IntroductionAmong the many factors related to project management, the choice of the model you will follow is one of the main ones and will dictate the pace and the way your team will work to achieve the objective. Today, in this post, we will address the most traditional project development model, which even gave rise to many others: the waterfall model.The waterfall model had its foundation in software development. The software development process is similar to a method for all activities, actions, and tasks that are necessary to ensure quality in the final product, and it extends to project development in general. We can classify this process as a roadmap for achieving an objective within an established deadline.What is the Waterfall Model of project management?The waterfall model is a linear approach to project management, in which the requirements of stakeholders and clients are collected at the beginning of the project, and then a sequential plan is created to accommodate these requirements.This means that, as each of the five stages (specification, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance) is completed, developers move on to the next stage. Depending on the sourceBecause this process is sequential, after completing a stage, developers cannot go back to the previous stage—not without scrapping the entire project and starting from the beginning. There is no room for changes or errors, so a project outcome and a comprehensive plan must be defined at the beginning and followed carefully.The waterfall approach was conceived by Winston W. Royce in 1970 and was quickly adopted in a variety of industries due to its logical sequencing and ease of implementation.The Phases of the Waterfall ModelThe waterfall model is a project management methodology that has five to seven phases that follow a strict linear order, where one phase cannot begin until the previous phase is completed. The specific names of the phases vary, but they were originally defined by Royce as follows:SpecificationThe main aspect of waterfall is that all client requirements (specifications) are gathered at the beginning of the project, allowing all other phases to be planned without additional client involvement until the product is complete. It is assumed that all requirements can be gathered in this phase.DesignThe design phase is best divided into the subphases of logical design and physical design. The logical design subphase is when possible solutions are discussed and theorized. The physical design subphase is when these theoretical ideas and schemes are transformed into concrete specifications.ImplementationThe implementation phase occurs when programmers assimilate the requirements and specifications from the previous phases and produce the actual code.TestingIn this phase, the client reviews the product to ensure that it meets the requirements established at the beginning of the project. This is done by releasing a complete product to the client.MaintenanceThe client uses the product regularly during the maintenance phase, discovering bugs, inadequate features, and other errors that occurred during production. The production team applies these corrections as needed until the client is satisfied.Advantages of the Waterfall ModelEasy to use and manage: because the waterfall model follows the same sequential pattern for each project, it is easy to use and understand. The team does not need any prior knowledge or training before working on this type of project. It is a rigid model; each phase has specific deliverables and reviews, making management and control easier.Discipline is enforced: all phases have a starting and ending point, and it is easy to share progress with stakeholders and clients. By focusing on requirements and design before writing code, the team can reduce the risk of missing a deadline.Requires a well-documented approach: the waterfall model requires documentation for all phases, resulting in a better understanding of the logic behind the build and testing. It also leaves a paper trail for any future project or if stakeholders need to see more details about a given phase.
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