice that the Waterfall methodology closely mirrors it. Every stage is critical to project success, but pay extra attention to requirements and design.

Any shortcomings during these stages can lead to a lot of wasted time and money. If you pick an unstable area for a construction project, making adjustments later can cost a fortune and take months. That’s the key difference between this and playing Jenga. The end goal is definitely not for everything to come crashing down.

Is the Waterfall methodology still used?

Yes, even in 2022, a wide range of companies use the Waterfall methodology in various industries.

According to a study by PMI, 56% of projects used traditional — AKA Waterfall — methods in the past 12 months.

( Image Source )

So, rather than being “dead,” the Waterfall approach is, in fact, the most popular project management methodology among professionals.

Some managers might refer to it as an ancient relic of a bygone age. But — like in sci-fi novels — it often turns out that these can be just as powerful as the newest of new technologies.

Of course, which project management model is right for you depends on your industry, goals, team size, and project.

Let’s explore how Waterfall measures up against some of the newer methods like Agile and Kanban.

What is the difference between Waterfall and Agile?

The main difference between Waterfall and Agile is that the Agile methodology focuses much less on up-front planning. There’s no goal of a perfect, step-by-step plan before launch.

Agile outlines the high-level objectives, goals, and deliverables in a roadmap, sure, but it’s not the detailed battle plan from the Waterfall approach. An Agile team adapts to the changing demands of the market and stakeholders during the project.

That often takes the shape of dividing the project into iterations or “sprints” — lasting a few weeks or months — and adapting the course after each one.

There’s a misconception that Waterfall and Agile project management have nothing in common. But, in many ways, they follow the same fundamental process, with slightly different phases.

The difference is that in Agile, the stages don’t happen in a linear order. You don’t plan once and then start the project. The requirements and planning phases are never over. You keep going back to them with the finish of each iteration.

The Agile principles also dictate that you involve internal and external stakeholders throughout the process, which is something the Waterfall method was silent on. Another crucial aspect of Agile is that teams typically self-organize, with less top-down management input.

To sum it all up, these are the key differences between Waterfall and Agile:

If you’re not sure which is better for you, you can read more in our post about Agile vs. Waterfall .

What about Waterfall vs. Kanban?

Kanban is a framework within the Agile method, so it too focuses on flexibility and ongoing adaptation. But instead of dividing the project into sprints, in Kanban, your team is focused on continuous improvement. The main tool for achieving this is a “Kanban board.”

It is a digital or physical whiteboard divided into a few columns, from to-do to done.

You can add new ideas to the to-do column on an ongoing basis. Then, the teams or individuals will assume these tasks, or managers will assign them. For a Waterfall project — unlike one managed with Kanban — you don’t continually adapt as you go along. You carefully manage changes to the scope or schedule, but constant change isn’t built-in to the model.

In Kanban, you maintain the original company structure, involve stakeholders more, and give every employee a platform to voice their ideas.

Some of the key differences are:

When should you use the Waterfall methodology?

The Waterfall methodology is the best choice for reasonably predictable projects with strict time constraints or flawless operation requirements.

These projects can come in many shapes and sizes, in many different industries.

Some examples include:

• Projects where you fully understand the scope and requirements through previous experience
• Manufacturing or construction projects where there’s no room for variation in schedule or implementation
• Projects that rely heavily on repeatable processes
• Other projects with strict time or schedule constraints

Impact of industry and marketplace

According to the 2020 State of Agile report , technology and financial industries are Agile’s primary users.

Traditional physical industries like manufacturing or energy represent a small minority of users. The majority of Agile teams are in fast-moving sectors, and for a good reason.

If a marketplace is likely to change completely before your project is ready, it makes little sense to try to plan a multi-year project from start to finish.

Our R&D team might use Scrum — an Agile framework — but we wouldn’t push it on the construction company creating our new main office. On some projects, predictable, reliable results are a much bigger priority than adaptability.

Sure, there are some equally unpredictable manufacturing, government, and construction projects. That’s why some teams in these industries manage the occasional Agile project.

Advantages of the Waterfall methodology

The distinct benefits of Waterfall make it an excellent choice for a lot of teams and projects.

• Predictable: the detailed schedule means each team knows when they should start working
• Repeatable: with entire workflows outlined, you can easily standardize and create a repeatable process
• Reasonable: with a well-planned budget including contingency costs, it’s easier to allocate resources to a project

But for long-term projects with lofty goals and lots of unpredictability, it’s probably not the best choice.

Of course, you don’t need to 100% commit to one or the other.

The Waterfall project management methodology can be your foundation, and you can add to it. For many companies, modified Waterfall models can be a better choice than jumping straight to Agile. For example, you can make stakeholder engagement an ongoing priority and cultivate a more self-organizing team.

