Waterfall vs Agile Methodology - Essay Example

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WATERFALL Vs. AGILE METHODOLOGY

Managing a business project without a plan might at times cause confusion and failure. Most companies use the simplest methodology to understand their projects an example is a waterfall. It is a methodology that adapts well in the modern business project market with its structures interlinked to one another. This method majorly flourishes in some areas, for example, construction, manufacturing, and any repeatable services (Munassar & Govardhan, 2010). Though very structured, this model contains several steps to function adequately; one cannot implement the next step without successful finishing the first level and any delay on the sequence or scheduling courses the delay of the entire method.

Its primary focus on business is record keeping and managing deadlines for the companies, with minimal chance of change after the project commences (Alshamrani & Bahattab, 2015). Being a sequential and progressive design process, the model might be used in business development following the steady flow of interlinked procedures. But with the dynamic change of business environments, waterfall methodology might not be an ideal method to handle a project.

The reason for adopting the agile methodology majorly on micro projects, software and delivery services is the idea of growth, real-time operation, and development of the industry. Its life cycle is unique and also encourages teamwork, collaboration, and the process of adaptability (Balaji & Murugaiyan, 2012). The technique is used majorly is on technology to explore the business field and broaden opportunities for interaction and identify the different market niche for production and service industries (Balaji & Murugaiyan, 2012). The approach suits companies that are likely to flow and major on marketing services or delivery services where all the data algorithms are calculated, analyzed by the software and finally issues a response to the customer and service provider. The algorithm design majors on the meaning of agility; which is the ability to sense and respond to business prospects to stay aggressive in shifting business environments (Madhu, et al., 2010). On developing such business, a team of professionals majorly focus on some methods.

The methods the teams focus on rapid change with different market niche focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of such environments. These methods majorly depend on the research on the customers, their ideal product and team collaboration or consultation. First, Scrum, it is the most popular method because of the clients’ demands. It is iterative, incremental and highly relies on frequent interaction with the customers in case of any evolving. Meeting the client's changes is in the leading roles by the team members. Some depend on the Kaban method; the method mainly predicts real-time delivery of goods and services (Alshamrani & Bahattab, 2015). The progress also places shifts on different, for example, finished and worked in development, hence creating a life cycle on real-time activities. In addition to that, the extreme programming that combines a lot of shortcodes to help in the moving in and out work from the sprint. Finally, the lean software development; it is responsible for making sure fast delivery of services and also maintains the flow of communication between different teams by providing fast code delivery.

There are several issues while choosing what type of methodology to implement while running a business; different structures require different strategies. For example, the case of marketing or manufacturing companies with the aim of satisfying customer needs, it is difficult for it to implement the waterfall method but rather choose one that can adopt and help in maintaining service flow for the company. Production companies with the idea to support customer requirement of on-time delivery, accurate and complete customer declarable implement use either agile or six sigma methodology. These methods rely on data metrics that help in identifying, recording and providing customer delivery progress information. This information helps in the study of client’s satisfaction on the services (Balaji & Murugaiyan, 2012). Especially the Agile method focuses on customer needs, data-drove improvement and the input needs with less focus on the product quality. Several advantages help the agile system to flourish than the waterfall.

With the evolution of technology, programming leads into the world of creating systems that develop, analyze and respond to different market niche. The same case applies to agile methodology in technology development. First, the system has an adaptive nature, creates room for various solutions and communication, and creates fluent and smooth understanding between the teams and their customers (Madhu, et al., 2010). The adjustments mainly are made through close monitoring of the system metrics and customer behavior change. Implementing waterfall methodology can fail in such environments because of its massive documentation and stability on its structure.

There are several advantages the Agile methodology has compared to the waterfall; first is its ability to evolve and tackle current issues. The method software is built in incremental units called iterative; these units are short and constructed in a short duration with the aim of improvements on the program to the current market needs. In a case of an upgrade the iterative is built on top of the previous one creating a smooth and steady flow of software update (Kumar & Sowmyavani, 2012). Being developed in short cycles offer the opportunity for rapid, visible software process improvement. The process is lightweight with quick upgrades after every three to four weeks. These upgrades are majorly done by teams of experts who believe in the know-how rather than the documentation enhancing analytical and leadership skills. Also, it creates diversity with the ability to create better and more reliable products to the customers.

Why Microsoft Dominates the Operating System Market?

