Agile versus Waterfall-Based Methodologies Agile development approaches have
existed for over a decade. Agile development practices were created in part
because of dissatisfaction with the sequential, inflexible structure of waterfallbased
approaches. Presently, agile development has made inroads into software
development organizations, and studies show an even split between agile and
waterfall users.15 Many organizations are experimenting with agile even while
continuing to employ traditional waterfall approaches (see Concepts in Action 2F).
In fact, suggesting that an organization must be “all agile” or “all waterfall” is a
false choice. Many software developers are actively seeking to integrate the best
elements of both waterfall and agile into their software development practices.
Hybrid agile-waterfall approaches are evolving. The process of developing
information systems is never static. Most IS departments and project managers
recognize that the choice of the “best” development methodology depends on
project characteristics, as we discuss in the next section.