Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
In a Waterfall project, a great deal of analysis is conducted to document the contract between the customer and the project. This analysis is done by means of several artifacts, including scope, RAIDs (risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies), and RACI (responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed) charts. These documents ensure that the customer’s requirements are fully understood and documented before the project begins.
Agile methodology, on the other hand, is more focused on collaboration and flexibility, with an emphasis on quick issue resolution to expedite the delivery of high-quality results. Instead of extensive documentation, Agile teams rely on face-to-face communication and frequent iterations to ensure that the project stays on track and meets the customer’s needs.
While documentation is an essential part of Waterfall methodology, it can also slow down delivery. The emphasis on management and control can lead to a lengthy approval process for each document, which can hinder progress. In contrast, Agile methodology values the delivery of working software over comprehensive documentation, allowing for more rapid iteration and continuous improvement.