A Hybrid model, also known as the Agile Waterfall hybrid model, combines principles from Agile and Waterfall development methodologies, creating a flexible project management approach that caters to diverse project needs. This integration allows the project managers and the project team to leverage the strengths of both methods for better outcomes.
October 2, 2024
| Last updated on October 1, 2024
Written by Katie Bielawiec
Key Takeaways
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Hybrid Methodology: Seamgen combines Agile's flexibility and Waterfall's structured planning to create a tailored hybrid approach for successful software development projects.
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Agile-Waterfall for a Better Blend: This hybrid approach enables ongoing planning and frequent client feedback, while maintaining clear project phases and thorough documentation.
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Phased Approach with Agile Development: Key project phases include Discovery & Strategy, Design & Architecture, Agile Development, Final UAT & Deployment, and continuous improvement through a feedback loop.
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Proven Success: Seamgen's hybrid method has been effectively applied in real-world projects like Florida DEP’s sea level rise app and Healthcare Partners' digital transformation.
Agile Waterfall Hybrid Method
At Seamgen, we have perfected blending Agile and Waterfall development practices into a cohesive Hybrid methodology that maximizes the success of our software development projects. Let's start by reviewing Agile Project Management and Waterfall Project Management.
What is Agile Project Management?
Agile Project Management is a flexible and iterative approach to managing software development, particularly in software development. Agile methodology focuses on delivering small, workable segments of a project incrementally, allowing for frequent reassessment and adaptation throughout the process. Agile principles emphasize collaboration, customer feedback, and continuous improvement, enabling teams to respond swiftly to changes and deliver high-quality results that align closely with client needs and market demands.
What is Waterfall Project Management?
Waterfall Project Management is a linear and sequential approach to managing projects, where each phase must be completed before the next one begins. This method follows a clear, structured path from project initiation to completion, with distinct stages such as requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment. Waterfall methodologies emphasize thorough planning and documentation upfront, making it well-suited for projects with well-defined goals and requirements that are unlikely to change. However, it can be less flexible in accommodating changes once the project is underway.
WHO ARE WE? HYBRID AGILE Experts
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At Seamgen, we merge the flexibility of Agile with the structured planning of Waterfall, creating a Hybrid development process that ensures consistent, high-quality software deliveries.
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With over a decade of experience in crafting solutions for complex, long-term projects, we offer unparalleled expertise in Agile and Waterfall methodologies, emphasizing continuous feedback and user-centric design.
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USA design led San Diego custom software development company based in Southern California.
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We invite you to call us for a free project consultation.
Recent Data on Agile Shortcomings
A study for the book Impact Engineering, has discovered that software projects "software projects adopting Agile practices are 268 percent more likely to fail compared to those that do not". This statistic does not bode well for projects running with Agile. However, there are other statistics, included in the study, that were quite revealing.
Agile Waterfall Hybrid: Taking the Best of Agile & Waterfall
Our Agile Waterfall Hybrid methodologies allow us to deliver exceptional results for our clients by combining the flexibility of Agile with the structured planning of Waterfall model in our software development projects.
Traditional waterfall methodology provides a solid foundation of planning and discussion to ensure our project achieves client success. By incorporating Agile methodology into our processes, we emphasize ongoing planning, frequent communication during sprint cycles, and constant user feedback. Gathering user feedback regularly ensures that our development aligns with client needs and enhances the overall quality of the product.
Seamgen’s Hybrid Agile methodology is ideal for long-lasting, complex projects that involve multiple teams and evolving personnel, thanks to our strong emphasis on thorough planning and meticulous documentation.
Next we will go over here’s how we implement our Hybrid methodology and why it stands out in the industry.
Seamgen’s Unique Hybrid Agile Processes
Seamgen’s Hybrid approach is designed to offer a balanced approach to project management, ensuring both flexibility and structure along with agile project management during the development phase. Our project management methodology includes key phases such as Discovery and Strategy, Design & Architecture, Agile Development, Final UAT & Deployment, and a Rinse and Repeat feedback loop for long-term projects. Each phase is overseen by dedicated project managers, who ensure meticulous project planning to align with the specific needs of our clients, providing early visibility, reduced risk, and continuous quality enhancement.
