Agile & Delivery playbook/Module 1 · Agile foundations

Day 06 / 100 · Agile foundations · Why waterfall still exists

Waterfall isn't evil.

Sequential plans fit some work very well. Knowing when is a delivery skill, not a betrayal of Agile.

Known requirements

Fits

The work has been done many times and won't change.

EXAMPLE

Rolling out a standard phone system.

Hard sequences

Fits

Physical work, lead times and dependencies that can't be reordered.

EXAMPLE

Fibre installs, office moves.

Fixed commitments

Fits

Fixed-scope contracts and regulatory deadlines.

EXAMPLE

A compliance change due by a set date.

Novel work

Doesn't Fit

Unclear users, new technology, lots to learn.

EXAMPLE

A brand-new customer app.

Source: W. W. Royce: Managing the Development of Large Software Systems ↗

Known path: plan it. Unknown path: iterate it.