What Is Waterfall Software Development

What Is Waterfall Software Development?

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Waterfall software development, a structured approach to project management, has long been a mainstay in the industry. Even though many organizations now have access to new technologies, a surprising statistic reveals that 22% of legacy systems primarily use the waterfall model. This methodology breaks down the development process into distinct, sequential phases, offering a clear roadmap from concept to completion. This article delves into the intricacies of the waterfall model, exploring its advantages and potential limitations.

What is Waterfall Software Development?

Waterfall software development, also known as the waterfall SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle), is a structured project management approach widely used in software engineering. It follows a linear sequence, where requirements are gathered upfront and a detailed plan is created to meet those needs. Each phase, like requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment, flows into the next in a sequential manner, resembling a waterfall. This thorough and traditional methodology ensures a clear roadmap for software projects

Software Development  Life Cycle Waterfall Method: The Pros and Cons

Advantages

1. Uses clear structure

Unlike some project management methods, waterfall methodology prioritizes a clearly defined sequence of steps. Each stage, from capturing requirements to final maintenance, follows a logical progression. This structured approach allows for early detection of any hurdles, as teams must fully complete one step before moving on. 

By minimizing the risk of unfinished work, waterfall software development helps ensure projects reach completion as polished and well-rounded products. Additionally, waterfall methodology’s intuitive structure makes it user-friendly. Unlike methodologies like Six Sigma or Scrum, there’s no need for extensive training or certifications. 

2. Determines the end goal early

A key aspect of waterfall software development is locking in a well-defined final product, goal, or deliverable right from the start. This commitment helps teams stay on track and avoid distractions. For smaller projects with clear objectives, software development life cycle waterfall model excels at keeping everyone focused on the big picture from the outset. This minimizes the risk of getting sidetracked by details as the project unfolds.

Compared to Scrum, which breaks projects into smaller, iterative sprints, software development life cycle waterfall excels at maintaining a laser focus on the ultimate objective. If your team has a well-defined goal with a clear deadline, software development life cycle waterfall streamlines the process, minimizing the risk of getting bogged down in complexities along the way.

3. Transfers information well

Waterfall’s step-by-step approach relies heavily on clear communication between project stages. In software development, different teams often specialize in specific phases. Even within a single company, personnel changes can occur. To bridge these gaps, software development life cycle waterfall prioritizes thorough documentation throughout the entire project lifecycle. This way, new team members, no matter when they join, can get up to speed quickly by understanding the project’s background and progress through detailed documentation.

Disadvantages

1. Makes changes difficult

Waterfall software development’s strength, its adherence to a defined sequence, can also be its weakness. While it keeps teams moving forward, it leaves little room for surprises. Imagine diligently following the waterfall steps until the finish line, only to encounter an unforeseen obstacle requiring a shift in goals. The rigid structure makes pivoting difficult. All the work completed under specific assumptions could be rendered irrelevant, derailing the entire timeline. For projects prone to change, consider a more flexible approach. Instead of waiting for the end to revisit plans, incorporate opportunities for reflection and revision throughout the software development life cycle waterfall process. 

2. Excludes the client and/or end user

While waterfall model excels at streamlining internal workflows, it can struggle with client or end-user engagement. Traditionally, its focus has been on optimizing internal team progress through project phases. This might be suitable for software development, but in other industries, clients often desire ongoing involvement. They may want to provide feedback and refine their needs as the project progresses.

If your project has well-defined, unwavering goals from the outset, and keeping clients or end-users updated throughout development isn’t crucial, waterfall software development might be a good fit. However, for projects requiring flexibility and continuous stakeholder communication, consider agile methodologies. 

3. Delays testing until after completion

One of waterfall’s major drawbacks is its approach to testing. Delaying testing until the later stages, typically the fourth step out of six, introduces significant risk.  Imagine developing a website – in waterfall software development,  you wouldn’t show the design to the client until halfway through! This applies across industries; testing could be user testing a new product or A/B testing marketing content. By the time testing happens in waterfall, the project has likely taken considerable time, and major issues might necessitate significant delays to fix.

The Agile methodology emerged as a direct response to this limitation. Critics argued that Waterfall allowed problems to remain hidden until late in the project, forcing costly and time-consuming rework. If frequent testing aligns better with your needs, integrate it at the end of each stage in Waterfall, or consider adopting a different project management approach that encourages ongoing evaluation and adjustments throughout the process.