There’s no need to forego long-term planning — and all your processes — just because some “experts” say so.

A Waterfall methodology example: what goes into each phase?

In this example, we’ll outline key activities in each stage of the Waterfall methodology.

1. Cover all your bases in the requirements phase

Too many projects fail because management overlooks something at the requirements stage. 33% of project managers highlight inaccurate requirements gathering as a leading cause of project failure.

You must look past basic business requirements and involve stakeholders in the process.

• Objectives: work with stakeholders to set project objectives that meet their expectations.
• Project scope: figure out the overall extent in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Risk assessment: find dangerous risks to projects and assess whether the project is worth undertaking.
• Research: if it’s a new product, this is the stage where you would do market research.
• Project team: start assembling the talent for your project.

2. Involve all parties when designing your project plan

Once you reach the 2nd stage — design — you should have a preliminary project team. Don’t be afraid to rely on domain experts when creating the project schedule and budget.

In this process you should:

• Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) and start assigning project activities.
• Create a high-level project schedule with clear project milestones that you can use to benchmark progress.

Carefully consider stakeholder expectations at this stage, if you want to succeed.

3. Don’t lose sight of the plan when implementing the project

Once you start a project “for real,” it’s easy to have tunnel vision and lose sight of the original plan.

Remember to…

• Track progress by seeing how you measure up against milestones.
• Actively work to identify potential roadblocks and bottlenecks to project progress.
• Monitor key project KPIs.

Changes aren’t forbidden, but each request should be carefully considered and managed through a standardized process.

Pro tip: if you don’t know how to measure project performance metrics, monday.com offers a real-time dashboard with data like percentage of tasks completed on time, resource utilization, and more.

4. Test and verify that the result is satisfactory

So, you’ve delivered the project objective? Don’t celebrate just yet.

First, you need to make sure that the product holds water.

You have to:

• Arrange direct user testing with existing — or potential — customers.
• Get the necessary regulatory approvals.
• Standardize any repeatable processes that deliver results.

5. Replace, phase out, and maintain

The last part of the Waterfall life cycle ensures that the project delivers in the long term.

In this phase:

• Replace existing products or services with new ones.
• Phase out the old products.
• Maintain the new product or process to reap the benefits for the long term.

How to take Waterfall project management to the next level with monday.com

What makes monday.com different is that we give you the tools to build the exact project management platform your company needs. With smart automations, tons of native integrations with other tools, and an interface that makes sense, you’ll feel like you hired an extra project manager.

Create a high-level project plan using a ready-made template

First things first, use our ready-made project proposal template to kickstart your project. The template outlines the core elements that your project plan should include.

The plan should have a problem definition statement, core goals and objectives, milestones, and more. That’s all the basics.

Keep in mind that nothing is set in stone at this stage. You don’t need to spend hours trying to get overly specific.

Engage stakeholders by sharing real-time access to key project documents.

Instead of just talking to them in workshops or on the phone, give them direct access. With monday.com, you can easily share guest access to individual boards — or all of them. You can also control their permission level with the click of a button.

For example, you can give editing access to only the most vital stakeholders.

Use Gantt charts to optimize your project schedule.

It can be hard to create the perfect project timeline without seeing all the moving parts. That’s where our interactive Gantt view comes in. The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to make small changes until it feels just right.

Use integrations and automation to improve cross-departmental collaboration.

We’ve entered the age of SaaS. Most companies use 100s of different apps throughout the organization. And it’s not likely every team and department uses the same software, either.

That’s where monday.com’s robust integrations come in. You can democratize data within your company by automatically sharing it with everyone involved.

For example, if a customer submits a relevant complaint to customer support via Zendesk , monday.com can automatically let your whole team know.

And that’s just an example of what you can do with 1 of 40+ integrations.

Standardize processes with custom templates.

Once you start to get the hang of this project management thing, it’d be a waste of time to start from scratch every time a new project came along. Create custom templates tailored to your company’s unique requirements and workflow. With monday.com, it’s as easy as clicking a button.

Custom templates are crucial if you decide to develop your own unique hybrid approach.

Create a strict process for managing project change.

One of the main benefits of Waterfall, when done right, is the predictability of projects. But nothing will be predictable if you mindlessly change the base plan as much as you want. The difference between a positive change — and a destructive one — isn’t always clear at first glance.

That’s why you should put in place a rigorous change management process. Again, monday.com has ready-made templates for change request management. You can even set up change request forms and share them directly with your stakeholders.

Adapt it to your own needs and make sure you only implement change with positive potential.

The right order is key to project execution

The Waterfall methodology isn’t “dead” in 2022. The majority of large projects implement it. Plus, it tends to make more sense than Agile for more physical projects.

