Introduction

No one likes it when things don’t go according to plan.

This might be true, especially in the case of app development. The most diminutive error in the development process can cost you the grandest profit margin.

To avoid such a dilemma, project management takes the reins to streamline the process of app development. It handles things in a manageable and organized manner so that each task is ticked off the list, chronologically before the final product is delivered in the app development process. This encourages efficiency and fluidity in the project.

However, what kind of approach is suited best for your app? Popularly, two such types of application development methodologies help out in managing your project namely, Agile and Waterfall. These two approaches are the most common when it comes to app development as they are not just efficient but also budget-friendly and hassle-free.

The article below will decipher the key differences between these two and offer the verdict on the one that is better suited for your app.

Agile Adoption

Amid economic challenges, businesses are turning to agile methodologies, with a strong agile culture correlating with a 277% boost in commercial performance.

The State of Agile Culture Report 2023 highlights a leadership awareness gap, as only 10% exhibit post-heroic leadership and perceived strength in leadership agility stagnates at 47%.

Waterfall Legacy

While Agile is prevalent, Waterfall methodology is still used in certain contexts, particularly in industries with strict regulatory requirements or where the project scope is well-defined from the outset.

Project Success Rates

• Agile projects average a success rate of 88.2%.
  
  

• Waterfall projects are on average only 47% successful.
  

The success rates differ by 41.25%, suggesting that Agile methodology is more seamlessly integrated into project management.

This implies either the ease of incorporating Agile into project management processes or the streamlined management of Agile projects without the additional overhead associated with traditional project management processes.

Significance of picking the right development approach

The right app development approach takes the cake when it comes to effectively streamlining the goals and results you want from your project. Below are a few reasons why it is important to pick the right mobile app development approach for your project:

• Keeps everyone on the team in assent with their tasks and responsibilities which allows them to deliver a seamless product that meets the clients’ requirements.
  
  

• Offers a framework that supervises the development process. This curtails the risk of miscommunications and bounced deadlines.
  
  

• Aids in spotting potential project risks and kills the probability of project failure due to unforeseen reasons.
  
  

• Enhances effective communication and understanding among the team members, improves collaboration, and eliminates the portents of miscommunication.
  
  

• The final product is delivered under the predetermined budget discussed at the beginning of the process without any additional financial pivots. 

Understanding Agile Methodology

The approach for agile app development is iterative, repetitive, and rapid which is time-sensitive, team-specific, and sprint action style.

The top mobile app development companies state that this strategy relies on being dynamic and develops multiple Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) over a fixed period enhancing every iteration. 

Besides adding features and elements, app development is quite a complicated process that incorporates multiple phases and stages. Hence, the Agile development strategy specializes in principles such as teamwork, feedback, and adaptability. 

When it comes to apps or any other product development, a tunnel-vision strategy becomes the bane of its success. Designing or developing an app from scratch is an organic process which implies that multiple changes will happen mid-way through the process.

By staying dynamic and not adamant about your initial strategy, teams deliver an app that understands the company’s vision and does not operate unidimensional. 

Agile Frameworks

Since the Agile approach focuses on iterative and repetitive strategies that deliver a more effective end product, its frameworks function the same.

Hence, it can be stated that an Agile framework is a software-specific development approach based on the Agile philosophy.

The best part is that there is not one but many of them. Some of these frameworks are mentioned below:

Scrum

One of the most famous Agile frameworks in town, Scrum allows people to put forward their most adaptive complex problems while creatively and effectively delivering the best in class solutions, creating an impeccable product.  

Contextually, Scrum is simple and easy to understand. However, many repudiate such suppositions. The most prominent feature of Scrum is the time-sensitive iterations it can deliver.

The team working with Scrum works in multiple bouts of organized time known as sprints that can last between two to four weeks. 

Sprints allow the team to create the app more quickly and efficiently while leveraging the flexibility required to pivot. 

XP

Another team-based software programming approach, XP, just like in other Agile frameworks, allows the team to develop intermittent releases via short development sprints that can pivot to change whenever required.

Compared to others, XP might be the least organized and segmented framework out of the other Agile frameworks that follow a protocol, rather than steps. Some of the principles of its protocol include:

• Interaction
• Respect
• Simplicity
• Constant feedback

XP demands its developers to listen and understand the client’s user stories and then plan and execute those features and functionalities into the product. 

Kanban

Japanese for ‘visual signal’ or ‘card’, this Agile framework is quite famous and has been utilized in multiple software development workloads and other kinds of knowledge work.

True to its name, it utilizes physical or digital boards to portray a team’s unique process. Some of the salient features of this framework are:

• Applying sticky notes to a whiteboard takes a whole different approach. Kanban boards are a part of Kanban allowing developers to pin work items through cards.

• Every step in the process iterates a vertical lane or column. The most fundamental version of a process is ‘To Do’, ‘Doing’, or ‘Done’. 

• The left to right movement of cards on the board represent each work item in progress. 