5 Common Stages in Software Development Life Cycle Waterfall 

The waterfall methodology is a structured approach to project management, broken down into five distinct stages: requirements, design, implementation, verification, and maintenance. Let’s delve into each of these phases and explore why completing each one thoroughly before moving on is essential.

1. Requirements

The requirements phase lays the groundwork for your project by defining what the system should achieve. This stage involves mapping out the project’s scope, considering everything from business goals to user expectations. Ideally, requirements should outline:

  • The resources needed to complete the project
  • Team member responsibilities and when they’ll be involved
  • A project timeline with estimated durations for each stage
  • Specific details for each step of the process

2. Design

With all the requirements gathered, the project moves into the design phase. This is where designers take center stage, translating the needs into tangible solutions. Their tasks involve:

  • Crafting a roadmap: This includes defining project schedules and key milestones to keep things on track.
  • Pinpointing deliverables: The exact outputs or products the design phase will produce are clearly identified.
  • Bringing ideas to life: Designers use their expertise to create visual representations or blueprints for the deliverables.

The nature of these deliverables can vary greatly. They could be software applications or even physical products.  For software, designers might map out the system’s architecture and outline potential use cases. On the other hand, if the project involves a physical product, designers would determine its precise specifications for manufacturing.

3. Implementation

With the design locked in and approved, the baton is passed to the development team for construction. This handoff involves designers providing detailed specifications to developers who then:

  • Craft an implementation plan: This roadmap outlines the steps needed to bring the design to life.
  • Gather necessary resources: Developers ensure they have all the data, research, and tools needed for successful construction.
  • Divide and conquer: Tasks are assigned to team members, and resources are allocated efficiently.

It’s important to note that during this stage, developers might encounter design elements that are technically infeasible. If these limitations are significant, it might be necessary to revisit the design phase and make adjustments before moving forward.

4. Verification

Once the code is built, a crucial step ensures a smooth user experience: quality assurance (QA).  QA testers play a vital role in identifying and preventing bugs before the product reaches customers. They achieve this by:

  • Crafting test cases: These are detailed scenarios that simulate how users will interact with the product, uncovering potential problems.
  • Meticulously documenting issues: Bugs and errors are identified and clearly documented, ensuring developers can address them effectively.
  • Methodical testing: QA testers don’t overwhelm the system with all tests at once. They systematically test each aspect one by one for a more thorough analysis.
  • Defining relevant metrics: Specific quality assurance metrics are chosen to track the effectiveness of the testing process.
  • Encompassing diverse scenarios: Testing goes beyond typical use cases. QA testers envision various user interactions and test the product in different environments to guarantee its robustness.

5. Maintenance

The development process doesn’t end with launch in Waterfall. Developers may need to fix bugs  after release, prompted by customer feedback reported to support. The team then addresses these issues and releases new versions. This iterative cycle emphasizes the interconnectedness of stages. Errors in one phase can ripple through the entire process.

For instance, imagine a stakeholder requesting a new feature during the final verification stage. In waterfall’s rigid structure, this could necessitate a significant backtrack. Re-examining the entire project might even require scrapping significant work and starting over.

With expertise in various methodologies including Waterfall and Agile, AGEST can be valuable partners for businesses seeking the right IT outsourcing solution. AGEST’s experience allows them to assess your project’s unique requirements and recommend the most suitable development approach.  Whether your project demands the clear roadmap and upfront planning of Waterfall or the flexibility and adaptability of Agile, AGEST can guide you through the process and ensure a successful outcome.

In Conclusion

The Waterfall model, a pioneer in software development, remains popular due to its clear, step-by-step approach with a logical flow of information. This allows developers to grasp requirements early on, guiding the entire process. However, its inflexibility lies in its resistance to frequent changes. These limitations paved the way for alternative models like Agile.

Selecting the best approach depends heavily on project specifics like resource availability and detailed requirements. Despite its limitations, Waterfall’s popularity persists, especially for smaller-scale projects.

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SATOSHI FURUI - AGEST Vietnam - Chairman

Satoshi Furui – Chủ tịch của AGEST Việt Nam. Với hơn 30 năm kinh nghiệm sâu rộng trong ngành phần mềm máy tính, cùng với kỹ năng quản lý doanh nghiệp, phát triển kinh doanh, chiến lược tiếp cận thị trường, quan hệ đối tác chiến lược và xây dựng nhóm trong các lĩnh vực tự động hóa kiểm thử phần mềm, QA, phát triển phần mềm, CAE và tối ưu hóa. Ông đã từng là giám đốc điều hành tại Nhật Bản, Hoa Kỳ, Bỉ, Vương quốc Anh và Hàn Quốc và cũng là Tổng giám đốc điều hành của LogiGear Corporation kể từ tháng 8 năm 2023.

