The strict adherence to Agile or Waterfall can sometimes blind product teams. There is pressure to pick one methodology, yet neither guarantees success due to various factors.
Agile’s sprint-based approach is known for speed and adaptability but may lack foresight. Waterfall’s step-by-step planning can be overly rigid, stifling innovation.
How about a hybrid approach by combining the foresight of Waterfall with the flexibility of Agile?
A friend’s start-up is trying out this hybrid approach. They laid the groundwork with Waterfall, setting clear end goals. As development evolved, they adopted Agile sprints to refine features based on real-time user feedback.
Takeaways so far:
- Timeline slips
- Communication gaps
- With each iteration, the process is sharpening.
- Delivering a well-structured product yet responsive to user feedback.
** Disclaimer:
This is an experimental approach. Try it at your own risk. You never know; it may be the right fit for your team.
-> Ready to Experiment? Start with these steps:
- Strategize: Draft a Waterfall-style roadmap with clear milestones.
- Implement: Shift to Agile sprints post-strategy for iterative development.
- Feedback Loops: Implement regular check-ins with stakeholders.
- Adapt: Be ready to shift gears based on feedback and product evolution.
- Review & Refine: After each sprint, refine your approach before the next one.
Give it a try and see if it works for your team. If it does, it will be immensely satisfying; If it doesn’t, share your learnings.
Thoughts?