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PM Methodologies

Waterfall Methodology:
History, Principles,
Stages & More
Written by Ahad Waseem | Edited by Rory Hart

Last updated on Mar 02, 2023

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If you’re discovering potential project

management methodologies for a new project,
you might’ve come across a lot of project
management jargon. If you aren’t already
familiar with them, terms like the waterfall,
scrum, agile, lean, and kanban methodologies
aren’t immediately digestible.

This guide is all about explaining one of these

terms: the waterfall methodology, also known
as the waterfall model. If you’re interested in
learning more about this project management
method, and whether it suits your project goals
or not, you’re at the right place.

Summary

The waterfall project management methodology

lets you plan out your project in a linear manner
where each subsequent phase initiates after the
last one ends. It’s one of the most straightforward
ways to manage a project and is a good choice if
you already have clearly outlined objectives.

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Historical Overview of the Waterfall

Methodology

The waterfall methodology is the oldest project

management procedure out there.
Construction and manufacturing firms have
traditionally used similar management methods
albeit it was not formally recognized until Dr.
Winston Royce introduced the idea.

He developed the waterfall management

approach in 1970 to manage the development
of large software. Though the term ‘waterfall’
still wasn’t linked to it, it was Dr. Royce’s design
that later came to be known as the waterfall
model.

The step-by-step approach helped it gain

support from managers quickly, making it the
most widely used management methodology.
Since then, waterfall project management has
been a popular choice, especially for software
development projects and other relatively
sequential fields of work.

The waterfall model is named so because it

mimics a waterfall in its trajectory. Just like
water flows down in one direction, your
operations will flow from one step to the next.
The flowing water cannot take a u-turn and flow
back to a point it has already passed from.
Similarly, this management method doesn’t
allow you to return to previous phases. The
only way to do so is to start over from the
beginning.

Principles of the Waterfall

Methodology

Every management process follows a set of

principles. If you’re confused about whether or
not the waterfall model suits your operations,
we recommend you review the principles it
follows. The right project management model
should follow the same principles as you want
for your project.

Here are the three basic principles the

waterfall project management methodology
goes by.

Sequential structure: The waterfall

model divides your operations into
sequential phases. You can only move to
the next stage in your project once the
current one is complete. This also means
there’s no space for changing course or
revisiting a phase after its completion.
The only way to go back is to start all over
again.

Minimal customer involvement: A

waterfall project involves minimal
customer interaction. This is primarily
due to the fact that operations only start
after the customer’s requirements and
objectives are clearly defined. The first
meeting takes place before operations
begin and the next when the project is in
its final stages.

Robust documentation: This

methodology also involves in-detail
documentation of all requirements, the
development process, and the final
outcome. This includes everything from
the timeline to the precise route you will
take to solve the client’s problems. Since
there’s minimal to no customer
communication during the development
process, every essential detail needs to
be documented upfront.

If these principles are in-line with the project

you’re planning, the waterfall model is indeed a
suitable option. Let’s dive deeper to discover
the di"erent phases involved in the waterfall
system development cycle.

5 Stages of the Waterfall Model –

Software Development Cycle

Waterfall usually breaks down a project into five

to seven distinct phases. The stages, also known
as the waterfall software development cycle for
software development projects, are strictly
chronological. Each phase has a fixed timeline,
requirements, and objectives.

Although most waterfall systems have five

project management stages, more
complicated plans have more stages in their
development process. Here is what a typical
waterfall model looks like:

The visual representation of the model mimics a tiered

waterfall.

Here’s an in-depth look at each of these phases

and what each one entails. Oftentimes, a single
phase can involve multiple subsections, but
everything is part of the plan taking on one task
at a time.

Stage 1: Documenting Requirements

The waterfall model calls for extensive

documentation upfront. In the first stage, you
gather information from clients or end-users
regarding their requirements and the results
they expect from the software or product.

This is a planning phase and is the last one

where you can communicate with clients before
work starts on the project. You want to
document as much information as you can to
make sure you take o" in the right direction and
have everything mapped out.

The requirements phase is crucial since it lays

the foundation for the next phases. This is also
why a lot of time is allocated to gathering
requirements. By the end of stage one, you
should be able to describe each of the
upcoming phases in detail. This includes
timelines, costs, risks, assumptions, and
dependencies of the project.

Stage 2: Design

The second stage, also known as the analysis

stage, is when you review the requirements and
develop a design to meet them. Here, your
team identifies the path it will take to deliver a
solution and the relevant specifications.

The second stage is often divided into two parts:

the logical design and the physical design
stage. In logical or high-level design subphase,
you will come up with all theoretical solutions
that have the potential to meet the client’s
objectives.

Physical design, also known as the low-level

design, entails more concrete specifications.
This is where you specify the hardware,
software, architecture, data sources, and
services you will be employing during the
project. Note that no on-ground work or coding
takes place in this stage.

