What is Agile vs waterfall?

What is Agile vs Waterfall is a common question. Agile is an approach to product development which aims to be adaptable and responsive to changes. It is designed to be used in environments which are subject to rapid change, such as software development. In Agile, work is planned and performed in an incremental and iterative manner, divided into multiple fixed timeboxes called sprints. Work is planned in advance only until the end of the next sprint which might be anywhere between 1-4 weeks. Agile emphasises adaptability and teamwork, and is based upon the core Agile principles.

In contrast, 'waterfall' is associated with the more traditional project management where a project is planned at the start, goes through a linear series of phases, each one only proceeding to the next one when certain conditions have been met. This makes waterfall project management less able to respond quickly to changes than Agile ones.

Agile related articles

DSDM principles: A visual guide
image
Learn about DSDM principles through our visual guide and see their response to traditional process flaws. Scroll for more insights.
What is Scrum certification? Guide to providers, costs, and benefits
image
Achieving a Scrum Certification can boost your career in Agile project management. Learn the steps, compare providers, and understand the benefits of becoming certified today.
How do I become Agile certified?
image
Learn what it takes to become Agile certified and the advantages it brings to your professional life. Read on for examination tips.
Agile principles
image
Understand how Agile principles revolutionize project delivery and quality. Read on to learn about their application in various industries.
Are Agile courses worth it?
image
Find out if Agile courses are worth the investment and how they can fast-track your career. Scroll down for more details.
Scrum development
image
Uncover the roles and activities in Scrum development post-planning. Enhance your understanding of Scrum by reading on.
Agile project management: Frameworks, benefits and how it works
image
Agile project management is an adaptive and collaborative project approach focused on iterative delivery, continuous improvement, and stakeholder involvement. Discover key Agile frameworks, compare Agile with Waterfall, and see how Agile is applied across industries.
Scrum: A visual guide
image
New to Scrum? Our visual guide explains the methodology clearly. Download the accompanying poster to share with your team.
Agile methodologies
image
Discover the variety of Agile methodologies and their unique implementations across sectors. Read more to see which fits your needs.
Six Sigma
image
Six Sigma offers tools for improving business processes and quality. Read on to see how it can benefit your projects.
Agile vs waterfall project management
image
Compare Agile and waterfall methodologies to see why many industries prefer Agile. Discover the benefits by reading more.
What is Lean Six Sigma? Definition, methodology, & benefits
image
Lean Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology for process improvement that reduces waste and variation. Combining Lean and Six Sigma, it helps organisations maximise efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.