Vu Nguyen

Director of Information Technology

Vu Nguyen is a seasoned IT professional with a proven leadership and innovation track record in technology. Currently serving as the Director of Information Technology of AGEST Vietnam (AGV), Vu brings experience, drives IT strategy and ensures seamless technological operations for the company and its local and global affiliates.

Vu has always demonstrated a passion for leveraging technology to solve complex challenges and improve business processes throughout his career. Before joining AGEST VN (former name LogiGear VN) in 2008, he held key roles in various IT capacities.

Besides a bachelor in IT, Vu holds a bachelor in business administration from the University of the People (USA). This academic background, combined with his extensive experience in information technology, positions Vu as a well-rounded leader with a comprehensive understanding of business and technology.

Vũ Nguyễn

Giám đốc CNTT

Ông Vũ Nguyễn là một chuyên gia CNTT dày dạn kinh nghiệm với khả năng lãnh đạo và đổi mới công nghệ đã được chứng minh. Với chức vụ Giám đốc Công nghệ Thông tin của AGEST Việt Nam (AGV), ông Vũ Nguyễn mang đến kinh nghiệm, thúc đẩy chiến lược CNTT và đảm bảo hoạt động công nghệ liền mạch cho công ty cũng như các chi nhánh trong nước và toàn cầu.

Ông Vũ Nguyễn luôn thể hiện niềm đam mê tận dụng công nghệ để giải quyết những thách thức phức tạp và cải thiện quy trình kinh doanh trong suốt sự nghiệp của mình. Trước khi gia nhập AGEST Việt Nam (tên cũ là LogiGear VN) vào năm 2008, ông giữ các vai trò chủ chốt ở nhiều vị trí CNTT khác nhau.

Ngoài bằng cử nhân CNTT, ông Vũ còn có bằng cử nhân quản trị kinh doanh của UoP (Mỹ). Nền tảng học vấn này, kết hợp với kinh nghiệm sâu rộng về công nghệ thông tin, giúp ông Vũ trở thành một nhà lãnh đạo toàn diện với hiểu biết toàn diện về kinh doanh và công nghệ.

Tam Phan

Director of Japan Business Development

Tam Phan has over 16 years of experience in the tech industry and is a seasoned professional. Tam developed a passion for technology from a young age and was raised in Tokyo, Japan. He earned his degree in Computer Science from the University of HoChiMinh City, where his academic excellence laid the foundation for his future success. Throughout his career, he has a proven track record of meeting customer project needs.

Tam focuses on sourcing software development resources and solutions as well as software design, consulting, and other software-related activities. His early experiences gave him a comprehensive understanding of software development, system architecture, and project management. He has shown excellent leadership skills over the years, guiding teams through complex projects and fostering a collaborative work environment.

He quickly rose through the ranks due to his commitment to innovation and ability to foresee industry trends. As the Head of Engineering, he plays a crucial role in shaping the company’s technological landscape by overseeing the development of cutting-edge solutions that meet the ever-evolving needs of the digital world. Tam is known for his strategic vision and hands-on approach.

He has successfully led his team in implementing transformative technologies to deliver large-scale software projects in various domains, including education, eCommerce, and automobile. Tam held key managerial positions at leading Japanese companies in Japan and Vietnam before joining AGT.

Tam’s story is about his dedication, innovation, and leadership, which have made him a prominent figure in the IT landscape.

He received a certificate in Software Design from The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships, Japan (AOTS) in 2007.

Tâm Phan

Giám đốc kinh doanh - Thị trường Nhật Bản

Ông Tâm Phan là một chuyên gia giàu kinh nghiệm với hơn 16 năm cống hiến cho ngành công nghệ. Sinh ra và lớn lên tại Tokyo, Nhật Bản, ông Tâm đã nuôi dưỡng đam mê với công nghệ từ nhỏ. Ông Tâm tốt nghiệp chuyên ngành Khoa học Máy tính tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, nơi thành tích học tập ưu tú của ông đã đặt nền móng cho sự thành công trong tương lai. Trong quãng đời nghề nghiệp của mình, ông Tâm đã chứng minh được khả năng đáp ứng mọi yêu cầu của dự án từ phía khách hàng.

