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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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SDLC Waterfall Model: A Comprehensive Guide

By Abhay Talreja

My latest article - What is a Scrum Meeting? | Definition, Overview, and Scheduling

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is an integral part of the software development process, and the Waterfall model is a popular methodology that has been around for a while. This article will delve into the Waterfall model, discussing its advantages, disadvantages, and the triple constraint that impacts its implementation. With personal examples and experiences, this comprehensive guide will give you a clear understanding of the Waterfall model in the SDLC.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the waterfall model, phases of the waterfall model, advantages of the waterfall model, disadvantages of the waterfall model, the triple constraint in the waterfall model, presentation used in the video.

• Frequently asked questions

The Waterfall model is a very linear and sequential approach to software development, where each phase of the development process is completed before moving on to the next one. Executing each step of the SDLC in a sequence means you cannot return to a previous stage without restarting the entire project from the start line. The Waterfall model is very well suited for projects with well-defined requirements and minimal changes expected during development.

The Waterfall model consists of the following phases:

• Requirements : This requirement analysis phase involves gathering and documenting the project requirements, ensuring all stakeholders understand the project's scope and objectives.
• Design : During the design phase , the software architecture and system design are created, laying the foundation for software development.
• Development : During the development phase , the software is developed, and the code is written.
• Testing : The software is thoroughly tested to identify and rectify any errors in the testing phase , ensuring it meets the requirements set out in the first phase.
• Deployment : The software is deployed and made available to the end users.
• Maintenance : After the software is deployed, it must be maintained to fix any issues and provide updates.

Some of the benefits of the Waterfall model include:

• Simplicity : The Waterfall model is easy to understand and follow, making it suitable for small projects with well-defined requirements. The Waterfall model is very easy to understand and implement, making it ideal for smaller projects with precise requirements. The linear process flow and well-defined stages make it easy for team members to follow the project's progress.
• Documentation : The Waterfall model places a strong emphasis on documentation. Documentation ensures that every step of the process is recorded, which can be helpful for future reference, troubleshooting, and understanding how and why someone made any particulate decisions throughout the project.
• Manageability : Due to its sequential nature, the Waterfall model allows for easier project management. Each phase has specific deliverables and deadlines, making monitoring progress and allocating resources efficiently simple.
• Discipline through strict phase progression : As you saw in the waterfall model there is strict discipline because the output of 1 phase acts as an input to the next phase. Therefore, for the model to work, it must be very disciplined.
• Perfect for Small Projects : The waterfall model works perfectly well for small projects with very well-known requirements.

The Waterfall model has some limitations, such as:

• Inflexibility : The Waterfall model is relatively inflexible. Once a project moves to the next phase, it takes time to go back and make changes. This can be problematic if new requirements or issues arise, as the model only allows modifications.
• Late Feedback : In the Waterfall model, testing occurs late in the process. This can lead to the discovery of significant issues or bugs when addressing them may be expensive or time-consuming. Late testing also makes it challenging to ensure the quality of the final product.
• Poor Adaptability : The Waterfall model needs to be better suited for projects with changing requirements or requiring frequent feedback from the client or end-users.
• Not Suitable for Complex Projects : The Waterfall model must be better suited for complex or large projects with evolving requirements. Its linear approach can make it challenging to adapt to changing circumstances, and the rigid structure may hinder innovation and collaboration.

Table: Advantages and Disadvantages of The Waterfall Model in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The triple constraint is a project management concept that focuses on three key factors: scope , time , and cost . Balancing these factors is crucial for a project's success and plays a significant role in the Waterfall model. Here's how the triple constraint impacts the Waterfall model:

• Scope : The project's scope must be clearly defined and documented during the requirements phase. If the scope changes during the project, it can lead to significant delays and increased costs, as the Waterfall model needs to be designed to accommodate changes easily.
• Time : The linear nature of the Waterfall model means that each phase must be completed within the allotted time. Delays in one phase can impact the entire project timeline, leading to extended project duration and increased costs.
• Cost : The inflexibility of the Waterfall model can lead to increased costs if changes are required during the project. Also, late identification of issues during testing can result in costly fixes.

The Waterfall model, while simple and easy to understand, has its limitations, particularly when handling changes and adapting to evolving project requirements. However, the Waterfall model can be an effective SDLC methodology for projects with well-defined conditions and minimal modifications expected. Understanding the triple constraint's advantages, disadvantages, and impact on the Waterfall model can help you make informed decisions when selecting the right SDLC methodology for your projects.

This video is part of our scrum course. Please sign-up for the course to see the video.