But, using the Waterfall method shouldn’t be an excuse for complacency. You can still optimize how you handle projects through each stage of planning, testing, and implementation.

Use monday.com’s project proposal template — and our 14-day free trial — to reach a new level of control over your projects.

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  What is Waterfall Methodology: Advantages & Disadvantages

  

  The Waterfall methodology is one of the most popular, oldest and most traditional methodologies in project management. This type of methodology is followed in a project where requirements are well-known and fixed and no further changes are expected.

  

  What is the Waterfall Methodology?

  The waterfall methodology is a linear sequential design process, originating in software development processes. The Waterfall model was developed by Winston Royce and presented in 1970. The waterfall development method originates in the manufacturing and construction industries. It gives highly regimented physical environments that are very difficult or impossible to change or adapt once work has begun.

  In the early days of software development, there was no concept of Agile methodology or iterative life cycle.

  In fact, until the late 1990s, the majority of software projects followed a simple “waterfall” life cycle. Requirements were gathered upfront; the solution was designed, built, and tested. The release to users for acceptance testing (UAT) occurred, followed by bug fixes before the final production release.

  This Waterfall approach worked well for many IT projects because they tended to be tightly scoped in both time & cost. It works with relatively fixed requirements that did not change much during the course of the project. Projects were small enough for management of changes, often by adding an extra week or two to the project timeline. This adjustment rarely caused significant problems.

  6 Common Stages in a Waterfall Project Management

  The Waterfall Methodology is not exactly a method as much as it is an approach, however, the six distinct stages that make up this cycle are very common in most software development processes.

  

  Phases of Waterfall Methodology

  The number of stages involved can vary depending on the project but these six stages are the most common among all projects using the Waterfall model. Following is an overview of each stage of the Waterfall project management process and what each one entails:

  1)   Requirements - The Discovery Phase

  The first phase of the Waterfall model is to gather all the requirements for the project, which are usually outlined by the client. The team will conduct interviews, research and review existing documentation to determine what needs to be done. This phase is often called "the discovery phase."

  To understand what a business organisation needs, you must first listen to its stakeholders and collect as much information as possible. Make sure you are not rushing into planning or design without a clear understanding of your client's business goals, target users, and any potential obstacles that may arise later in the process.

  2)   Design

  In the second phase, the project begins with a design process that outlines the end result and how it will be achieved. This is typically a very detailed plan and is highly unlikely to change throughout the project since there are no opportunities for re-work later on in the process. Once this step is complete, it moves to implementation.

  3)   System Testing

  In this next phase, all system components are tested. This includes an integration test, which makes sure that each part works properly with the others; a functional test, which guarantees that all functionality meets requirements; and a test of performance, which ensures that the system can handle peak loads without crashing or slowing down significantly.

  4)   Implementation

  During the implementation phase , each element of design is put into place one at a time, with each team member completing their assigned tasks in sequence before passing on their work to the next individual or group in line. There is not a lot of overlap or communication between teams during these phases—each team stays focused on their own piece of the puzzle until they finish and pass it on (hence the waterfall name).

  5)   Verification/Integration

  Once every element has been completed according to plan, these pieces are put together through integration and verification testing processes that ensure all elements fit together seamlessly as intended at each phase of development by validating that each feature works properly and meets its requirements before moving forward to create more features — even if those additional features do not work properly yet when combined with others that have already been developed because they are not ready to be tested yet as part of integration verification.

  6)   Maintenance

  After the project is completed, any bugs that are found are squashed, and customers get to actually use the finished product. Maintenance also applies to adding new features or functionality. This phase may come after the product has been completed and used by customers, and it could potentially end as soon as you are happy with the finished product.

  Advantages and Disadvantages of the Waterfall Methodology

  Although the Waterfall methodology is one of the most stringent and planned out project management approaches, it is not without its set of advantages and disadvantages.

  

  Presence of a Clear Structure.

  The waterfall methodology follows a distinct structure. It is a sequential model which consists of different phases, each phase having its own set of goals and deliverables. The initial phase consists of the analysis of the project requirements. This is followed by the designing, testing, implementation, verification and the maintenance phase. The requirements are determined in the early stages and remain constant throughout the development life cycle. The final result is delivered in the last phase i.e., the maintenance phase.

  Smooth Transfer of Information

  Each phase in the Waterfall project management approach has a specific deliverable. Information about the project easily passes from one phase to another. This ensures a smooth transfer of knowledge between team members. As this knowledge is often presented through documentation, this allows other teams (e.g., maintenance or support) to easily pick up where previous ones left off should the need arise.

