Waterfall Project Management: Your Complete Guide (Updated 2024)

The Waterfall project management methodology is a “traditional” PM approach. Created in the 70s, the model is designed for clear-cut, linear projects with upfront requirements and firm milestones. While iterative methodologies like Agile have pushed Waterfall out of software development, the model is still popular in industrial, engineering, and construction projects.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Waterfall methodology! 👇

🤔 What Is the Waterfall Project Management Methodology?

The Waterfall project management methodology is one of the classic takes on project management. Unlike Agile which is iterative and based on cycles, the Waterfall model divides projects into linear, sequential phases that unfold one after another.

The Waterfall approach has been successfully used in:

• 🏗️ Large-scale construction
• 🛠️ Engineering projects
• 🏭 Industrial applications
• 🧑‍💻 Software development

It’s difficult to tell when the Waterfall methodology came on stage. Some attribute it to computer scientist Winston W. Royce and his 1970 article “Managing the Development of Large Software Systems.”⁽¹⁾ While Royce didn’t use the term “waterfall”—it was first recorded in a 1976 paper “Software Requirements: Are They Really a Problem?”⁽²⁾—he set the groundwork for the model.

In Royce’s design, the yet-unnamed approach divided a project into seven phases the project team had to complete in a linear, sequential manner. The flow included System Requirements, Software Requirements, Analysis, Program Design, Coding, Testing, and Operations.

🏔 5 Phases of Waterfall Project Management

Each phase in the Waterfall process is a separate entity. Unlike Agile where there’s room for innovation and flexibility, the Waterfall approach requires the project team to complete phases one after another. These days, most projects use a 5-step process drawn from Royce’s design.

Requirements Phase

During the requirements phase, the project manager gathers and analyzes requirements from clients. The project team then prepares documentation they will use in the next phases. Project requirements in the Waterfall model don’t change, so this is a critical part of the process.

The project requirements document usually includes costs, risks, timelines, and project duration, among other details. The entire team needs to understand those requirements before they can move on. Any omissions and mistakes in this phase can compound in the design and implementation phases. 

Design Phase

With the requirements and documentation in place, the team creates a systems design that will help them meet the client’s expectations. Engineers then come up with a solution to the problem defined in the requirements. The project team also decides on the technology and languages (if it’s a software development project) they will use.

This phase is usually divided into a high-level design phase (HLD) and a low-level design phase (LLD). HLD covers the overall architecture of the end product/service with a brief description of each module. LLD is a detailed plan of how those modules will be implemented and tested.

Coding / Implementation Phase

This is where the real work begins. The project team starts building the actual product/service. In software development, the implementation is usually done in increments (units) that are later integrated. The project team may decide to conduct preliminary testing at this stage.

This is also the most time-consuming part of the process. Depending on the nature of the project, the implementation can be anything from writing source code to pouring the foundation. At this point, the team has an excellent understanding of project requirements.

Verification / Testing Phase 

Once the deliverables are ready, the project team can start looking for bugs and other issues that may plague end users. This is usually the responsibility of the testing team. The verification phase ensures that the product/service works according to initial requirements.

Due diligence during the Requirements and Design helps the project team save time they’d have to spend fixing things after deployment. The better the documentation and project requirements, the shorter the testing phase gets. Testing usually concludes with a test report.

Deployment and Maintenance Phase

In the final phase, the product/service goes live. Once the product is operational and in the hands of users, the project enters a maintenance phase. The team actively works on any outstanding issues missed during testing and pushes updates according to client feedback.

The maintenance stage can last until the product or service is retired. The team may focus on corrective (issues and bugs), adaptive (new features), perfective (user requests), and preventive maintenance. The maintenance phase makes up a substantial part of the project lifecycle.

⚡ The Benefits of Waterfall Project Management

Clear Requirements and Documentation

Diligent research and documentation are key in the Waterfall approach. The process is slower than Agile, but it provides more predictable milestones and outcomes. This helps prevent many of the issues that pop up in iterative models focused on momentum and innovation.

Less Budget and Scope Creep

Methodologies like Scrum often run into scope/budget creep. With milestones and goals set upfront, Waterfall makes it much easier to track progress and stay within set requirements. That makes it a great choice for projects with non-negotiable budgets and fixed timelines. 

A Foundation for Future Projects

The stress on research and planning gives the development team a pool of knowledge they can rely on during Implementation and Maintenance. On top of ongoing support, it also helps create task templates and workflow blueprints for reuse across similar projects in the future.

🌟 Waterfall Project Management Best Practices

Decide if Waterfall Is a Good Match

Before you dive head first into Waterfall (pun not intended), you need to make sure that it’s the right approach for the project at hand. Are the requirements clear enough? Does the project demand high flexibility and continuous iterations? Has the linear, sequential approach worked well in the past?

Choosing the right approach is not an easy task, but making a u-turn mid-project is rarely an option. Keep in mind that there’s no “best” or “worst” methodology. Consider the timeline, nature of the project, the extent of client involvement, and timeline/budget constraints before moving on.

Understand the Requirements

Project phases in the Waterfall methodology unfold sequentially. That means you can’t move back and forth to make adjustments and react to fluctuating requirements. It’s important to do all the research upfront and thoroughly understand client expectations before implementing deliverables.