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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 Software.
• 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 Software . 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 Software, 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 Work Management 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 Software 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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What Is the Waterfall Methodology?

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.

More From This Expert What Is JSON?

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.

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Waterfall Model Diagram PowerPoint Template

The Waterfall Model Diagram PowerPoint Template is a subtractive sequence layout representing the waterfall concept. Each decrease depends on the deliverables from its previous phase. It is one of the oldest software development lifecycle methodologies originated from the manufacturing and construction industry. The widely popular content strategy waterfall model inherits its basics from the formerly mentioned system. The content developed using a structured waterfall approach can fuel the entire marketing content strategy. This framework of the waterfall process model helps businesses repurpose their content or add depth to it.

The waterfall methodology is best suited for projects where scope is clearly defined, has a structural approach, and strict deadlines. It leaves a little or no room for changes as any change may result in higher cost. However, in content creation, the waterfall approach helps deliver a consistent flow of content that’s fresh. Just like a real-life waterfall, the content flows from one source such as a book, podcast, research paper. The key content from the source will breakout and expand into independent content. These smaller content pieces can then be distributed or promoted for a deeper understanding of the original work.

The Waterfall Model Diagram PowerPoint Template is suitable for outlining business content strategy. It provides two layout designs for 4 phase and 3 phase waterfall diagrams. Each template shows a set of activities declining as the flow moves forward to the next phase. For instance, in the 4 steps waterfall model diagram , start by defining the audience, objectives, and goals. Then frame the elements that can be repurposed in the second phase such as quotes, points, and message. Highlight the tools required for content development in phase 3. The last phase can explain a workflow plan for producing quality content every time.

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20+ Best Waterfall Model PowerPoint Templates (Guide, Tips and Tools)

Lots of changes happen in businesses, in case you own or work for a company that offers a service or a product, you undoubtedly need to do a sales analysis so that you can evaluate and compare profits, as well as highlight the value of the product or service you provide. Therefore, you will definitely need a waterfall model to help you do this.  Successful business owners rely on the waterfall model for its efficiency, so why not be one of them.

Anything you need to know about the waterfall Model you will find here, just keep reading.

What is Waterfall Model?

The work principle of the waterfall model is based on dividing the workflow into several stages separate from each other, each stage is fully reviewed and documented, and the stage cannot begin before the end of the previous stage, in which the stages are sequential, and the output from one of them constitutes income for the next stage, the adoption is made on the waterfall model and use it in a lot of work to ensure the success of the project.

When to use the waterfall model?

There are some cases where the use of the waterfall is the most suitable :

- When you do not have mysterious requirements .

- When a clear picture is provided to how things are going from the beginning .

- When the requirements are clear and constant (will not change); Where you have clients seem unlikely to change the scope of the project once they begin .

- If the project manager prefers specific processes clearly, known as cost, design and time requirements.

The stages in the waterfall model :

Requirements Analysis: The product development team analyzes the requirements and fully understands the problems, the team tries to ask all the questions and secure all the answers they need to build the product requirements .

Design: In this stage, the system requirements collected in the previous stage are studied. Software developers design a technical solution to the problems identified by the product requirements. This stage is usually accompanied by documentation for each requirement, which other team members can review for validation .

Implementation: Once the design is approved, the implementation phase begins with the output from the design phase. This is often the shortest phase; Because the research and design were done beforehand.

Testing: Upon completion of the full implementation, testing must be conducted before the product is released to customers in order to detect any error or failure.

Publishing and maintenance: After all system operations are completed, the product is published in the market or offered to customers, and some problems may appear in the customer’s environment and here the maintenance phase begins, due to the discovery of defects and change requests received from users, where a team is appointed to take care of updates and release better versions of the product to be Deliver changes in the product to the customer.

Advantages of the Waterfall methodology :

The waterfall methodology is a clear and well-defined project management methodology; Since the requirements are clearly defined from the start, each contributor knows what needs to be done and when, and can effectively plan their time for the duration of the project .

The waterfall model also has other advantages :

• It works well in small projects whose requirements are very well understood .
• Simple and easy to understand and use .
• Easy to manage, as each stage has specific outputs and a review process .
• The specific stages are clear .
• Ease of arranging tasks and measuring progress .
• There is no delay in production because customers do not add new requirements to the project in progress
• Developers can detect design errors during the analysis and design phases, which helps them avoid errors that may occur during the implementation phase .
• After specifying the requirements, the total project cost, as well as the schedule, can be accurately estimated.

