In any industry, there are various methods for approaching task deadlines to remain within the timeline. It is vital to choose a method that can accommodate challenges faced during the project and reduce time or at least help mitigate any delays. Effective task management is the key to maintaining the project budget and addressing other challenges.
What is Waterfall Project Management?
The waterfall method is the most common project management style used. It follows a linear pattern; i.e., the project moves from one task to the next upon completion, until the end of the project. There is a definitive start and end date for each task, by which the entirety of the work needs to be completed. Timelines are critical and adapting to scope changes may be difficult. When a large change is needed in a project, it can be very time and work-intensive to reach target completion dates.
What is Agile Project Management?
Agile is a cyclical style of project management. A project is broken down into small tasks that are completed and reviewed as the project progresses. Typically, there is a less firm task end date but work progresses on a rolling basis in two-week cycles, with certain tasks due at the end of each cycle. Agile can seem especially daunting when overall project deadlines are approaching but this does not mean that agile can’t be applied; the tools it implements can still be used with great results.
Agile management encompasses a set of twelve principles and four core values. These core values are:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change by following a plan
In the context of our work, these core values can be described best as collaboration, focus on a deliverable, communication, and adaptation.
Comparing Waterfall and Agile Methods in Statistical Programming:
Figure 1. Waterfall Project Progression
Figure 2. Agile Project Progression