Remember that testing and actual customer feedback comes at the very end of the Waterfall model. Customer satisfaction is the priority, so focus on careful planning, documentation, and following the process. All that will ensure that the end product/service is as close to perfection as possible.

Plan and Organize

The Waterfall methodology makes planning and preparation a breeze. With all the requirements available from day one, there’s little ambiguity about due dates and timelines. Make sure to work with clients, scope their expectations, and create realistic deadlines for each phase of the project.

👎 The Disadvantages of the Waterfall Approach

Of course, even the best free project management apps won’t help much if the workflow is full of potholes. And the Waterfall model isn’t exactly pitch-perfect. Here’s what you should keep in mind.

Lack of Flexibility

Unlike Agile project management, Waterfall offers limited flexibility. Project phases are sequential so it’s much more difficult to adapt to changing requirements. Just imagine building a massive bridge that’s too narrow to handle the traffic. Once you’re past the Design phase, it’s already too late.

Careful planning, diligent research, and quality documentation are key. But the requirements are not always clear from day one. Clients may decide to move in a different direction, prioritize different features, or challenge design choices agreed on in the initial phases of the project.

If the requirements change mid-project, the project team usually has to go back to the drawing board and rework the design to match new specs. This is time-consuming and expensive.

Compounding Problems

Research is a key ingredient in the Waterfall model, and so is due diligence. Initial research will serve as a reference point for the project team throughout the entire project lifecycle. If the project team doesn’t apply diligence early on, the issues can quickly compound down the road.

Poor documentation and poorly formulated requirements may lead to mistakes in the implementation phase. While you can fix small bugs and issues in testing, the Waterfall leaves no place for backtracking. Major design flaws may lead to delays or project failure. 

Of course, there are also external forces the project team can’t fully control. Sometimes the client may struggle to accurately describe the end product or service at the early stage. They may prefer to offer a rough draft and refine the vision as the project unfolds. This is not possible in the Waterfall model.

🐑 How to Use Waterfall Project Management in Taskade

Whether you want to go the Waterfall route or adopt a hybrid approach (a.k.a. “WAgile” or “Agifall”), Taskade will help get work done.

From research, gathering requirements, and writing documentation to setting milestones and tracking progress, we have you covered.

Here’s what you need to know.

Research and Discuss Specs

Meticulous documentation is an invaluable resource during all kinds of Waterfall projects. Taskade lets you organize project documentation, requirements, specifications, and other resources in one place. 

• 💬 Chat and add comments: Collaborate and chat with your team in the same window in one app. Start a video conference, jump on a call, and chat in real-time as you write specs, upload documents, and manage tasks. Need an extra bit of context? Leave a project comment instead.
• 🧠 Build a single source of truth: Don’t like starting from scratch? Taskade features 300+ quality templates you can use to get your projects off the ground. You can even create your own Waterfall blueprint so it’s easier to tackle similar projects in the future.

Define Milestones and Track Progress

Where is your project going? How will you get there? Who is responsible for key deliverables? Managing large, multi-layers projects can be difficult. That’s why Taskade makes it super easy to schedule action items, track progress, assign tasks, and keep everybody on the same page. 

• 🗓️ Set due dates and assign tasks: Taskade lets you assign tasks to project team members, set due dates, and track all the moving parts in a Shared Calendar or on a convenient Roadmap. Assigned tasks are also visible in a master agenda (My Tasks).
• 🔔 Stay in the know with notifications: Do you want to stay on top of project updates like comments, @mentions, and completed tasks? You can customize push notifications on a Workspace, Folder, and Project level so nothing slips through the cracks again.

Work in Hierarchies

Cramming project resources into walls of text isn’t the most effective approach. Taskade lets you transform projects and visualize workflows in several ways, all thanks to the power of databases.

• 👁️ Toggle Project views: Even if you’re a firm believer in the Waterfall methodology, you can still think outside the box. Toggle between a list, org chart, board, calendar, mind map, and action view to view your project from a different perspective. 
• 👑 Create a hierarchy of tasks: Every task in Taskade can have an unlimited number of sub-tasks, each with its own dependent tasks on infinite levels. That means your projects can be as simple or as complex as you need. Isn’t that fun? 🙂

👋 Partings Words

These days, most software teams use fast, iterative approaches like Agile and Scrum. After all, Sprints are the thing in a fast-paced environment where shifting requirements and quick fixes are the norm. But that doesn’t mean Waterfall is already out of the picture.

Many businesses stick to the Waterfall approach, and for good reasons. Waterfall projects are predictable, produce high-quality deliverables, and face fewer issues and bugs compared to other models. They’re also less likely to suffer from scope and budget creep.

“So, is Waterfall the right approach for my project?” If you still haven’t decided, check the FAQ section below where we answer some of the most popular questions about the Waterfall model.

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And much more…

💬 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

🔗 Resources

1. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Managing-the-development-of-large-software-systems%3A-Royce/4afe47371b891778c6cc6fa401bfc1673ea0d63f
2. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Software-requirements%3A-Are-they-really-a-problem-Bell-Thayer/0527650938389231472a4b87292bc8b5635d55d3
3. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waterfall_model.svg