  Easy to Manage

  As mentioned above, the Waterfall methodology has a clear structure with well-defined goals and deliverables for each phase of the project life cycle . Thus it is easy to manage this type of project as every milestone has to be achieved before going to the next level. Due to this, it becomes easier to track the progress of work. It is easy to identify any kind of bottlenecks or delays that might have occurred during any phase.

  Early Determination of Goals

  The Waterfall model's initial phase involves extensive planning, research, and brainstorming. It helps determine goals and objectives before actual work begins. This planning ensures your team has a clear idea of what they aim to achieve and how they will approach it.

  Extremely Stable

  The Waterfall methodology follows a linear approach which means it is extremely stable in nature. There are no chances of deviation from the original plan once the system requirements have been finalised. This makes it easier for managers to predict any potential problems during execution.

  Disadvantages

  Costly and inflexible.

  The Waterfall model is a linear sequential design process, meaning that you have to complete one phase before moving on to the next phase. This process is highly structured and regimented in a way that does not allow for much flexibility.

  All phases of the project need to be completed before you can move on to testing. As a result, if your client decides to add or modify something late in the process, it may require going back through all previous phases — which could be costly.

  Does not Prioritise the Client or End-User

  Unlike other software development models, the Waterfall project management approach does not prioritise feedback from customers when developing a product. Instead, it focuses on meeting requirements that were determined earlier in the project lifecycle. The problem with this approach is that requirements can change — especially as users start using your product and providing valuable feedback.

  Delayed Testing

  The Waterfall methodology does not allow for testing until it reaches the final stage of the development process, which is known as system testing. However, it can create an issue because by then, many resources would have been applied to each preceding stage. So if testers find any issues at this stage, business owners can incur losses caused by rework.

  No Scope for Revision or Reflection

  When you are working on a project that is made up of many parts, it is important to be able to make revisions and reflect on what has been accomplished so far. This approach always may not work, since you are not able to go back and make revisions. To do this, you get to the end of each phase and then make revisions. Especially if you need to shift in a different direction than planned before the completion of each stage.

  Waterfall vs Agile Methodology: What's the Difference?

  If you have a big, sprawling project that involves lots of moving parts and stakeholders, you are probably working on a waterfall methodology. The idea is to have a plan and then move forward at the same time.

  

  If your team members are used to working in an iterative, agile environment, they are going to have trouble adjusting to a more top-down approach. But that does not mean they cannot work together effectively. In fact, the most successful agile teams are those that work together well and effectively throughout the entire process.

  Agile Project Management is about rapid testing, frequent delivery, and continuous refinement. That is great for projects that require constant updates, like selling software or taking down a website when something goes wrong. However, it is not so good for projects that need to be built from scratch.

  

  For this reason, agile methodology is focused on short-term projects that deliver value quickly, while long-term projects remain stuck in the planning and implementation phase. Agile development emphasizes collaboration and communication throughout the project lifecycle. It involves iterative planning, and changing plans during implementation. This ensures all parties work toward a common goal.

  If you are interested in learning more about Agile, the Institute of Project Management offers a  Certified Agile Project Management  course. This course is focused on explaining different Agile modules. That way it broadens your knowledge of Agile project management. Which upon completion of the course, is testified by IPMA Agile certification.

  Waterfall Project Management

  Waterfall Project Management is focused on long-term projects and tends to rely on a more approach of hierarchy, documentation and bureaucracy. This process is more commonly used for software development, but it can be applied to any product development process.

  In addition, it involves putting everything into place before any code is written. If you're building a website, for example, you'll want to decide on the look and feel of your site before you start coding anything at all. Then you'll create wireframes and mockups as an early step in creating the actual site. From there, you can build the pieces of your site one by one until it's done.

  What is the Waterfall Methodology Used For?

  The waterfall Model has proven to be an effective approach for a variety of endeavours, including:

  • Software development. Software projects can be complex and take years to complete. The Waterfall methodology breaks each project into manageable tasks, allowing the development team to focus on one aspect at a time before moving on to the next.
  • Systems engineering. When engineers create systems that include multiple components, they must ensure that all parts fit together seamlessly from start to finish. Each component is worked on individually using the Waterfall model, ensuring every element fulfils its purpose when integrated with others.
  • Project management . "From construction projects to marketing campaigns, the Waterfall process aids project management teams in coordinating tasks effectively. This ensures each phase is completed in a timely manner. Subsequently, the team can smoothly progress to the next step.
  • Manufacturing. Applying an assembly line method to create each product part essentially follows the Waterfall project management approach in manufacturing.
  • Process engineering. Due to their strict sequencing of activities, many factory production processes require engineers to use this model. It is suitable when designing them from scratch or making changes according to new regulations or quality requirements.
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