WATERFALL MODEL
Project Management Glossary
Project Management — Waterfall Model
Information on Waterfall Model
The Waterfall Model is a life-cycle model applied to the project management ans systems engineering of a product. While the various stages are seen as sequential steps in the waterfall, the model does allow for iteration. However, the Waterfall Model is most often implemented so that each phase must be completed before the next begins For example, the development team can go on to system design only when all of the requirements have been elicited from the customer, analysed for completeness and consistency, and documented in a requirements document. The Waterfall Model is formalised in DOD-STD-2167A. The Waterfall Model, also called the Linear Sequential Model, has a number of well known problems: its sequential nature is restrictive since real projects are rarely sequential; it limits user input since the user does not see working versions of product until late in the project (this is particularly bad in software-based projects); the model requires well-defined, well-understood requirements that must be completely and explicitly stated before the project begins; progress can be deceptive; and the linear nature of the model can cause delays since dependent tasks can not be started until prior tasks are completed. Modern life-cycle models for software-based projects allow more iterative of incremental development.
Other topics in our resources on Project Management related to Waterfall Model include:
|
|
|
|
To suggest related terms to improve the glossary, please contact Argos Press. Please also contact Argos Press Pty Ltd to seek permission to broadcast, adapt, reproduce and communicate content from this web site (including this glossary entry on Waterfall Model). © Argos Press Pty Ltd, Canberra, 2003-2004. All rights reserved.