Waterfall Software Development

While we pride ourselves on our expertise in agile methodologies such as Scrum, one size does not fit all engagements. With some projects, the traditional waterfall model simply works best. The waterfall methodology is a great way to successfully manage projects that are relatively small in scope or duration, with all functional and non-functional requirements defined in enough detail before any code is written.

Oxagile’s waterfall approach is a well-defined, mature collaboration model that leve­rages our man-centuries of development experience as well as PMBOK® best practices to deliver your product on time, on budget, and with the required level of quality.

Waterfall Distinctives

Waterfall relies on the classic sequential software development paradigm that is easy to understand. Waterfall projects typically share the following characteristics:

A clear-cut project scope

Once the requirements have been defined and agreed upon, the project scope is fixed. Any additional features in the course of the development are processed according to the change control procedure and estimated separately.

Linear software development

Each project phase — such as Elaboration, Implementation, Stabilization, and Transition — is executed only after the previous one has been fully completed. Putting it short, project phases do not overlap.

Detailed documentation

Documentation can either be provided by the customer, or produced during the elaboration stage. All documentation needs to be comprehensive and clear for all parties before the actual implementation can begin.

Waterfall Stages

At Oxagile, each waterfall project is taken through the following four stages: Elaboration, Implementation, Stabilization, and Transition. The Elaboration phase is usually done under a separate contract. At the end of the phase, you will receive a set of deliverables including:

  • An interactive HTML-based product prototype
  • The Expert Estimate document
  • The Software Architecture Document (SAD)
  • The Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document
  • The Master Test Plan and the Project Plan
Waterfall scheme

With the above documentation in place, you will be well-positioned to start the implementation and build your product in a low-risk, predictable way.

Why Waterfall

Works best for simpler projects

Waterfall is a great choice for short-term projects when system requirements and the applied technology are both well-understood.

Easy to understand and manage

In waterfall, each phase has well-defined deliverables linked to specific milestones, which makes scheduling and resourcing easier to manage.

Superior budget control

Waterfall’s linear nature means it’s easier to stay on budget, which could be a critical requirement for some projects.

Extensive documentation

The artifacts produced during the Elaboration phase dramatically facilitate product customization, enhancement, and maintenance down the road.

  • I have no hesitation in recommending Oxagile.

    We worked with the team at Oxagile to broaden our offering to clients in terms of platform stability and a raft of new functionalities.

    The development process was carefully managed and painstakingly executed. The team were very quick to respond to feedback and quietly industrious all through the process.

    I have no hesitation in recommending Oxagile as a highly professional outfit who have worked tirelessly to deliver a stable, shiny product to our valued clients.

    Marcus West
    Founder, CEO, 60SECONDS