Your search for the right template to implement the waterfall model may take a long time and you may stumble upon traditional templates that are lackluster and have noticeable flaws, and there may be a high chance of error in one of the stages of the waterfall model using these templates, and we do not want this to happen to you so we chose for you a creative template designed by a team of skilled designers, it's:

Best Waterfall Model PowerPoint Templates

It is a distinct, modern and professional template that is not like the templates found on the Internet, it is carefully designed for the sole purpose of giving you a push and a good start in your work.

Waterfall Chart PowerPoint Template Diagrams consists of 25 smart, flexible, and unique slides. These slides are filled with visually harmonious layouts. You can customize each slide easily and as you want, adding or removing what you want from them. It supports the drag and drop feature for slides that contain images.

For your presentation to be colorful and vibrant, the Waterfall Chart PowerPoint Template Diagrams offers you 90 color themes. And change them, they are all adjustable and customizable, and this is not all, but you will enjoy endless options of elegant and modern fonts that add an aesthetic touch to your display, and you can choose the format between 4:3 or 16:9 ratios.

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• Everything you need to know about water ...

Everything you need to know about waterfall project management

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 phases of waterfall project management 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. 

What is waterfall project management?

Waterfall is a sequential project management methodology in which a project is divided into distinct phases. Each phase begins only after the previous phase is completed. 

This project management approach originated from the manufacturing and construction industries, where each milestone needs to be completed before the production process can move forward. For example, you cannot build the walls of a house if foundation has not been poured. 

Even though it began in manufacturing, waterfall project management has since adapted to fit the needs of many different industries, including software development. 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.

The 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 waterfall project management, 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. This includes everything from what resources are needed and 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.

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 and user interface. 

There are two steps of the system design phase: the high-level design phase and 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. Based on the requirements document in step one and the system design process in step two, the team begins the full development process to build the software as outlined by both the requirements phase and the system design phase.

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 in 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. 

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 software development to be continuously working on this phase.

When to use the 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 for 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 your 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 goal are well-suited for the waterfall method 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 phase. 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.

Benefits of waterfall project management

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 planning during the requirement and design phase, this makes it easy for stakeholders to estimate how much time their specific part of the waterfall process will take.

Downsides of the waterfall model

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 pause 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 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.

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 work 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.

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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.

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

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

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. 

Bring your bright ideas to life.

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Waterfall Model – Software Engineering

The classical waterfall model is the basic software development life cycle model. It is very simple but idealistic. Earlier this model was very popular but nowadays it is not used. However, it is very important because all the other software development life cycle models are based on the classical waterfall model.

Table of Content

What is the SDLC Waterfall Model?

Features of the sdlc waterfall model, importance of sdlc waterfall model, phases of sdlc waterfall model – design, advantages of the sdlc waterfall model, disadvantages of the sdlc waterfall model.

• When to Use the Waterfall Model?

Applications of SDLC Waterfall Model

Frequently asked questions on waterfall model (sdlc) – faqs.

The waterfall model is a software development model used in the context of large, complex projects, typically in the field of information technology. It is characterized by a structured, sequential approach to project management and software development .

The waterfall model is useful in situations where the project requirements are well-defined and the project goals are clear. It is often used for large-scale projects with long timelines, where there is little room for error and the project stakeholders need to have a high level of confidence in the outcome.

• Sequential Approach : The waterfall model involves a sequential approach to software development, where each phase of the project is completed before moving on to the next one.
• Document-Driven: The waterfall model relies heavily on documentation to ensure that the project is well-defined and the project team is working towards a clear set of goals.
• Quality Control: The waterfall model places a high emphasis on quality control and testing at each phase of the project, to ensure that the final product meets the requirements and expectations of the stakeholders.
• Rigorous Planning : The waterfall model involves a rigorous planning process, where the project scope, timelines, and deliverables are carefully defined and monitored throughout the project lifecycle.

Overall, the waterfall model is used in situations where there is a need for a highly structured and systematic approach to software development. It can be effective in ensuring that large, complex projects are completed on time and within budget, with a high level of quality and customer satisfaction.

• Clarity and Simplicity: The linear form of the Waterfall Model offers a simple and unambiguous foundation for project development.
• Clearly Defined Phases: The Waterfall Model’s phases each have unique inputs and outputs, guaranteeing a planned development with obvious checkpoints.
• Documentation: A focus on thorough documentation helps with software comprehension, upkeep, and future growth.
• Stability in Requirements: Suitable for projects when the requirements are clear and steady, reducing modifications as the project progresses.
• Resource Optimization: It encourages effective task-focused work without continuously changing contexts by allocating resources according to project phases.
• Relevance for Small Projects: Economical for modest projects with simple specifications and minimal complexity.

