Our process | Ryaktive software development agency

Agile vs Waterfall

In waterfall methodology, we must do a full analysis of all requirements before we can proceed further with the implementation. This approach of implementing projects is associated with a high failure rate because it is like a one-way road, you can’t go back to the previous phase to correct your assumptions and take corrective actions; in the waterfall approach, going back is considered as a big failure for the team.
Besides, in the waterfall methodology, the customer who requested the product sees the implemented product at once at very late stage of the project, which is usually associated with big fights between him/her and the implementation team as it becomes clear that there are many misunderstandings of his/her requirements given at early stages of the project.

Waterfall

In contract, the agile methodology is an iterative approach for implementing a product. With an agile methodology, the product is delivered in small iterations and evaluated for what features should be considered for the next iterations; therefore, we have a low risk of building something that no one wants to use since users have visibility on what the product looks like at an early stage. Also, the agile approach encourages to always look back and proceed with corrective actions.

Agile (Our Process)

The advantages of using agile methodology are quite clear, ranging from early visibility of the product and the project status, to delivering the business value as soon as possible; these advantages are illustrated in the below figure by CustomerThink :

Agile vs Waterfall

In Ryaktive, we follow the agile principles declared in the Agile Manifesto :

Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.

Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.

Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference for the shorter timescale.

Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.

Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.

The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.

A working software is the primary measure of progress.

Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.

Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

Simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential.

The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.

Our Project's Phases and Disciplines

We use an iterative process when implementing projects that consists of four stages:

1. Envision

2. Elaboration

3. Construction

4. Release

Although, each stage represents how far we move in time for the implementation, during each stage we work on six disciplines (or phases):

Product Definition
Product Research
Analysis & Design
Implementation
Validation
Deployment

For example, we start projects with a Product Definition discipline, where we have a workshop with our customer to define the requirements and the needs. Since we work in an iterative approach for implementing the product, the Product Definition discipline continues in the Elaboration stage and the Construction stage as well; however, the amount of work for this discipline in the Construction stage is not as much as in the Envision stage, for example.

As you can see from the Phases & Disciplines figure, even during the Envision stage, we go through all the disciplines including the Implementation and the Deployment!
This is because when starting the project, we validate some of the critical requirements as early as possible by implementing these requirements and tackle any associated risk and or challenge early in the project so we have a solid architecture for the product from the beginning.

Product Definition Virtual Workshop

We start projects by the Product Definition workshop where we define your product’s idea, your requirements, and your needs. During the workshop, we work with you to answer the following questions regarding your product’s idea or your project:

What it is?
Who will use it?
Why they will use it?

Product Canvas

Competitive analysis with similar products from the functionalities side

User Personas

Product functionalities and features brainstorming (high level)

Functionalities priority matrix to identify the functionalities to be covered in the first release of the product, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Today, you need to respond to your clients and market changes very quickly, and failing to take the right step at the right time may cost you a lot. To be able to respond in a timely manner for our customers’ dynamic requirements, we choose Agile methodology when implementing our projects.

Agile methodology is all about delivering the business value instead of just following the agreed requirements in the signed contract.

Agile vs Waterfall

Waterfall

Agile (Our Process)

Agile vs Waterfall

Our Project's Phases and Disciplines

Product Definition Virtual Workshop

Product Canvas

Competitive analysis with similar products from the functionalities side

User Personas

Product functionalities and features brainstorming (high level)

Functionalities priority matrix to identify the functionalities to be covered in the first release of the product, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

User stories and user story maps

Wireframes

Contact Us Today

to Talk About Your Needs

Today, you need to respond to your clients and market changes very quickly, and failing to take the right step at the right time may cost you a lot. To be able to respond in a timely manner for our customers’ dynamic requirements, we choose Agile methodology when implementing our projects.​

Agile methodology is all about delivering the business value instead of just following the agreed requirements in the signed contract.

Agile vs Waterfall

Waterfall

Agile (Our Process)

Agile vs Waterfall

Our Project's Phases and Disciplines

Product Definition Virtual Workshop

Product Canvas

Competitive analysis with similar products from the functionalities side

User Personas

Product functionalities and features brainstorming (high level)

Functionalities priority matrix to identify the functionalities to be covered in the first release of the product, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

User stories and user story maps

Wireframes

Contact Us Today

to Talk About Your Needs

Today, you need to respond to your clients and market changes very quickly, and failing to take the right step at the right time may cost you a lot. To be able to respond in a timely manner for our customers’ dynamic requirements, we choose Agile methodology when implementing our projects.