A startup is a project. And when you do a project, the question always arises: how to implement it, how to organize a team. The quality of the product and the deadlines depend on the methodology by which the startup is implemented.
Why do you need a methodology? Just take it and do it!
You have a rough idea of your idea, a rough time frame, and what the end result should be. But “roughly” is chaos.
But in a serious project that expects success, there should be no chaos.
The methodology structures the mind, the team and forms a clear picture. You see what stage the project is at, where it is moving and what step to take next.
We are convinced that we need order. It remains to make a choice which methodology to choose.
As we announced in the title, the battle will be between Agile and Waterfall. Let's note right away that there is no clear answer, the choice depends on the project.
But we can tell you about the advantages and disadvantages:)
Waterfall
Waterfall clearly structures the development of the project, we have a plan that consists of stages. Following them, we get the final product:
Agile vs Waterfall: Which Project Development Methodology Should You Choose? - image
Product idea
A startup begins with an idea that lights up above your head like a light bulb. You need to clearly understand what message you are conveying to your target audience and what goals you are setting for yourself. This disciplines you and creates a vision of the end result.
Initiation
We assemble a team, distribute technical tasks, deadlines and assign business responsibilities on paper or in a special program (ERP).
Analysis
We look for the best means to implement the idea, study the market and competitors, and understand who the target audience is.
Thanks to such analysis, the idea is transformed, elements that will not be in demand are removed, and new features necessary for implementation come in their place.
Design
In Waterfall this process stands apart. The entire design, interface (front end) is developed when the software content is unknown (back end).
Development
At this stage, we code in full. Developers adapt to the interface created by designers, filling it with the necessary functionality.
Testing
We get rid of bugs so that the perfect product chinese malaysia cell phone number data reaches our customers.
Product launch
We bring the project to the market, launch marketing, and make sure the whole world knows about the product! (at least the target audience)
Operation
The first customers appear, who visit the site, buy a product or download an application - depending on the startup.
The structure of Waterfall is very simple, all the stages follow each other and we know what step we will take next.
Agile
Agile is a flexible development methodology. The team does not have strict stages, they are all interconnected and repeatable:
Agile vs Waterfall: Which Project Development Methodology Should You Choose? - 2 - image
The project is divided into iterations - cycles. In each of them, planning, analysis, design,developmentAndtesting.
Iterations are divided into sprints - 1 or 2 weeks, for which each team member has a package of tasks. Every day the team meets for briefings, sets daily goals, reports on the achievements of the previous day.
Designers are not isolated, they constantly communicate with developers and testers, update the interface for maximum quality and usability for future clients. Analysis is carried out constantly with the same goals.
The entire process is as flexible as possible; after each iteration, the team receives a potentially working product that they can analyze and improve.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of both methodologies:
Agile vs Waterfall: Which Project Development Methodology Should You Choose? - 3 - image
Although careful planning is a big plus (all estimates, concepts, budgets are made, risks are worked out), for many projects it turns into a minus. The first stage takes a lot of time and resources, all planning elements can be done in the process. The same situation with a huge amount of documentation.
Because all stages are isolated, there is no way to change anything in development and design. Programmers are forced to adapt to the existing interface. The client does not know his project until the testing stage, when it is too late to make changes.
Agile vs Waterfall: Which Project Development Methodology Should You Choose? - 4 - image
Unlike Waterfall, all processes in Agile are continuous. All errors that the tester finds are immediately corrected by the programmer, and the interface can change.
Agile has a strong focus on product quality, which is improved and adapted throughout the work.
A great advantage of Agile is that the client is immersed in the project, he can check how the work is going at any time, attend meetings with the team at the end of the iteration and suggest changes.
To work in Agile, you need to be aware of the challenges and know how to deal with them:
You must be fully involved in the processes to avoid confusion, because they all happen simultaneously. In pursuit of improvements, do not forget about the initial requirements of the client.
Don't set too many tasks for one sprint, it will reduce the quality of work. Break one big task into several small ones.
When choosing a method, be guided by the principles that are more important for the project. Waterfall is good when you have a fixed list of requirements and a clear idea of the final product. Agile is focused on industries where standards are constantly changing, new technologies are emerging. And you will be able to adapt to them right in the middle of the process.
For example, the IT sphere is constantly evolving, new trends are emerging, and with the help of Agile Artjoker copes with it perfectlystartups!