Ông Tâm đã tập trung mạnh mẽ vào việc đảm bảo nguồn cung ứng linh hoạt của tài nguyên và phương pháp phát triển phần mềm, cùng việc tham gia vào quá trình thiết kế, tư vấn phần mềm, và các hoạt động liên quan khác trong lĩnh vực phần mềm. Những kinh nghiệm ban đầu của ông đã mang lại cho ông sự hiểu biết toàn diện về phát triển phần mềm, kiến trúc hệ thống và quản lý dự án. Ông đã thể hiện kỹ năng lãnh đạo xuất sắc trong nhiều năm, hướng dẫn các nhóm thực hiện các dự án phức tạp và thúc đẩy môi trường làm việc hợp tác.

Ông Tâm nhanh chóng thăng tiến nhờ vào khả năng đoán trước các xu hướng của ngành. Với tư cách là Giám đốc Kỹ thuật, ông đóng vai trò quan trọng trong việc định hình bối cảnh công nghệ của công ty bằng cách giám sát việc phát triển các giải pháp tiên tiến đáp ứng nhu cầu ngày càng phát triển của thế giới kỹ thuật số.

Ông đã lãnh đạo thành công nhóm của mình trong việc triển khai các công nghệ biến đổi để cung cấp các dự án phần mềm quy mô lớn trong nhiều lĩnh vực khác nhau, bao gồm giáo dục, Thương mại điện tử và ô tô. Ông Tâm từng đảm nhiệm các vị trí quản lý chủ chốt tại các công ty hàng đầu Nhật Bản tại Nhật Bản và Việt Nam trước khi gia nhập AGT. Câu chuyện của ông Tâm kể về sự cống hiến, sự đổi mới và khả năng lãnh đạo của ông đã khiến ông trở thành một nhân vật nổi bật trong lĩnh vực CNTT. Ông nhận được chứng chỉ về Thiết kế phần mềm từ Hiệp hội Hợp tác Kỹ thuật Nước ngoài và Quan hệ Đối tác Bền vững, Nhật Bản (AOTS) vào năm 2007.
LONG VUONG - AGEST Vietnam - COO

Long Vuong is the COO of AGEST Vietnam (AGV). He has 30-year+ experience in the corporate world. Prior to joining AGV in 2010, he had been holding multiple leadership roles including General Manager cum Chief Accountant for a 500-staff Belgian diamond company for 15 years, and Director of Operations for a 100-staff publishing company for 2 years. Long has a great network in the IT community, associations, and academia in Vietnam.

Long occasionally participates in studies in management science at national and institution levels, teaches and speaks at universities and conferences on various topics of his expertise. He also makes writing and translating his hobby in free time. A few books he translated and published: Nudge (Richard Thaler’s 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics), Classic Drucker, The Future Leader (Top-10 leadership books 2023), Smart Trust, The Snowball, and 30+ other leadership/management books. Long was awarded an Excellence Prize (2016) in Tokyo by the Japan Foreign Trade Council for his writing on the role of Japanese companies in global trade. He is currently the President of the EMBA Alumni of UEH University.

Long holds an Executive MBA degree (valedictorian), a BA in finance & accounting, and a BA in English linguistics.

SATOSHI FURUI - AGEST Vietnam - Chairman

Satoshi Furui is the Chairman of AGEST Vietnam. With over 30 years of extensive experience in the computer software industry, he is skilled in company management, business development, go-to-market strategies, strategic partnerships, and team building in the areas of software test automation, QA, software development, CAE, and optimization. He has served as an executive director in Japan, USA, Belgium, UK and Korea and has also served as CEO of LogiGear Corporation since August 2023.

MIZUIDEI TAMAKI AGEST Vietnam - CEO
Mizuide Tamaki, CFA, received his Master of Engineering in Applied Physics from Tohoku University in March 1990.

He joined a major Japanese bank, and was engaged in development of financial engineering products, then became Chief Manager of Risk Management Department in Singapore and Compliance Department at HQs Tokyo.

After 28 years of banking life, he moved to a Japanese car seat manufacturer who wanted to set up a new factory in Asia, where he became the local General Director. After establishing a factory near Hanoi, he joined Digital Hearts Holdings for another opportunity and was transferred to Ho Chi Minh as ex-LogiGear Vietnam’s (now AGEST Vietnam) Japan Business Head.