The Waterfall Model is a classical software development methodology that was first introduced by Winston W. Royce in 1970. It is a linear and sequential approach to software development that consists of several phases that must be completed in a specific order.

The Waterfall Model has six phases which are:

1. Requirements: The first phase involves gathering requirements from stakeholders and analyzing them to understand the scope and objectives of the project.

2. Design: Once the requirements are understood, the design phase begins. This involves creating a detailed design document that outlines the software architecture, user interface, and system components.

3. Development: The Development phase include implementation involves coding the software based on the design specifications. This phase also includes unit testing to ensure that each component of the software is working as expected.

4. Testing: In the testing phase, the software is tested as a whole to ensure that it meets the requirements and is free from defects.

5. Deployment: Once the software has been tested and approved, it is deployed to the production environment.

6. Maintenance: The final phase of the Waterfall Model is maintenance, which involves fixing any issues that arise after the software has been deployed and ensuring that it continues to meet the requirements over time. 

The classical waterfall model divides the life cycle into a set of phases. This model considers that one phase can be started after the completion of the previous phase. That is the output of one phase will be the input to the next phase. Thus the development process can be considered as a sequential flow in the waterfall. Here the phases do not overlap with each other. The different sequential phases of the classical waterfall model are shown in the below figure.

Waterfall Model-Software Engineering

Let us now learn about each of these phases in detail which include further phases.

1. Feasibility Study:

The main goal of this phase is to determine whether it would be financially and technically feasible to develop the software.  The feasibility study involves understanding the problem and then determining the various possible strategies to solve the problem. These different identified solutions are analyzed based on their benefits and drawbacks, The best solution is chosen and all the other phases are carried out as per this solution strategy. 

2. Requirements Analysis and Specification:

The requirement analysis and specification phase aims to understand the exact requirements of the customer and document them properly. This phase consists of two different activities. 

• Requirement gathering and analysis: Firstly all the requirements regarding the software are gathered from the customer and then the gathered requirements are analyzed. The goal of the analysis part is to remove incompleteness (an incomplete requirement is one in which some parts of the actual requirements have been omitted) and inconsistencies (an inconsistent requirement is one in which some part of the requirement contradicts some other part).
• Requirement specification: These analyzed requirements are documented in a software requirement specification (SRS) document. SRS document serves as a contract between the development team and customers. Any future dispute between the customers and the developers can be settled by examining the SRS document.

The goal of this phase is to convert the requirements acquired in the SRS into a format that can be coded in a programming language. It includes high-level and detailed design as well as the overall software architecture. A Software Design Document is used to document all of this effort (SDD).

4. Coding and Unit Testing :

In the coding phase software design is translated into source code using any suitable programming language. Thus each designed module is coded. The unit testing phase aims to check whether each module is working properly or not. 

5. Integration and System testing:

Integration of different modules is undertaken soon after they have been coded and unit tested. Integration of various modules is carried out incrementally over several steps. During each integration step, previously planned modules are added to the partially integrated system and the resultant system is tested. Finally, after all the modules have been successfully integrated and tested, the full working system is obtained and system testing is carried out on this.  System testing consists of three different kinds of testing activities as described below.

• Alpha testing: Alpha testing is the system testing performed by the development team.
• Beta testing: Beta testing is the system testing performed by a friendly set of customers.
• Acceptance testing: After the software has been delivered, the customer performs acceptance testing to determine whether to accept the delivered software or reject it.

6. Maintenance:

Maintenance is the most important phase of a software life cycle. The effort spent on maintenance is 60% of the total effort spent to develop a full software. There are three types of maintenance.

• Corrective Maintenance: This type of maintenance is carried out to correct errors that were not discovered during the product development phase.
• Perfective Maintenance: This type of maintenance is carried out to enhance the functionalities of the system based on the customer’s request.
• Adaptive Maintenance: Adaptive maintenance is usually required for porting the software to work in a new environment such as working on a new computer platform or with a new operating system.

The classical waterfall model is an idealistic model for software development. It is very simple, so it can be considered the basis for other software development life cycle models. Below are some of the major advantages of this SDLC model.

• Easy to Understand: The Classical Waterfall Model is very simple and easy to understand.
• Individual Processing: Phases in the Classical Waterfall model are processed one at a time.
• Properly Defined: In the classical waterfall model, each stage in the model is clearly defined.
• Clear Milestones: The classical Waterfall model has very clear and well-understood milestones.
• Properly Documented: Processes, actions, and results are very well documented.
• Reinforces Good Habits: The Classical Waterfall Model reinforces good habits like define-before-design and design-before-code.
• Working: Classical Waterfall Model works well for smaller projects and projects where requirements are well understood.