Agile method is very impressive in the software market and productivity. The software business is one of the most leading and exploited areas in the third world country. To develop software such as Microsoft Windows and Office suite the programmer needs to focus and predict the future. Over the years, Microsoft Company has evolved in the creation of the operating system “Windows”. The company used the agile method because the rate at which they are upgrading the software is alarming. They announce several new upgrades a good example is, Windows 7 to 8 and latest product Windows 10. Their monotony on their products creates a favorable environment for the production of goods and services to their clients.

CRITICAL CHAIN VS CRITICAL PATH

Planning and executing a project at a time becomes very tiresome and to successfully handle these tasks a project management plan creation simplifies the procedure (Gershon, n.d.). Though different ideas have been used to finish a program, most of them fail because of the time factor. It is necessary to create a plan according to the urgency of the project (Stelth & Le Roy, 2009). A good example is a critical chain and critical path (Lencher, et al., 2015). By their names, these two are strategies of creating and evaluating how fast to complete a project. The critical path is a method that best describes a previous relationship among several procedures.

The systems are interlinked in a manner that if the first is not complete, the next step will fail and in the case of any delays the entire project is bound to fail, and its illustration is in the network diagram. The method has some limitation due to its structure. First, inadequate resources; resources are majorly used to create and start a project, without them, then it becomes stagnate (Newbold, 2000). Secondly is the student syndrome on the application of slack, after approximating the duration of the project and additional time is added. Finally, is the use of guess work on the overall completion period. These limitations are controllable and to do so a new and better plan comes into action. A good example is a critical chain; a method used by most people in times of crisis management; a perfect example is a case on when a student is provided with a final project that is examinable by the board of panel.

In such cases, students usually imagine that they have enough time to handle such a process. It is sad because the syndrome will usually affect the final results. Time is a factor to consider, and the difference between critical path and chain should help but only if the student is knowledgeable on what type of system methodology to apply. The critical chain has the advantage because of its interlinked process; a student can decide to skip a process to finish the project on time the later get back to solve it. The restructuring of such method creates room for changes and also accountability on the project. The student’s main approach should be choosing a critical chain over critical path because of its advantages.

The critical chain, on the other hand, addresses the limitation of lack of resource and student syndrome. With the ability to convert key path limitation to its strength; it uses guess work to project the time frame of a project and it uses computation methods to achieve it. An example, in case the estimates time using the path method elapses it defines that the projects require an addition time (M, 2015). Most of these methods apply on the fact of controlling situations; a good example is the case of insurance. When fire spreads along a street, the firefighting team uses these methods; critical path creates an assumption on insurance and which house suffers the most. While key chain assures the control of fire and stops the spread hence more of a contingency plan. The insurance field mainly comprises of compensation in case of any damages and with its critical chain strategy, most of their clients get satisfaction to help in the maintenance and damage control of the property and human life.

Networking Technology to Maintain Safety: Critical Chain

Technology has a better understanding of creating a healthy environment for critical chain application. An example is the security business in highly commercial locations such as malls and supermarkets where there are flocks of customers. These positions need protection for their products and also for their clients. While critical path uses the technique of security personnel to frisk and screen the customer, key chain uses a better technological method depending on a computer networked with cameras and recording gadgets (Dilmaghani, 2008). Critical chain creates a shorter but a better path when it comes to handling millions of individuals in these locations. Also, it also reduces the cost; an example is a scenario of placing security personnel at various stations to monitor and suspicious activities like theft and safety of the location.

The security men and women are a human being and are bound to make mistakes which will cost the business, the invention of technology helps in monitoring all the sports including the blind once for security purposes (Dilmaghani, 2008). What ten men can do in an hour a camera can handle in three minutes. Another advantage is the idea that the recording is real time making it flawless to mistakes and errors. It also comes with different packages such as heat and smoke sensors that help in alarming the customers and staff in case of an emergency. Critical path maintains the security guards to search for the location and then alert people by word of mouth or an announcement hence time wastage and inconvenient.

Studies and research prove that the use of critical chain in projects help in improving the three constraint factors; these are time, cost and scope (Dachyar & Saputra 2009). A practical example is an application in the telecommunication industry. These industries are responsible for communication and to promote the business there is need to construct several communication booster towers on different locations to enhance reliable network for their customer. It is also a factor by doing so they increase the demand for these booster towers especially on blind sports. To do so, the need to consider critical chain over critical path helps because the two have a different approach to construction.

