Scrum Development vs. Waterfall Development

1. What is Waterfall Development?

Waterfall development is a development method that consists of a series of ordered phases.

Features

· It consists of steps such as “requirements definition”, “basic design”, “detailed design”, “unit test”, “integration test”, “comprehensive test”, “release”, and “maintenance”, with clear divisions for each step

· You cannot proceed to the next phase until each phase is completed.

· Once a phase is completed, it is difficult to return to it.

· As the phases are divided, there will be a division of labor between those who think and those who execute.

Merit

· Good planning ability and easy to manage progress in large-scale projects.

· Necessary personnel can be assigned to each step.

· Documentation is emphasized so detailed specifications and design documents are completed.

Demerit

· Once the phase is over, it is difficult to change, and the cost of reflecting new requirements and making changes is high.

· It takes a long time from the start of a project to the actual release, and it is slow to get feedback from users.

· Projects tend to be long-term, and user needs may change over time.

· The amount of man-hours required to create a huge amount of documentation increases.

2. What is Scrum Development?

Scrum is an agile development framework that is a method of developing software based on short-term iterations (called sprints).

Features

· Each sprint typically lasts 2-4 weeks and focuses on features and tasks that can be completed within that period.

· Get ​​feedback from users while checking and using it in a short cycle, and continually add and improve functions based on the feedback.

· Think together and implement together.

Merit

· Be able to respond flexibly to changes.

· Feedback loops are short and input from users and stakeholders can be quickly incorporated.

Demerit

· As sprints continue, Scrum team members are required to have an understanding of the entire project, the ability to communicate with team members, and the expertise to properly fulfill their assigned roles, increasing the hurdles in recruiting elite members.

· Unless a team learns each Scrum process and implements it steadily, there will be more ad hoc responses, which will lead to delivery delays and a decline in quality.

3. Why Scrum is so important in modern era?

· Changing Business Environment : Modern business environments are changing rapidly, and companies need to be able to respond quickly to these changes. Scrum is resilient to change, allowing new requirements and feedback to be quickly incorporated into the product.

· Evolution of Technology : Unlike the days when hardware and software were cohesive, cloud computing and DevOps have made continuous delivery easier. Under these circumstances, if we do not use Scrum to accelerate the release cycle of the system that form the basis of operations/businesses, we will be at a disadvantage from the perspective of competitiveness.

Summary

Waterfall and Scrum are development methods with different assumptions and characteristics. In today’s rapidly changing business environment and technology background, Scrum’s flexibility and speed make it suitable for many organizations and projects. However, the method you choose should depend on factors such as project requirements, organizational culture, and resources.