The Classical Waterfall Model suffers from various shortcomings we can’t use it in real projects, but we use other software development lifecycle models which are based on the classical waterfall model. Below are some major drawbacks of this model.

• No Feedback Path: In the classical waterfall model evolution of software from one phase to another phase is like a waterfall. It assumes that no error is ever committed by developers during any phase. Therefore, it does not incorporate any mechanism for error correction. 
• Difficult to accommodate Change Requests: This model assumes that all the customer requirements can be completely and correctly defined at the beginning of the project, but the customer’s requirements keep on changing with time. It is difficult to accommodate any change requests after the requirements specification phase is complete. 
• No Overlapping of Phases: This model recommends that a new phase can start only after the completion of the previous phase. But in real projects, this can’t be maintained. To increase efficiency and reduce cost, phases may overlap. 
• Limited Flexibility: The Waterfall Model is a rigid and linear approach to software development, which means that it is not well-suited for projects with changing or uncertain requirements. Once a phase has been completed, it is difficult to make changes or go back to a previous phase.
• Limited Stakeholder Involvement: The Waterfall Model is a structured and sequential approach, which means that stakeholders are typically involved in the early phases of the project (requirements gathering and analysis) but may not be involved in the later phases (implementation, testing, and deployment).
• Late Defect Detection: In the Waterfall Model, testing is typically done toward the end of the development process. This means that defects may not be discovered until late in the development process, which can be expensive and time-consuming to fix.
• Lengthy Development Cycle: The Waterfall Model can result in a lengthy development cycle, as each phase must be completed before moving on to the next. This can result in delays and increased costs if requirements change or new issues arise.
• Not Suitable for Complex Projects: The Waterfall Model is not well-suited for complex projects, as the linear and sequential nature of the model can make it difficult to manage multiple dependencies and interrelated components.

When to Use the SDLC Waterfall Model?

Here are some cases where the use of the Waterfall Model is best suited:

• Well-understood Requirements: Before beginning development, there are precise, reliable, and thoroughly documented requirements available.
• Very Little Changes Expected: During development, very little adjustments or expansions to the project’s scope are anticipated.
• Small to Medium-Sized Projects : Ideal for more manageable projects with a clear development path and little complexity.
• Predictable: Projects that are predictable, low-risk, and able to be addressed early in the development life cycle are those that have known, controllable risks.
• Regulatory Compliance is Critical: Circumstances in which paperwork is of utmost importance and stringent regulatory compliance is required.
• Client Prefers a Linear and Sequential Approach : This situation describes the client’s preference for a linear and sequential approach to project development.
• Limited Resources : Projects with limited resources can benefit from a set-up strategy, which enables targeted resource allocation.

The Waterfall approach involves little client engagement in the product development process. The product can only be shown to end consumers when it is ready.

• Large-scale Software Development Projects: The Waterfall Model is often used for large-scale software development projects, where a structured and sequential approach is necessary to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
• Safety-Critical Systems: The Waterfall Model is often used in the development of safety-critical systems, such as aerospace or medical systems, where the consequences of errors or defects can be severe.
• Government and Defense Projects: The Waterfall Model is also commonly used in government and defense projects, where a rigorous and structured approach is necessary to ensure that the project meets all requirements and is delivered on time.
• Projects with well-defined Requirements: The Waterfall Model is best suited for projects with well-defined requirements, as the sequential nature of the model requires a clear understanding of the project objectives and scope.
• Projects with Stable Requirements: The Waterfall Model is also well-suited for projects with stable requirements, as the linear nature of the model does not allow for changes to be made once a phase has been completed.

For more, you can refer to the Uses of Waterfall Model .

The Waterfall Model has greatly influenced conventional software development processes. This methodical, sequential technique provides an easily understood and applied structured framework. Project teams have a clear roadmap due to the model’s methodical evolution through the phases of requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

1. What is the difference between the Waterfall Model and Agile Model?

Ans: The main difference between the Waterfall Model and the Agile Model is that the Waterfall model relies on thorough front planning whereas the Agile model is more flexible as it takes these processes in repeating cycles.

2. What is the Waterfall Process?

Ans: The Waterfall process is a step-by-step development and project management process. As the name suggests, this model follows a straight path where each step (like planning, designing, building, testing, and launching) needs to be finished before moving to the next. This approach works well for projects where all the steps are clear from the beginning.