Construction of Communication Towers: Critical Chain over Critical Path

The critical chain has an upper hand because it technique helps in maintaining and reducing the three constraint factors. The best approach critical chain took to estimate the number of days the project would take, the buffer which was later followed by the student syndrome. Bad multitasking was creating the chance of early finishes. After finishing the process would schedule back for relay approach and later manage the buffer. Finally, they allocate the resources. A fast method with a 25% chance of early completion of the project (Dachyar & Saputra, 2009). Critical path, on the other hand, took the opportunity to first, define the project and calculate its sequencing. Also, the activity resources were estimated then the development of the schedule and finally controlled the schedule. All these procedures involved a lot of paperwork creating a 32% delay period (Dachyar & Saputra, 2009). To conclude the company enjoyed the benefits of critical chain better because it proved worth than the critical path that attains the steps based on paperwork than the real objective to perform and deliver services.

RISK IDENTIFICATION METHOD

Identifying a risk in a business set up creates a lot of tension. First, before determining the risk, there are some factors to consider to the optimal outcome of the goal, the type of risk associated with the organization's policies, balancing the possibilities of failure and success, and finally, the participant of such a task (Kansal & Sharma, 2013). After the analysis of the above steps or questions, an ideal risk identification method comes into play. The method will majorly depend on the application environment, nature of the project, project phase, resources available, regulatory requirements and the clients’ requirements as objectives and desired outcome (Berg, 2010). All these will define the risk identification method.

Projects in the health department are safety-based risk management. It is a unique approach that places the health of a human being first before anything (Dinu, 2012). The identification majorly focuses on the consequences and helps in its development. A good example is wet or slippery floor scenario; there are always posters or warning placed along the wall or before making a step in such areas (Talib, et al., 2010). These posters are for awareness and caution to public safety. One of the most promising fields to consider is agriculture. Growing crops require a lot of study such as; the soil type, acidity level and what kind of crop flourishes in such areas. This discipline contains a lot of risks, and a control plan might be needed.

With the identification of a risk method comes various disadvantages; first, the lack of resources to planning on the project, with insufficient data creating a plan becomes impossible. The outcome of such identification methods has the goal to strengthen a company but also discourage the project in case there is a chance of failure to such projects. Following the policies governing such institution might be impossible because to achieve the goal certain rules and regulations might be abused (Stern & Arias, 2011). The cooperation of the participants might also not be to a sufficient standard hence delaying the identification process.

Risk Identification Method to Control Disease Outbreaks.

Risk identification method is usually one of the most complicated steps; the procedure exposes the analysts to danger. There are catastrophic areas where a lot of precaution is needed; an example is the case of disease outbreak and limitation of the resources. Disease outbreak usually brings a lot of panic in the society with several sick and death rates high. To analyze such a situation, the doctor should the first procedure is to know what is the cause of the illness and its spreading rate. Doctors usually get exposed in these situations of gather as much information as possible, but the risk is high because there is a chance of them contacting the illness (Chowell & Viboud, 2013). After identifying the disease, it is good to find out the genotypes that are at high risk of getting sick and those that are not.

Determine the individuals with high transmission potential helps in the creation of surveillance and various control strategies especially with limited resources. Recourse collection is the most difficult part of some procedure, but the best part is all the information needed to study and carry out the various test are all in one location maybe the equipment might lack. In addition to that, there should be the chance to analyze the dynamic human interaction to create and draw a conclusion on the hotspot of the disease (Chowell & Viboud, 2013). With such kind of information quarantine, the sport becomes easier controlling the spread of the disease a good application area for such a method is the outbreak of Ebola in Africa.

Also, there several localities with the aim of creating risk analysis that will, later on, help in maintaining and managing the problem. A good example is the opportunity crime in mall and supermarkets; they usually take place on the various blind spot on the malls. Crime is a calculated act, and they often happen in locations that have no visibility to either cameras and security personnel (Dilmaghani, 2008). After arriving at such conclusion on the analysis, the next step is to create measures to stop such acts. There are several step to ensure such activities to stop and also gain control of apprehending the perpetrators.