In February 2023, he took LogiGear Vietnam GD role, now CEO and GD of AGEST Vietnam.

Khuong Ngo

General Manager/AGV-Saigon (Test)

Khuong Ngo is the General Manager of AGEST Vietnam (AGV)-HCM, in charge of Software Test Division and Test Center of Excellence.  His responsibility includes business development, resource capability development and testing service delivery management. Besides, he also leads the innovation and technology research activities for new software testing methodologies on a companywide scale.

Khuong joined AGV under its former name “LogiGear Vietnam” since 2005 as a Software Developer for TestArchitect™, the action-based automation software testing tool, in its very first version. Khuong is a well-proven Project Management Professional (PMP). Khuong spent some time in LogiGear Headquarters, CA, USA in 2015, where he got trained of management and leadership in software outsourcing business. Over 18 years functioning in various technical and management positions, Khuong is now a key member of the senior management team of AGV.

Khuong holds a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering by the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science.

Yen Nguyen

Financial Controller

Yen Nguyen is a core member of the senior management team of AGEST Viet Nam (AGV). She joined the company in 2010 when it was operating under the name of LogiGear Vietnam. Since then she has made her concrete career development with AGV through different roles and responsibilities: Accounting Clerk, Accountant, General Accountant, Chief Accountant, and Financial Controller at present. Besides, she oversees the corporate legal area of AGV in Vietnam.

In the role of a Financial Controller, Yen looks after all accounting/finance related activities, including cost accounting, managerial accounting, and budgeting. She assists the BOD and division heads with preparation and implementation of annual operating budgets, oversees the preparation of financial reports, monitors the internal and external compliance as well as conducting internal audits, due diligences, and spontaneous reports from time to time.

Yen holds a bachelor degree in accounting and a bachelor degree in Business English. She also earned a good number of professional certificates such as Certificate of Chief Accountant; Banking and Finance English; Marketing and Branding Management; and Public and Media Relations along her career journey.

Thanh Pham

General Manager/AGV-Hanoi

Thanh Pham is a General Manager of AGEST Vietnam (AGV), manages DX development center (Hanoi branch). He has 17 years of experience in the tech industry and is a seasoned professional.


Thanh Pham having worked for a Japanese company for two and a half years at the beginning of his professional career, he has been familiar with Japanese business culture and practices. Since then, he has gained experience, knowledge, skills, and climbed the ladder of his business career from BrSE to DM, and now GM.

Tam Pham

Director of Japan Business QA

Tam Pham is currently the Director of Japan Business QA of AGEST Vietnam (AGV). Tam joined AGV since 2011 when it was operated in Vietnam under the name of LogiGear Vietnam.

Tam has spent over 15 years in outsourcing software development, he plays multiple roles such as: Software Developer, Project Technical Leader, Test Leader, Project Manager, Delivery Manager, Engineering Manager, and Director. He worked a few years in Japan in 2007 and 2015. He also traveled to and got trained at LogiGear Headquarters, CA, USA for a while in 2016. This brought him a solid experience related to management and leadership in software outsourcing.

Tam enjoys great time as a R&D leader to research and develop automation testing product. For all of his career, Tam has been interested in software design, test automation and the state of the art of software craftsmanship. Tam has introduced his first line of code since 2001 and got engineer’s degree of Information Technology from Da Nang University of Science and Technology in 2006.

Thang Nguyen

General Manager, AGV Danang

Thang Nguyen is a seasoned professional with 17 years of dedicated service to AGEST Vietnam. Currently serving as the General Manager of AGEST Vietnam’s Danang branch, Thang’s expertise and leadership have played a pivotal role in the company’s success. With a background in Computer Science from the University of Madras in India, he has honed his skills and knowledge to excel in his career.

Thang’s journey within AGEST Vietnam has seen him take on diverse roles, culminating in his current position. Notably, he led the quality team for TestArchitect, a flagship product of AGEST Vietnam. His contributions to TestArchitect, a renowned automation tool acclaimed for its ability to automate a wide array of common AUT technologies, including Web, Desktop (.Net, Java, etc.), Web Services, Databases, and Images, have been instrumental in enhancing the product’s standing in the industry.

Thang Nguyen’s commitment, expertise, and leadership exemplify his invaluable contributions to AGEST Vietnam’s growth and success. As General Manager of AGV-Danang, his vision and dedication continue to drive the branch forward, setting new standards for excellence within the AGEST Vietnam.