Discovery and Strategy Phase
In the initial phase, we work closely with stakeholders to understand their vision and objectives, utilizing various project management methodologies like Agile and Waterfall to create effective hybrid solutions. This involves substantial user research, strategy sessions, and data analysis to create a detailed project blueprint that aligns business strategies with user demands. This foundational stage ensures strong agreement on expectations, setting the stage for successful project execution.
Design & Architecture Phase
During this phase, we focus on crafting detailed wireframes, establishing a design system, and compiling technical documentation. Agile techniques allow for iterative development in areas of uncertainty, enabling us to adapt and evolve parts of the project while maintaining a structured approach for more predictable elements. User personas and journey maps guide our design efforts, ensuring that both business ambitions and user preferences are seamlessly incorporated. This meticulous preparation sets a solid foundation for the development phase.
Agile Development Phase
Our development team works in two-week sprints, utilizing an Agile approach that prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and iterative progress. These activities include sprint planning, daily stand-up meetings, code reviews, and quality assurance checks. This iterative development process allows for early detection and correction of issues, fostering constant improvement and ensuring that functionalities meet specified requirements.
Final UAT & Deployment Phase
The final phase integrates iterative feedback cycles with structured planning, characteristic of Waterfall project management, to guarantee a robust and thoroughly vetted deployment. Extensive user acceptance testing confirms that the application meets all defined requirements, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted roll-out.
Rinse and Repeat Feedback Loop
For long-term projects that involve multiple phases of development, Seamgen implements a Rinse and Repeat feedback loop, embracing agile principles to emphasize the flexibility and adaptability they bring to product development. This step allows us to revisit earlier phases, incorporating new insights and feedback into the next cycle of development. By continuously refining and improving the product, we ensure that it evolves to meet the changing needs of the project and stakeholders, ultimately delivering business value through a more polished and effective solution.
Real-World Examples of Seamgen’s Hybrid Agile Success
Our hybrid Agile-Waterfall process played a critical role in the successful development of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) sea level rise data access and interpretation app. This collaborative approach ensured alignment from the very beginning, offering significant advantages such as early visibility and reduced risk.
During the development phase, the FDEP team was kept informed with frequent and regular communication, allowing for timely course corrections. Continuous testing throughout the sprints enhanced the overall quality of the app. This project is a testament to the effectiveness of our Hybrid approach in delivering a tool that meets the FDEP’s needs for a GSI map-based app to provide effective data access and interpretation.
Click here for more about our Florida Case Study
A recent collaboration with ActiveHealth/CVS Health exemplifies the effectiveness of our methodology in creating a more user-centric platform. By leveraging agile methods during development and use of collaborative project management software tools, we broke the project into smaller, manageable sprints, delivering incremental business value while remaining agile in response to evolving requirements. Strong collaboration and open communication between our team and ActiveHealth/CVS representatives were emphasized throughout the engagement. Our approach helped ActiveHealth/CVS achieve enhanced user experience, increased efficiency, and boosted customer satisfaction.
Click here for more about our ActiveHealth/CVS Case Study
Seamgen partnered with Healthcare Partners (HCP) to transform their patient care management system using our Hybrid approach. By combining iterative development with structured planning within the software development life cycle, we integrated HCP’s on-premise infrastructure with a new cloud-based system on Microsoft Azure. This transition marked HCP’s first step into the cloud, providing them with a modernized, scalable platform that supports secure identity management and single sign-on for users. The project improved the flow of information and data accuracy, laying the foundation for future enhancements.
Click here for more about our HCP Case Study
Seamgen Standing Out with a Hybrid Agile Approach
Seamgen’s Hybrid Project Management approach is not just about blending methodologies; it’s about embracing hybrid project management, which combines Agile with Waterfall methodologies to enhance flexibility and efficiency. Our commitment to innovation, strong collaboration, and continuous delivery and improvement ensures that we deliver high-quality outcomes that align with business objectives and user demands. By leveraging our unique processes, tools, and real-world expertise, Seamgen transforms project management into a strategic advantage for our clients and maximizes our project success for our clients.
KATIE BIELAWIEC
Senior Project Manager, Seamgen
Katie, our Senior Project Manager at Seamgen, is a dedicated professional with a robust foundation from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). With experience spanning diverse roles and industries, from Achieve Internet to leading digital initiatives at Seamgen, she has a proven track record of steering successful projects and showcasing unparalleled expertise in the realm of project management.
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