Stage 3: Implementation

This is where the action starts. The

implementation phase is where the
construction or coding, in the case of software
development projects, happens. But this might
be the shortest stage of all since the entire
design is already in place. Your team will follow
the documentation from the first two phases to
flesh out the actual deliverable.

More complex projects break down large

software into smaller programs. Teams employ
unit testing where they build and test one unit
at a time which is later merged together for the
final product.

Stage 4: Verification

After the implementation phase is complete,

the testing or verification stage is where you
make sure all requirements are met and
whether the product needs debugging. Here,
the quality assurance team thoroughly scans
the deliverable before it reaches the client.

In case they find major faults or the

requirements are not met, the project goes
back to stage one. However, a forced repeat of
the design phase takes care of minor bugs.

You can also utilize a UAT (user acceptance test)

for clients or end-users to check for faults and
user experience. In case the product passes
testing and verification, we move on in the
waterfall.

Stage 5: Maintenance

The maintenance stage starts after you

release the product and users start using it.
You can only identify some issues once the
client brings the deliverable to practical use. In
case a bug or faulty feature arises, your
maintenance team can take care of it. This stage
ends when the client is fully satisfied or
continues in case they need frequent updates.

When to Use Waterfall Methodology

The extensive documentation and painstaking

planning in the initial stages are two of the best
features of the waterfall model. They make sure
your time and money are invested right.
However, its inflexibility gives you limited space
to revise your plans.

Di"erent projects have di"erent circumstances

and requirements. Let’s take a look at some
instances where a waterfall system would make
a great choice.

Project has clearly defined

requirements: If you’re clear about the
ultimate objective you want to achieve
with a project, go for waterfall
management. However, if you or your
clients are not sure about the end goal,
have ambiguous requirements, and may
change course, go for agile project
management.

Project has firmly set tasks and

deadlines: The waterfall model is highly
structured by nature. It’s best for projects
in the construction or manufacturing
industry where you need to maintain
deadlines. This is a rigid management
methodology for rigid businesses where
meeting deadlines is a must.

You have time for planning: A

considerable amount of time is spent in
the first two stages when you use waterfall
management. You can go for waterfall if
you have ample time to spend on
gathering requirements and planning. But
if you’re short on time and need to start
right away, an agile methodology is a
better option.

Pros and Cons of Waterfall

Methodologies

Every project development methodology has its

pros and cons. Similarly, the waterfall method
has its own which makes it suitable for some
projects and unsuitable for others.

Its straightforward approach and the robust

documentation involved are two of the best
things about it. On the other hand, the inability
to adapt to change is its greatest weakness.

Advantages of the Waterfall Method

In-depth analysis and design phases make

sure the implementation follows the
correct route. This helps your team take all
the right steps and finish the
implementation phase quickly.
The waterfall method gives an accurate
estimate of the total cost and time
required for a project.
It’s easier to evaluate progress since the
model has a highly structured approach
and defined milestones.
This methodology lets you create
repeatable processes. This means new
team members can easily get familiarized
with the project as everything they need to
know is already documented.
Limited customer involvement means
customers aren’t adding new suggestions
or requirements. This helps you avoid
delays and reach completion according to
the set timeline.

Disadvantages of the Waterfall Method

The waterfall management model

assumes all requirements can be enlisted
at once, but this is not always the case.
This incurs higher costs if a client requests
an additional requirement midway
through the development process.
Since requirements and design planning
take up a lot of time, projects can take
longer to reach completion.
Limited communication with the clients
during design and implementation.
If one stage gets delayed, all subsequent
stages are delayed.
Doesn’t allow processes to overlap, hence
reducing e#ciency.
A working deliverable isn’t available until
the final stages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on

Waterfall Methodology

What are the steps in the Waterfall

methodology?

The waterfall methodology involves five

to seven stages that start at gathering
requirements information from clients
and end at the maintenance of the
product. The five basic stages are
documenting requirements, design,
implementation, verification, and
maintenance.

What is the di"erence between

waterfall and agile methodology?

Waterfall method focuses on the design

and planning phase of a project. Agile
focuses very little on design. Waterfall
needs more time to build and test a
product before it delivers the final
version. Agile constantly tests software
as soon as it’s ready. Di"erent
processes cannot overlap in waterfall
but agile enables you to work on
di"erent stages at once.

When can design changes be made in

the Waterfall process?

It’s not possible to make changes to the

waterfall process once it kicks o". If you
want to make changes at a particular
time during the process, you will have
to start from stage one. However, if you
want to make changes to the design
during the design process, you can
easily do so because coding or on-
ground work doesn’t start in the design
process.

Final Thoughts on Waterfall

Methodologies

The waterfall methodology is simple, sequential,

and easy to apply. It’s most commonly used for
software development and construction
projects where you need to finalize one phase
before you move to the next.

That said, this project management method

lacks flexibility and involves high risk when it
comes to complicated projects. It’s a suitable
option only if you’re working on a shorter
project with clearly defined requirements, and
enough time for planning. If you think the
waterfall isn’t for you, feel free to discover other
project management methodologies to get o"
on the right foot.

Max Abraham

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