• These cards include a myriad of information about the task, its status, deadlines, assignee, etc.

Teams can interact with each other more effectively due to shared visibility that enhances functionality. This tool helps out members of Agile and Lean by being a part of other other Agile frameworks too. 

Understanding Waterfall Methodology

Following the sequential approach of app development, the Waterfall method embraces its name in a fitting sense when it comes to the development process.

The entire process flows like a waterfall across all the steps of a project including requirements, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. Each phase must undergo completion before the next one can begin.  

Waterfall Project Management Phases

The different phases of Waterfall app development vary from project to project. However, you can categorize the activities that take place in the process in 5 steps. These steps include planning, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance. 

Requirements and Planning

This step is incumbent on the team to decide and determine the requirements of the product and what the final version looks like. The project leader attempts to understand the needs of the project sponsors.

This phase contains the understanding and explanation of the project’s risks, dependencies, costs, timeline, assumptions, and quality metrics. 

Design

This step bolsters all your decisions and plans. This is the step where you develop solutions that can benefit the product by solving its issues.

The best way to pull this off is by addressing all the actions you take to offer the project scope to execute them.

Some of the design elements in the development process are schedule, objectives, and budget. Design is the roadmap or blueprint to executing your development strategy.  

Implementation

This is the execution phase of your project. Plan and design to create the desired product. This phase is strictly responsible for software development namely features and functionalities of the product.

This phase occupies a large margin of the waterfall project management plan. Developers need to keep an eye out for any errors in this phase. 

Verification/Testing

This phase focuses on the analysis and testing schedules of the product. It also confirms that the product created in the implementation phase has offered the desired result along with the project’s core requirements.

If this is not the case, the team members must review the first phase to identify what went wrong along any of the other phases.

The testing phase scales for different quality metrics as well as user satisfaction to substantiate the project’s success. 

Maintenance

This stage is independent of the five stages of development.

This phase undergoes minor modifications to ameliorate the product better during implementation and deliver other routine maintenance tasks.

This phase also helps in spotting any errors you might have missed during the testing phase.

Pros and Cons of Waterfall Methodology

With the multiple phases of waterfall methodology out of the way, it is time you understand the advantages and disadvantages of this approach and how it can help you in your business.

Advantages

Clear Structure-  Compared to other methodologies, Waterfall is based on a more clear and dogmatic set of steps. It has a simple structure that follows planning, design, implementation, analysis, and maintenance. 

Decide the result early on- One of the most crucial steps of Waterfall methodology is sticking to an end goal, product, or deliverable and the teams must resist swinging from that commitment.

The Waterfall model reminds your team the overarching purpose of the project from the start in smaller projects.

Transfers information effectively- The sophistication with which Waterfall methodology operates, it is obvious that the transfer of information takes place at every step.

In a software setting, every new step would inculcate a new team which might not be true in your case.

However, you must still focus on noting down the information necessary for a product across its lifecycle. 

Disadvantages

Changes are difficult to manage- Due to a methodical way of dealing with things, Waterfall technology leaves no room for additional changes during the development process.

Your team will have a hard time pivoting their strategy at the last minute when the process faces a major problem that requires re-structuring your strategy to solve it. 

Excludes the client or end-user- Another con of this methodology is that it focuses too little on the end result or client involved in the project.

Its general purpose is to move quite effectively throughout the project, which works wonders for the software world. However, in an industry besides software, clients ask constant updates on the progress of the product thereby, being a part of it.

Adding opinions about different changes in the app is a part and parcel of this industry.

Comparative Analysis: Agile vs Waterfall

Conclusion

Waiting for the verdict are you?

If you made it to the end, it means you have got one of your own. Since each of them has its own set of pros and cons along with features and functionalities, picking the one that suits your business the best is the only logical conclusion to arrive at.

Remember, the most popular choice is not always the most suitable or necessary one. It varies under different circumstances.

However, make sure that you understand the similarities and differences that these two powerhouse methodologies incorporate.

Discerning the traits of the two will determine the success of your project. So make sure to give both these options enough thought to decide the best one for your business.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ’s)

1. Which development approach is applicable for complex projects?

Both Agile and Waterfall approaches are a part of the big projects. Agile is more preferred for handling complex ones as it breaks complex tasks into smaller and more manageable snippets. More frequent updates remove any major issues due to such an approach.

2. Can Waterfall and Agile methodologies form a hybrid approach for app development?

Many projects adopt a hybrid approach when it comes to app development. They pick the best from both the worlds and eliminate the rest. This approach is termed ‘Wagile’ and allows leveraging the merits of each method based on certain project requirements. 

3. What are the fundamental differences between Agile and Waterfall?

The basic differences between these two methodologies are in their process of handling project planning, flexibility, as well as execution. Agile is more adaptable and incremental whereas Waterfall is more sequential and linear in its approach.

4. What are the potential risks that circle Agile Methodology?

Agile takes on flexibility and updates deferring the project’s timeline and scope if left unsupervised. Strong management and communication skills can mitigate these tasks.