There are various phases in Waterfall Project Management, the most common being conceptualization and requirements determination, design, implementation, verification and maintenance. Once the project management team determines the goals of the project, team members are assigned tasks which must be completed in order to be successful.
- Requirements Analysis: This is the first step toward a successful project, in that it determines the goals and expected outcomes, taking into consideration the client’s needs and potential risks involved.
- Design: Once the goals of the project are determined, a solution is designed that will deliver on expectations. All elements of software development are considered in this phase, including security, process, and product design.
- Development: During this phase, the actual software creation begins. Based on the decisions made in phase #2, the project manager assigns tasks to the team members which will result in successful completion of the project. Often the team is divided into smaller work units, but maintaining solid communication and coordination between teams is essential if this route is chosen.
- Testing: After development is completed, relevant tests need to be performed to ensure an error-free product. At this point it is also important to refer back to step #1 to verify that the end product meets the initial design requirements.
- Implementation: After testing comes implementation, where the product is put into real-world use. During this phase, testing is continued in the new environment. It is also important to ensure that implementation is conducted in compliance with industry guidelines and regulations.
- Maintenance: Continued support for the client and daily users of the product is provided after delivery to make sure the new product performs as expected. Maintenance is usually for a specific period of time determined by prior agreement.
Waterfall Project Management methodology is not the best choice for every project, but it is a very useful tool in certain circumstances. It is best used for projects which require specific steps that are only successful when completed in chronological order. It is commonly used for software development because it is one of the most systematic project management methodologies in existence.