Comparing Agile versus Waterfall Project Management

Compare the most popular project management approaches—agile and waterfall—to decide which one is right for your organization.

Agile and waterfall are the two most popular project management approaches. Choosing the right approach can impact your budget, your schedule, and your project’s success. In this course, industry experts Chris Croft and Doug Rose join forces to review the similarities, differences, and best uses of agile and waterfall. They explain which method is best for large-scale projects, which method is more cost efficient, and which projects are suitable for each style—or combination of styles. Chris and Doug review real-life examples and give frank advice about the pros and cons. The lessons are designed for project managers that know the basics of agile and waterfall, but are interested in direct comparisons that will help them feel more confident choosing one approach over the other.

Introduction

• Decide on your project management approach

1. A Deep Dive into Agile

• What is agile?
• Adapting to changes
• Which projects suit agile vs. waterfall?
• The dream situation

2. Comparing Agile and Waterfall

• Can plans be too flexible?
• Estimating cost
• It all comes together at the end
• Is agile only for software?
• What about unfamiliar projects?
• Does agile cost more?
• Can agile handle big projects?
• Fitting into larger projects
• The secret Gantt chart behind agile
• How many deliverables can you have?
• How does kanban fit with agile?
• What is the point of a burndown chart?
• Can sprints be more/less than two weeks?

3. Which to Choose

• Which is better for the customer?
• Planning for a hurricane
• When to use agile vs. waterfall
• Can you ever merge both?
• Reducing documentation

Conclusion

• The future of agile