3. What are the benefits of the Waterfall Model?

Ans: The waterfall Model has several benefits as it helps projects keep a well-defined, predictable project under the budget.

4. Is Waterfall better than Agile?

Ans: Waterfall works best for well-defined, unchanging projects, while Agile is for dynamic, evolving projects. For more differences, refer – Waterfall vs Agile .

Related Articles:

For more Software Engineering Models, you can refer to:

• Iterative Model
• Agile Model
• Spiral Model

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Waterfall Model Presentation Templates

Hasten along with slideegg move like the rhythm of a waterfall this pack of free waterfall model powerpoint templates and google slides themes help illustrate the cumulative effect of positive and negative values ​​for your categories. give it a try; everyone will love your slideshow.

Dive Deep with Waterfall: Stunning Free Waterfall Model PowerPoint Templates and Google Slides Themes to Explain It All!

• Multicolor Graphics: Make your presentations eye-catching and fun.
• Easy to Change: Edit text and charts to fit your specific project.
• Many Choices: Find slides for different project stages and themes.
• Themes for Every Project: We have slides for almost any project.
• Look Great: Stand out with professional design and colors.
• Change It Up: Edit everything to match your project's style.
• Work Anywhere: Use them on computers, phones, and tablets.
• Many Formats: Use them on any screen, big or small.
• Work Your Way: Choose portrait or landscape slides.
• Free to Try: Start with free slides to see if you like them.
• Project Managers: Guide your team with clear presentations.
• Business Owners: Explain projects to investors and stakeholders.
• Students: Show off your project in class.
• Anyone with a Project: Make your project journey smooth and exciting!

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What are waterfall model powerpoint templates.

Waterfall Model PowerPoint Templates are visuals used to illustrate the waterfall software development model. You can use these slides to represent the different stages of a project. You can also use it to highlight the various tasks to be completed in each step.

Where can we use these Waterfall Model Slides?

You can use these Waterfall Model Slides in project management and software development presentations. You can also use them to illustrate a process or workflow.

How can I make Waterfall Model PPT Slides in a presentation?

Create a slide for each phase, outlining the critical tasks and deliverables associated with that phase. Include diagrams, charts, and visuals to illustrate the process. Conclude your presentation by summarizing the key points and providing a call to action. Suppose you want to create slides by yourself. Visit Tips and tricks for detailed instructions.

Who can use Waterfall Model PPT Templates?

Waterfall Model PPT Templates can be used by business professionals, project managers, software engineers, students, and anyone who needs to present a project or process that follows the waterfall model.

Why do we need Waterfall Model PowerPoint Slides?

Waterfall Model PowerPoint Slides are a great way to visualize and explain the different stages of a project, from the initial planning and design phases to the coding and testing phases.

Where can I find free Waterfall Model PPT Templates?

Many websites offer free Waterfall Model PPT templates. Slide egg is one of the best PowerPoint providers. Our websites' uniquely designed templates help your audience understand a project's scope and keep track of their progress.

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waterfall methodology powerpoint templates & slides

The waterfall methodology is a sequential, single-direction project management process. The waterfall process is named because each phase of the project cascades into the next, following down like a waterfall. The waterfall process has five to seven phases that follow in linear order, where the next phase can’t begin until the previous phase has been completed.  The names of the phases are requirements, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance. The waterfall project management methodology is beneficial when applying a sequential approach to your project plan. With a waterfall model, You can build and track every phase of the SDLC process sequentially —from research and discovery to testing and deployment.  With the waterfall model, project tasks are out in cascading intervals, so work gets done one step at a time. The waterfall methodology depicts the software development process in a linear sequential flow. The waterfall process model is perfect to showcase the different stages of project development with the exact strategy or work model from start to end. We also have a vast collection of slides themes for your all presentation needs.

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Waterfall methodology powerpoint templates for presentations:.

The Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint templates go beyond traditional static slides to make your professional presentations stand out. Given the sleek design and customized features, they can be used as PowerPoint as well as  Google Slides templates . Inculcated with visually appealing unique and creative designs, the templates will double your presentation value in front of your audience. You can browse through a vast library of Waterfall Methodology Google Slides templates,  PowerPoint themes  and  backgrounds  to stand out in your next presentation.

What Is A Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint Template?

A Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint template is a ready-made presentation template that provides a structured framework for creating professional Waterfall Methodology presentations. The Waterfall Methodology PPT presentation template includes design elements, layouts, and fonts that you can customize to fit your content and brand.

What Are The Advantages Of Waterfall Methodology Presentation Templates?