General knowledge suggests the use of cameras for live footage in case of a crime, but it is apparent thieves do realize and recognize the gadgets. It is one way of stopping such actions. But a better method is turning such sports hotspots of the malls and supermarkets. Doing so creates an impression of solving the problem, with a crowd it is next to impossible to commit a crime. Such locations draw the attention of people helping to control theft cases. Also, locating hidden cameras to view all that occurs in such places is a good idea. The recording footages act as evidence in case the criminal is found. The fact is that before concluding on a risk identification method, one should first gather information, analyze it the draw a conclusion that suits the event.

UNCERTAINTY, UNKNOWNS AND BLACK SWANS

In the macroeconomics field uncertainty creates a lot of frustration, but its use is much valued for it helps in the explanation of business cycles, financial crisis, and asset price fluctuation. It is difficult to predict the business market, and for this uncertainty with the help of forecast help in the creation and assembling of data to help predict the future market. It is true that the unknowns might shock and create a scene of liquating assets and later results in lost. Black Swan main help is in data collection and analysis.

The data collected usually vary in different patterns. The variation of data creates an interpretation to help know the future events. Some might be fault while others but a slight error on the analysis might cause chaos in the market (Benkler, 1998). Different companies have different strategies for handling such problems but with the scientific world that relies on technology, forecasting comes with a better way to handle such issues. Shock is a risk by nature and to control and overcome it, there are different steps to take especially when the problem is identifiable.

A collection of data to predict different pattern on the market creates awareness and the advantage of know how limit shocks of booming business. Forecast creation and development relies on real-time data to predict the possibility of a clear future and better market for business. Black swans are also at time effective because different previous events might repeat themselves and if the case handling such risks is easy because of the previous experiences. A good example is in weather broadcasting business; different tides help in determining the climate of a place and at times they rely on past events (Benkler, 1998). Though it is a crude way of handling situations, it proves to be very important. Climate change is the same as business fluctuations, and maintaining the damage helps to control the market niche.

Black Swan functionality is to approximate errors using the short range of data; these data might not be that important but to some companies such as the media, everything counts. A collection of data and broadcasting it to the public carries a lot of impacts majorly if the information is targeting influential people of the society. The collection of relevant data in the past can help in pointing the direction on what and where to broadcast. An example is the case of politics; the media usually try as much as possible to gather enough evidence on what to tell the public but any simple mistake from them brings chaos.

Media and Politics

A politician is a public figure black swan is to help in knowing the man or woman’s behavior, how they react to the press. What about a bad image broadcast? What is the legal action representing in a case of exaggeration? These questions are enough to explain what to say and what to withhold from the public because they can generate enormous consequences. Publicizing on different commodities also considers unknowns with the majority either liking or hating the products, the publicist’s expectations should not be high because it is uncertain of the public's opinion (Benkler, 1998). The media being responsible for educating the nation on current and the past events are to rely upon towards uncertainty to improve their production to the world.

In the business of creating a school in a rural are there rises the opportunity of uncertainty, unknowns, and black swan; the start of a school in remote areas needs feasible study, black swan helps in the collection of data. The data should focus on the private schools in the countryside, has one ever existed before, what was the outcome? With such types of questions blacks, Swan should capture the immediate data on how to solve the problems in the case. There are various ways that unknowns can disrupt the business. The response of a private school in a rural setup sounds absurd. The idea is good, but the rural setup has the mentality of poor backgrounds and depends on the community for almost everything.

Uncertainty and Unknowns as A Primary Factor to Consider While Setting up a Business

It is also uncertain that the project can flourish. It gives it an upper hand because of the risk to provide better and more equipped school for the region. At some aspect, the school might act as a beacon to enable the rural students to shine and perform better (Benkler, 1998). These possibilities come with several disadvantages. First, does the setup approve of an institution that requires a lot of expense and if so how will they manage and cope up with the fees payment. In addition to that, the business location center should be open for access by everyone in the community. Finally, how to manage such an institution with fewer students and more teachers. These are the considerations of a successful business setup. Business is hard to start but before adventuring in the field, a feasibility study should be carried out covering black swans and uncertainty.

QUALITY PHILOSOPHIES, ASSURANCE, AND CONTROL

Identification of different risks and their controls are some of the most annoying factors in business, though they are a right approach to maintaining smooth business operation with less loss (SIDIN & WAFA, 2014). Various philosophies are applied. A good example is Juran’s quality trilogy for managing quality; it involves quality planning, control, and improvement (Gupta, et al., 2006). The view also helps on mapping the procedure for its effectiveness (Benkler, 1998). These types of opinions highly depend on the motivation of the business owner and the environmental setup.

