Here is my one page summary of some key differences between Agile and Waterfall.

(I created this when I was asked to explain this to an exec earlier this month about this and I didn’t have anything good in my toolkit nor could I find something on google.)

A comparison of key elements of Agile and Waterfall delivery approaches.

Key Differences between Agile and Waterfall

  • In waterfall, the focus is on creating documents that capture what is needed. In Agile, the focus is on working software.
  • In waterfall, people tend to work in sequence – like a relay race. In Agile, people collaborate – like a soccer team.
  • In Agile, the focus is on working together as a team and learning how to improve. There is a different mindset or culture.
  • In Waterfall, there is usually a messy whirlpool at then end where people abandon documentation to start figuring out how to make things work and/or what users really want.
  • In Agile, software is delivered incrementally so it is much easier to predict delivery dates.

If you have your own one page summary, please add a link in comments section so we can all learn from each other.

Agile Transformation Keys