Waterfall Methodology PPT presentation templates can be beneficial because they:

• Add multiple visual and aesthetic layers to your slides.
• Ensure that complex information, insights and data is presented in a simplistic way.
• Enhance the overall visual appeal of the content.
• Save you a lot of time as you don’t have to start editing from scratch.
• Improve the professional outlook of your presentation.

How To Choose The Best Waterfall Methodology Presentation Templates?

Keep the following points in mind while choosing a Waterfall Methodology Presentation template for PowerPoint (PPT) or Google Slides:

• Understand your presentation goals and objectives.
• Make sure the Waterfall Methodology template aligns with your visual needs and appeal.
• Ensure the template is versatile enough to adapt to various types of content.
• Ensure the template is easily customizable.

Can I Edit The Elements In Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint Templates?

Yes, our Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint and Google Slides templates are fully editable. You can easily modify the individual elements including icons, fonts, colors, etc. while making your presentations using  professional PowerPoint templates .

Are Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint Templates Compatible With Google Slides?

Yes, all our Waterfall Methodology presentation templates are compatible and can be used as Waterfall Methodology Google Slides templates.

How To Download Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint Templates For Presentations?

To download Waterfall Methodology presentation templates, you can follow these steps:

• Select the resolution (16*9 or 4*3).
• Select the format you want to download the Waterfall Methodology template in (Google Slides or PowerPoint).
• Make the payment (SlideUpLift has a collection of paid as well as free Waterfall Methodology PowerPoint templates).
• You can download the file or open it in Google Slides.

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Using the waterfall model in instructional design: a guide for elearning professionals.

How To Use The Waterfall Model In Instructional Design: 4 Benefits And The Steps Involved

The Waterfall Model has been used for more than 40 years. Thus, it is a time-tested approach that has been finely tuned over the decades. As its name suggests, this development model centers on a step-by-step design process. Each stage must be completed before moving onto the next, which makes it ideal for Instructional Designers who prefer a more linear and organized strategy . The Waterfall Model relies heavily on the planning and research aspects of eLearning course design, so that you are already aware of your learner's needs and the problems that must be addressed before you create your first prototype. This allows you to create a learner-centered eLearning course that offers the best ROI .

4 Benefits Of Using The Waterfall Model In Instructional Design

• Cost effective. One of the most notable benefits of using the Waterfall Model to create your eLearning course is that it can reduce development costs. You must devote a significant amount of time to researching needs, planning activities, and assessing knowledge gaps. As such, by the time you actually start the design process you have a great deal of data at your disposal. This means that you won't have to endure a lengthy and costly revision process. eLearning professionals are able to detect any problems early on and remedy them right away.
• Streamlines the work process. All members of your eLearning team are on the same page from the very beginning of the development process. This is due to the fact that you must assess training needs and determine goals within the very first phase. You can meet with clients early in the process to identify their expectations, instead of designing the entire eLearning course only to discover that they are looking for something completely different.
• Improves collaboration. The Waterfall Model allows all collaborators in your eLearning team  to work on their aspect of the eLearning project autonomously. Once you've clarified what the eLearning program needs to accomplish, everyone can dive into their respective tasks in order to speed up the process. For example, your graphic designers can already begin creating the presentations and template, while the SME can gather all of the necessary information and identify the key takeaways.
• Ensures cohesiveness. This approach is linear, which gives you the chance to work on every aspect of the eLearning project in order of importance. Rather than piecing all of the elements together at the end, you can figure out how all of the components are going to fit into the overall puzzle from day one. Thus, your eLearning program will be more cohesiveness and organized. Employees will be able to see how each of the ideas or concepts connect with one another, instead of having to sit through a disjointed eLearning experience.

The Waterfall In Instructional Design

This Instructional Design process involves six key stages that takes a linear approach. Here are the 6 phases that you should consider when creating your next eLearning course:

