Agile vs. Waterfall vs. Hybrid – What is the right methodology for a cloud deployment project? It relies on several factors. Your project and the skill of the developer decide which is better for you.

While many companies prefer the popular method of Agile or Waterfall regarding software development, Hybrid methodology is becoming more important these days.

In this article, we will compare the three methodologies to help you decide the best approach to use for your project.

Agile

Agile is an incremental and iterative process that provides the customer with early visibility into the build of the product and allows the customer to play a key role in the build phase. 

Budgets and timelines cannot be set in a strictly Agile project because the scope needs to be clearly defined. Delivering the business value features in a quick incremental approach is prioritized.

Advantages of Agile

  • Requirements can be modified and improved along the route.
  • As the project advances, functionality can be easily added or removed.
  • Early bugs are identified and fixed.
  • The customer is allowed to provide feedback after each sprint before the project is completed.

Disadvantages of Agile

  • Establishing a budget and timeline is impossible because the scope needs to be specified.
  • If minimal attention is paid to the documentation, problems may arise during project support. This especially arises when the core project team needs to be present.
  • Pure Agile functions poorly while working on change projects but functions great when creating products.

Waterfall

The waterfall is a well-structured, thoroughly documented, predetermined scope and sequential process for carrying out a project. Here, the customer reviews and approves each step.

As a result, Waterfall effectively works for a project where the requirement is considered at its higher level of features.

Advantages of Waterfall

  • The Waterfall methodology determines the project’s size, duration, and cost.
  • Along the way, every step is meticulously documented. Therefore, it should only affect the project if you find yourself needing more than one developer.
  • If you intend to update your program later, the complete documentation makes it simple to update.

Disadvantages of Waterfall

  • As the scope changes, Waterfall often becomes stiff.
  • After the requirement is met, the customer can see the finished product once the trial is complete.
  • If the requirements are unclear at starting a complicated cloud deployment project, the project may be headed for disaster.

Hybrid

The Hybrid methodology combines the Waterfall and Agile frameworks. It takes the benefits of both methodologies while lowering their demerits.

Requirements gathering, design & construction are used here as phases of the Waterfall methodology. We employ an Agile approach, namely the Sprint technique, to construct the features during the design and construction phase.

The scope is set in the requirements phase so the implementation partner can provide the projected cost and time frame within a certain tolerance and understand what must be delivered.

Advantages of Hybrid

  • Timeline, cost, and scope are specified.
  • Ideal for difficult cloud transformation initiatives when the scope still needs to be fully established.
  • Advance visibility.
  • Less harsh. Minor to moderate modifications may be accommodated after considering consumer comments.
  • The team easily supports the project because it is well-documented.

Agile vs. Waterfall vs Hybrid: Which is the Best Methodology?

The Agile and Waterfall approach offers insightful information, but the best methodology for your business is a hybrid combining the Agile and Waterfall structure.

Which technique is ideal for your software development project will influence if it is completed successfully. A good approach aids teams in staying on task, producing usable products, and staying within budget.

Even though your teams are used to an Agile technique, a short, straightforward project could benefit from a Waterfall model.

  • Utility of Waterfall

If you want to fulfill your project with strict guidelines, it is better to choose the Waterfall technique because it demands deliverables for each phase before going to the next phase.

  • Utility of Agile

If you want to move rapidly and experiment with direction, Agile will be the right choice for you. Agile promotes flexibility and reduces risk.

  • Utility of Hybrid

In a Hybrid technique, you can get the thorough planning of a Waterfall approach with the adaptability of the Agile method.

With Hybrid project management, you can blend approaches to come up with something that is even more effective for your project.

Hybrid is Best Suited  

Choose the waterfall method if you want a clear vision, a limited scope, and minimum impact on stakeholders. Agile can be used if you don’t want to start with anything fixed in stone. 

Agile guarantees that you can alter it whenever you want. And if you wish to get the best of both the approaches – Agile and Waterfall, in that case, the Hybrid is best suited.

Conclusion

If your team has a good skill set, the three methodologies will fit your project well. Before implementing any methodology, you should consider several factors, such as the context of your project, whether the methodology is set like a stone or unclear, the skill sets of your team, and so on. Then select any methodology that best suits your project needs.