Comparing Waterfall and Agile approaches

Now that you know more about some of the different approaches and frameworks associated with
project management, let's compare specific aspects of Waterfall (also commonly called traditional)
and Agile approaches. 
 Understanding the fundamentals of—and differences between—these common project management
approaches can help you demonstrate your project management knowledge during an interview. It
can also help you evaluate a project to determine the right approach when working on the job.

Waterfall and Agile are implemented in many different ways on many different projects, and some
projects may use aspects of each. The chart below briefly describes and compares Waterfall and
Agile approaches. You can use it as a quick reference tool, but be aware that in practice, the
differences between these two approaches may not always be clearly defined. Waterfall and Agile
Comparison

Waterfall Agile
Agile project manager (or Scrum
Project manager serves as an active Master) acts primarily as a facilitator,
Project
leader by prioritizing and assigning tasks removing any barriers the team faces.
manager's role
to team members. Team shares more responsibility in
managing their own work.  
Project deliverables and plans are well- Planning happens in shorter iterations
established and documented in the early and focuses on delivering value quickly.
Scope stages of initiating and planning. Subsequent iterations are adjusted in
Changes go through a formal change response to feedback or unforeseen
request process. issues.
Time is organized into phases called
Follows a mostly linear path through the
Sprints. Each Sprint has a defined
Schedule initiating, planning, executing, and
duration, with a set list of deliverables
closing phases of the project.  
planned at the start of the Sprint.
Costs are kept under control by careful
Costs and schedule could change with
Cost estimation up front and close monitoring
each iteration.
throughout the life cycle of the project.
Team solicits ongoing stakeholder input
Project manager makes plans and clearly
and user feedback by testing products
Quality defines criteria to measure quality at the
in the field and regularly implementing
beginning of the project.
improvements.
Project manager continually
communicates progress toward
Team is customer-focused, with
milestones and other key indicators to
Communication consistent communication between
stakeholders, ensuring that the project is
users and the project team.
on track to meet the customer’s
expectations.
Team frequently provides deliverables
Project manager continually manages
to stakeholders throughout the project.
Stakeholders and monitors stakeholder engagement to
Progress toward milestones is
ensure the project is on track.
dependent upon stakeholder feedback.
Now that you better understand the differences between Waterfall and Agile project management
approaches, you can use this understanding to determine which is most effective for your projects.
 Lean and Six Sigma methodologies
Previously you learned about Agile and Waterfall project management approaches. Now, we will
define some key concepts from Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. We will learn how these
methodologies can be used to organize and manage your projects, and we will discuss which is the
most effective for different kinds of projects.   

Lean
Lean methodology is often referred to as Lean Manufacturing because it originated in the
manufacturing world. The main principle in Lean methodology is the removal of waste within an
operation. By optimizing process steps and eliminating waste, only value is added at each phase of
production.  

Today, the Lean Manufacturing methodology recognizes eight types of waste within an operation:
defects, excess processing, overproduction, waiting, inventory, transportation, motion, and non-
utilized talent. In the manufacturing industry, these types of waste are often attributed to issues such
as: 

 Lack of proper documentation

 Lack of process standards
 Not understanding the customers’ needs
 Lack of effective communication
 Lack of process control
 Inefficient process design
 Failures of management
These same issues create waste in project management. 

Implement Lean project management when you want to use limited resources, reduce waste, and
streamline processes to gain maximum benefits. 

You can achieve this by using the pillars of the Lean 5S quality tool. The term 5S refers to the five
pillars that are required for good housekeeping: sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain.
Implementing the 5S method means cleaning up and organizing the workplace to achieve the
smallest amount of wasted time and material. The 5S method includes these five steps: 

1. Sort: Remove all items not needed for current production operations and leave only the bare
essentials. 
2. Set in order: Arrange needed items so that they are easy to use. Label items so that anyone can find
them or put them away. 
3. Shine: Keep everything in the correct place. Clean your workspace every day.
4. Standardize: Perform the process in the same way every time. 
5. Sustain: Make a habit of maintaining correct procedures and instill this discipline in your team.
Within the Lean methodology, 5S helps you boost performance.

The final concept of Lean uses a Kanban scheduling system to manage production. The Kanban
scheduling system, or Kanban board, is a visualization tool that enables you to optimize the flow of
your team’s work. It gives the team a visual display to identify what needs to be done and when. The
Kanban board uses cards that are moved from left to right to show progress and help your team
coordinate the work. 
 Kanban boards and 5S are core methods of the Lean methodology. They can help you successfully
manage your project. Now let’s analyze the Six Sigma method and learn when is the best time to
use it. 

Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a methodology used to reduce variations by ensuring that quality processes are
followed every time. The term “Six Sigma” originates from statistics and generally means that items
or processes should have 99.9996% quality.

The seven key principles of Six Sigma are:

1. Always focus on the customer.

2. Identify and understand how the work gets done. Understand how work really happens.
3. Make your processes flow smoothly.
4. Reduce waste and concentrate on value.
5. Stop defects by removing variation.
6. Involve and collaborate with your team.
7. Approach improvement activity in a systematic way.
Use this methodology to find aspects of the product or process that are measurable like time, cost,
or quantity. Then inspect that measurable item and reject any products that do not meet the Six
Sigma standard. Any process that created unacceptable products has to be improved upon.  

Now that you understand both Lean and Six Sigma, let's see how they come together to improve the
performance of your project!

Lean Six Sigma 

After both Lean and Six Sigma were put into practice, it was discovered that the two methodologies
could be combined to increase benefits. The tools used in Lean, such as Kanban boards and 5S,
build quality in processes from the beginning. Products developed using Lean methods are then
inspected or tested using Six Sigma standards. The products that do not meet these standards are
rejected. 

The largest difference between these methodologies is that Lean streamlines processes while Six
Sigma reduces variation in products by building in quality from the beginning and inspecting
products to ensure quality standards are met. You may find that one of these two methods—or using
them both together—can improve the efficiency of your projects. 
Common project management approaches
and how to select one
You have been learning a lot about different project management approaches and when
to use them. In this reading, we will briefly recap some of the most common ones and
recommend a couple of articles with supporting information. You’ll continue to learn
more about these approaches throughout this certificate program. 

Popular project management approaches

Below is a brief recap of some of the project management approaches you’ve been
introduced to so far:

Waterfall is a traditional methodology in which tasks and phases are completed in a

linear, sequential manner, and each stage of the project must be completed before the
next begins. The project manager is responsible for prioritizing and assigning tasks to
team members. In Waterfall, the criteria used to measure quality is clearly defined at the
beginning of the project.

Agile involves short phases of collaborative, iterative work with frequent testing and
regularly-implemented improvements. Some phases and tasks happen at the same time
as others. In Agile projects, teams share responsibility for managing their own work.
Scrum and Kanban are examples of Agile frameworks, which are specific development
approaches based on the Agile philosophy.

Scrum is an Agile framework that focuses on developing, delivering, and sustaining

complex projects and products through collaboration, accountability, and an iterative
process. Work is completed by small, cross-functional teams led by a Scrum Master
and is divided into short Sprints with a set list of deliverables.

Kanban is a tool used in both Agile and Lean approaches that provides visual feedback
about the status of the work in progress through the use of Kanban boards or charts.
With Kanban, project managers use sticky notes or note cards on a physical or digital
Kanban board to represent the team’s tasks with categories like “To do,” “In progress,”
and “Done.”

Lean uses the 5S quality tool to eliminate eight areas of waste, save money, improve
quality, and streamline processes. Lean’s principles state that you can do more with
less by addressing dysfunctions that create waste. Lean implements a Kanban
scheduling system to manage production.

Six Sigma involves reducing variations by ensuring that quality processes are followed
every time. The Six Sigma method follows a process-improvement approach called
DMAIC, which stands for define, measure, analyze, improve, and control.
Lean Six Sigma is a combination of Lean and Six Sigma approaches. It is often used in
projects that aim to save money, improve quality, and move through processes quickly.
Lean Six Sigma is also ideal for solving complex or high-risk problems. The 5S
organization framework, the DMAIC process, and the use of Kanban boards are all
components of this approach.

Despite their differences, all of these project management methodologies require

communication and collaboration among various teams and aim to deliver projects on
time and within budget. 
Selecting a project management approach

With so many methodologies available, there are many options that would work well for
your project. Since projects and the organizations in which you will execute them vary
greatly, the approach you choose to implement for each project will vary. At Google, we
often use a hybrid of approaches and frameworks to efficiently meet the project goal! All
approaches can be combined with others, depending on the needs of your project. 

Choosing an approach that works best for the project, the organization, and the team
takes time and practice. You’ll learn more about how to choose a project management
approach throughout this certificate program. In the meantime, take a look at how this
article breaks down common methodologies and when (or when not) to use them:
Which project management methodologies should you use?