Agile vs Waterfall
5 min read · April 5, 2025 · Project Management
Written by Emma Lewis
Understanding Waterfall Method
The Waterfall approach is suitable for small-to-medium projects with clearly defined goals and fixed requirements. This method operates in distinct phases.
Use Case:
Ideal for long-term projects with stable requirements, including infrastructure and regulatory-based projects.
85%
Efficiency in Predictable Projects
(based on PMI's annual report 2024)
- Linear progression of stages
- Detailed project documentation
- Clear planning stage from the start
- Challenges with adaptability to changes
- Best used for regulatory projects (compliance-driven)
- Delivers fixed-price projects with clear scope
Agile Project Management
Agile focuses on incremental development in short sprints. Suitable for teams facing fast-moving projects, allowing for continuous adaptation.
Ideal for
- Teams working in unpredictable environments
- Fast development with regular iterations
- Customer interaction-driven projects
- Scrum and Kanban +17% project completion rate in SaaS projects 2024 9.5/10
-
Fixed-Price
Not always recommended
- Best forTech teams
import {useAgile} from 'framework';
class AgilePlan {
constructor() {
this.tasks = {
"sprint1": [...]
};
}
}
AgilePlan.prototype.nextStep();
Agile.js
Waterfall vs Agile
| Type | Agile | Waterfall | BEST FIT | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | High | Limited | Variability | |
| Documentation |
Agile uses incremental documentation.
|
Low | ||
| Cross-functional teams | ||||
For dynamic, fast-paced projects
(Choose Agile)
For stable, large-scale infrastructure
(Waterfall fits better)
Avoid mixing unless adapted carefully