1. Describe five ways waterfall methodology would benefit this project.
2. Identify five possible pitfalls of using waterfall in this case, and explain how you would mitigate them.
3. Suggest five best practices from the reading that your team should adopt to ensure the project's success.
Traditional:
1. Describe five ways Traditional Approach/methodology would benefit this project.
2. Identify five possible pitfalls of using Traditional Approach in this case, and explain how you would mitigate them.
3. Suggest five best practices from the reading that your team should adopt to ensure the project's success.
Waterfall Methodology
It is a linear and sequential approach, meaning you must complete one phase before moving on to the next.
Stages of the Waterfall Model
1. Requirement Gathering & Analysis
o Collect all the needs of the client/stakeholders.
o Document system requirements (functional & non-functional).
o Output: Software Requirement Specification (SRS).
2. System Design
o Plan the architecture based on requirements.
o Create design documents, database models, data flow diagrams, and UI sketches.
o Output: System and software design documents.
3. Implementation (Coding/Development)
o Developers write code according to the design.
o Each module is developed and tested individually (unit testing).
o Output: Working software modules.
4. Integration & Testing
o Combine all modules into a complete system.
o Conduct system testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing.
o Output: Fully tested software.
5. Deployment (Installation)
o Deliver the final software to the client or production environment.
o Train users if needed.
o Output: Live running system.
6. Maintenance
o Fix bugs that appear after release.
o Perform updates, patches, or improvements based on user feedback.
o Output: Stable, updated product over time.
1. Five Benefits
1. Clear Structure & Stages – Each phase (requirements → design → implementation → testing →
deployment) is well defined, making it easy to track progress.
2. Strong Documentation – Every stage produces detailed documentation, which helps onboarding
new team members and maintaining the system long-term.
3. Predictability – Since requirements are gathered up front, timelines and budgets can be estimated
more accurately.
4. Quality Assurance – Testing is a dedicated phase, ensuring systematic detection of defects before
deployment.
5. Client Confidence – Stakeholders often feel comfortable with Waterfall because they can see
milestones completed in sequence.
2. Five Pitfalls & Mitigation
1. Inflexibility to Change – Once a phase is closed, revisiting it is costly.
Mitigation: Conduct very thorough requirements gathering and stakeholder validation early.
2. Late Testing – Bugs are discovered at the end, which may delay delivery.
Mitigation: Introduce incremental reviews and mini-tests during earlier phases.
3. Misinterpreted Requirements – If requirements are misunderstood, the whole project may fail.
Mitigation: Use prototypes, mock-ups, or requirement workshops to validate early.
4. Slow Delivery – Stakeholders wait until the end to see results.
Mitigation: Share progress updates with documentation, diagrams, or interim walkthroughs.
5. Overdependence on Documentation – Heavy reliance on written specs can cause gaps if team
members interpret them differently.
Mitigation: Supplement with regular meetings and clarifications.
3. Best Practices to Adopt
1. Engage stakeholders consistently, not just during requirement gathering.
2. Use visual models (e.g., UML diagrams, flowcharts) to reduce misunderstandings.
3. Build in stage-gates with reviews to ensure alignment with the requirements before moving
forward.
4. Allocate time buffers for requirement changes that may arise unexpectedly.
5. Keep documentation concise, accurate, and easily accessible.
Traditional Approach (Plan-Driven)
1. Five Benefits
1. Predictability & Stability – Works well when project requirements are well understood from the
start.
2. Strong Governance – Detailed upfront planning allows better control over costs, scope, and
schedule.
3. Accountability – Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.
4. Consistency – Processes and deliverables are standardized, ensuring uniformity.
5. Regulatory Compliance – Heavily documented approach is useful for projects needing audits or
compliance checks.
2. Five Pitfalls & Mitigation
1. Overemphasis on Planning – Too much time may be spent in planning, delaying execution.
Mitigation: Set a strict timeline for the planning phase and prioritize critical requirements.
2. Poor Adaptability – Traditional approaches struggle in dynamic environments.
Mitigation: Introduce change control procedures to adapt while staying structured.
3. Stakeholder Dissatisfaction – End-users might not see progress until very late.
Mitigation: Use periodic demos, even with partial mock-ups, to keep them engaged.
4. Resource Bottlenecks – Specialized roles may slow down progress if one task is delayed.
Mitigation: Cross-train team members to handle multiple tasks.
5. Documentation Overload – Excessive paperwork can burden the team.
Mitigation: Focus only on essential documentation that adds value.
3. Best Practices to Adopt
1. Prioritize critical requirements and lock them early.
2. Schedule frequent stakeholder reviews to validate progress.
3. Maintain strong version control for documents and deliverables.
4. Create contingency plans for schedule or scope risks.
5. Ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly communicated to avoid overlap or gaps.