Juran’s method first starts by defining the environmental configuration; the company should control the field majorly by knowing the customers, their needs and how to transact smoothly the business (Deming, n.d.). The needs of the client might vary, and a better way to improve is enhancing communication to between the clients and the business. In the case of productivity, several surveys are done to predict and learn what to produce (Li, et al., 2000). A new product that is acceptable to all customers might help in maintaining the market. Develop and operation plan to help in the production of the project. After developing a plan then an approval on the project and production is to commence but under process conditions. Finally, is the implementation of the process. These ideas majorly work in motor vehicle industries that create and manufacture new models to maintain the market.

To conclude, there are different strategies that help in the controlling the outcome profits of business, but the mentality of the business owner also matters a lot. It helps in developing and changing philosophies in the case on does not work out and to be effective. To control the market, the manager should think outside the box and be updated on rising trends or theories on better assurance.

The control of a market niche comes with a lot of responsibilities and commitment to providing unique goods that are appreciated by the customers. The software programming industries are some of the booming companies in the world with every business competing to provide current and stable software to their clients. With the improvement in technology, everything becomes easier because there is no assurance of controlling the market but the idea of a regular and better program earns one the opportunity to flourish in such conditions. An example is a completion between Apple Company and Microsoft. These are companies dedicated to creating operating systems that are sold worldwide.

These companies are well known, but the difference is the evolution of Microsoft as a company. The company over the years has strategized on implementing better graphical user software for her clients and also upgrading the systems year in year out with their latest release of Windows Ten from Windows 8. The company focuses on real-time accountability and also on the growing economy that relies so much on technology (Li, et al., 2000). Though their competitors own the European market, Microsoft is used worldwide since its strategy is on the local market targeting the middle and poor class. Their philosophy was in the creation of a better understood and easy to navigate operating system and also to target the regular citizens all over the world.

Software production takes a different at the time of its development, Microsoft being a company full of vision decided to create user-friendly software that can be accessed and operated by anyone with minimal skills on computers. Its creation of the Windows operating system that has a longer and engaging application such as Microsoft Office applications makes it even untouchable. The software is designed in a manner suggesting the possibilities of various upgrades after duration to maintain the market niche. The possibility of assurance of the company’s achievements is on their strategies to evolve and produce products that are current. In conclusion, the companies’ idea to be monotonous makes it untouchable in the third world countries.

Six-Sigma Philosophy on Assurance and Control

The company also liaises with several companies to learn and improve their production. Their quality policy of avoiding diversion from their products proves them worthy on maintaining the market niche (Klincewicz, 2012). Though not evident the company relies majorly on improving the old software to better ones. This kind of philosophy does not deviate the customer’s attention and since they believe the company products are related to their past products and easier to master or use they purchase them more and more. Companies like these are appreciated for monotonous production and the ability to create different updates in a short duration. The company broadens its wing, and now they are creating software that is used in mobile phone an example is the Nokia-Microsoft phone and also their production Microsoft smartphones (Singh, 2014).

The Rise of Ford Motor Companies: Six-Sigma Method

There have been cases where companies drain a lot of cash because of their decentralization. An example is the Ford Motors company. It’s known for its stability after accepting to use the six sigma method to centralize and also gain control of the market niche in America and third world countries. The Six Sigma application proved very successful because it handles the situation differently and also it is strict on the rules and regulations. Centralizing such a company to that had twelve different workstations into one and trained its staff to meet the requirements of financial stability. Six Sigma is one unique method used in project management because it does not leave any stone unturned creating and accepting challenges and later adapting to them to control the situation.

In conclusion, projects are usually very hard to manage in the case of establishing, implementing, and applying them. The right approach earns more flexibility and accountability to nature of the project at hand. Though shocking there is a possibility of all these ideologies working in hand with one another; a good example is a waterfall and agile methodologies. The idea of following procedures and accepting to play by the rules that govern the project is good but in the case of possible delays the counterpart ideologies come into play. Though a significant destruction, resources are the major bargaining factors on a successful project and without it a shorter path is introduced to help to manage time, scope and cost of the project. Finally, projects require, to be analyzed thoroughly before retaliating a methodology, and in case, there is a possibility of lateness to the project various methods should help in creating a better and easy direction that does not interfere with the original plan.