“Waterfall” is a traditional type of project management used for planning and executing projects. This approach was first introduced in the field of software development in the 1970s.
The fundamental principle of the Waterfall model is a linear and sequential approach. Each phase of the project must be completed before the next one begins. The Waterfall model assumes that project requirements and goals are well-defined from the beginning and should not be changed during the entire process.
The main stages of the Waterfall model are:
- Planning: In this phase, we gather requirements and set project goals. A detailed plan, budget and project schedule are created.
- Analysis: In this phase we analyze the requirements and propose solutions to fulfill them. All project components are identified.
- Proposal: Based on the analysis, we will develop a detailed project proposal, including architecture, design and technical specifications.
- Implementation: In this phase, we perform the actual programming and implementation of the project.
- Testing: After the implementation is complete, the project is tested to verify functionality and quality.
- Commissioning and Maintenance: Once the project is successfully tested and approved, it is commissioned and support and maintenance is provided.
Because many projects involve unpredictable changes and unclear requirements, many organizations turn to agile project management methods. These methods are more flexible and better equipped to handle changes. However, Waterfall is still used in a significant number of projects where requirements are clear and predictable, such as in some construction projects and hardware development.