Comparating Waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid Delivery Models
Having explored the principles of Waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid delivery models, it is clear that each approach has unique strengths suited to different projects. Table 7 below compares their defining characteristics and strategic applications to meet diverse project requirements.
| Characteristic | Waterfall | Agile | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Sequential and linear | Iterative and incremental | Combines sequential and iterative approaches |
| Flexibility | Low Changes are challenging to incorporate | High Easily accommodates changes | Moderate Allows for some changes |
| Planning | Extensive upfront planning | Planning is iterative and continuous. | Initial detailed planning with iterative adjustments |
| Documentation | Comprehensive upfront Challenging to change after the document is baselined | Comprehensive in increments | Comprehensive upfront This may change after the document is baselined. |
| Stakeholder engagement and feedback | At the beginning, end of phases, and the end | Continuous | Upfront with continuous opportunities |
| Risk management | Risks identified upfront with ongoing management, less adaptable to new risks that emerge late in the project | Ongoing risk management, adaptable to changes | Combines upfront risk identification with ongoing management, adaptable to new risks that emerge throughout the project |
| Delivery | At the end of the project cycle | Incremental delivery of components throughout the project | Seeks to deliver early incremental value to the customer while also having defined phases and milestones |
Commentary: Documentation in Agile
Agile models emphasise the importance of documentation, prescribing a systematic approach to its creation and maintenance. It prioritises documentation that is directly relevant to components within the scope of the sprint or iteration. This principle of focusing on segment-relevant documentation is often misinterpreted as advocating for less documentation overall. To make matters worse, Agile Cowboys replace documentation with extensive discussions about requirements and solutions, a deliberate misrepresentation to avoid documentation under the guise of adhering to Agile's collaboration principles.
Agile cowboys typically lack discipline specialisation. They misinterpret the Agile principle of fluidity in roles, using it to justify being vague about their responsibilities. They also misapply the collaboration principle, substituting structured documentation with informal conversations as their primary means of communication.
