
The requirement-gathering stage is the first phase of planning in waterfall project management. However, the five fundamental ones are as below: 1. Typically, there are five to seven waterfall project phases in your average project. Now that you have a foundational knowledge of what is waterfall approach in project management, let’s talk about its different phases. One phase should begin only when the previous one is wholly complete. To recapitulate, the waterfall project management methodology comprises distinct phases that are arranged sequentially. Phases of waterfall project management methodology Say, you cannot revert from an assembly line to manufacture an internal component that was to be put together or installed in the product! Once manufacturing is over, it is over.ĭespite such niche applications in the initial years, the waterfall project management methodology has matured since to accommodate the needs of different industries. Along the same lines, you cannot go back to a previous phase.
#Waterfall project management accountability install#
For instance, you cannot install the roof until your walls are ready. Given this background, it found great relevance in manufacturing and construction, where the subsequent steps are heavily reliant on the completion of the previous ones. Further, the flow of the project is unidirectional that is, once a phase is over, it terminates, and it is not possible to revisit it. The project will transition from one phase to another only when the previous one is absolutely complete. Here, the entire project lifecycle is divided into clearly defined discrete stages, with one cascading into the other and so on. What is waterfall project management?Īs mentioned previously, the waterfall project management method follows a sequential and linear approach to project management.

In this post, we take a detailed look at what is the waterfall approach in project management and why and when you should be using it.

However, it requires extensive planning, documentation, and implementation to get a taste of success. Waterfall project management is a linear project management methodology that progresses through distinct stages to reach the end. Have you ever wanted your project to flow smoothly and fluidly like water? Well, then, the waterfall project management methodology is what you need.