• Needs Analysis Assess the needs of your learners and identify the primary goals and objectives  of the eLearning course. This may involve surveys, online tests, focus groups, interviews, and on-the-job observations. The training needs analysis should focus on your learner's strengths and areas for improvement.
• Knowledge Analysis After determining the needs of your learners you must identify how you are going to fill the performance and knowledge gaps. In other words, how are you going to get from point A to point B so that your eLearning program is truly effective? Conduct tasks and skills assessments to figure out how you can improve their productivity and give them the tools and resources they need.
• Identify Limitations Every eLearning program has its limitations. This may come in the form of a tight eLearning budget , technology constraints, or busy schedules . Once you identify these limitations you can decide whether they have a viable solution, or if you need to factor them into your eLearning course design. For example, if you dealing with learners who may have limited tech know-how, you can remedy this by offering tutorials that teach them how to use the LMS and use devices they are most familiar with.
• Content Development Identify the ideal eLearning activities and online resources that align with your goals and objectives. Branching scenarios , virtual presentations, eLearning simulations, serious games, and eLearning videos are just some of the multimedia elements you can incorporate into your eLearning strategy. You should also decide which Instructional Design models and theories   are ideally suited for your learners' needs.
• Prototyping Create a rough draft of your eLearning course to serve as a prototype, then conduct thorough testing in order to determine its effectiveness. This is also the time to work out any issues that may hinder your goals and revise the aspects of your eLearning course that aren't living up to expectations. Focus groups can be an invaluable tool at this stage, as it gives you the opportunity to gather feedback from your target audience.
• Deployment Launch your eLearning course and measure the results . This may also require revisions and eLearning course modifications. Fortunately, the Waterfall method involves a great deal of research and planning, which means that revisions should be minimal at this point.

The Waterfall model may not be for everyone, but it is a viable approach that yields a wide range of benefits for new and experienced eLearning professionals, alike. Use this article as a guide to keep your eLearning course design on track and maximize the results of your eLearning program.

At the other end of the Instructional Design spectrum is the Iterative Design approach. Read the article 5 Benefits Of Iterative Design In eLearning  to discover an Instructional Design approach that allows you to focus on one eLearning course component or design phase at a time, rather than trying to develop the complete package from start to finish.

• Project Management Frameworks In Instructional Design: Exploring Approaches
• ADDIE: The Lifecycle Of eLearning Development
• The Power Of AGILE Instructional Design Approach
• ADDIE Model Vs SAM Model: Which Is Best For Your Next eLearning Project
• Addressing The Gap Between Instructional Design And Project Management

Waterfall Model in SDLC

Jun 24, 2017

510 likes | 1.96k Views

These PPT presentations help to understand waterfall model in SDLC. The Waterfall model is the earliest SDLC approach that was used for software development. There are five steps in the waterfall model.

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• software development
• waterfall model
• system design
• software development process
• small programs called units

Presentation Transcript

INTRODUCTION A software development process or life cycle is a structure imposed on the development of a software product. There are several models for such processes, each describing approaches to a variety of tasks or activities that take place during the process. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Types of Software development models • Waterfall model • V model • Incremental model • RAD model • Agile model • Iterative model • Spiral model www.hndassignments.co.uk

Waterfall Model There are total 7 models in software development. Waterfall model is a popular model of the system development life cycle. It is very simple to use and understand. In a waterfall model, each phase must be completed before the next phase can begin and there is no overlapping in the phases. www.hndassignments.co.uk

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Steps in Waterfall Model • Requirements: Requirements is the initial step in waterfall model. All possible requirements of the system to be developed are captured in this phase and documented in a requirement specification document. In this steps user demands the entire requirement for the software development. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Design: This is the second step in waterfall model. This system design helps in specifying hardware and system requirements and helps in defining the overall system architecture. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Implementation:It is very important part of waterfall model. After requirements and design the next step in implementation. With inputs from the system design, the system is first developed in small programs called units, which are integrated in the next phase. Each unit is developed and tested for its functionality, which is referred to as Unit Testing. The main purpose of these steps is to execute the program. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Verification: In these steps the entire systems will be tested forany faults and failures. Once the functional and non-functional testing is done the product is deployed in the customer environment or released into the market. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Maintenance: In these last stepsthere are some issues which come up in the client environment. In this steps the issue will be fixed, patches are released. Maintenance is done to deliver these changes in the customer environment. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Advantages • This model is simple and easy to understand and use. • It is easy to manage due to the rigidity of the model – each phase has specific deliverables and a review process. • In this model phases are processed and completed one at a time. Phases do not overlap. • Waterfall model works well for smaller projects where requirements are very well understood www.hndassignments.co.uk

Disadvantages • Once an application is in the testing stage, it is very difficult to go back and change something that was not well-thought out in the concept stage. • No working software is produced until late during the life cycle. • High amounts of risk and uncertainty. • Not a good model for complex and object-oriented projects. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Poor model for long and ongoing projects. • Not suitable for the projects where requirements are at a moderate to high risk of changing. www.hndassignments.co.uk

Uses of Waterfall Model • This model is used only when the requirements are very well known, clear and fixed. Product definition is stable. • Technology is understood. • There are no ambiguous requirements • Ample resources with required expertise are available freely • The project is short. www.hndassignments.co.uk

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