Why is waterfall system development bad?

Database System Concepts
7th Edition
ISBN:9780078022159
Author:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
Publisher:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
Chapter1: Introduction
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Why is waterfall system development bad?

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The Waterfall model is a linear and sequential approach to software development, where each stage of the development process must be completed before moving onto the next one. This approach has been criticized for a few reasons, including:

  • Limited flexibility: The Waterfall model is highly structured, with each phase dependent on the previous one. This means that changes to requirements or design can be difficult to accommodate, and can often require going back to earlier stages of the development process. This lack of flexibility can lead to delays and increased costs.
  • Limited customer involvement: Because the Waterfall model is highly structured and each phase is dependent on the previous one, customer involvement is typically limited to the beginning of the project during requirements gathering. This can lead to a lack of understanding of customer needs and can result in a final product that doesn't fully meet customer expectations.
  • Increased risk: With the Waterfall model, testing is typically done at the end of the development process, which means that any issues found at that stage can be difficult and costly to fix. This increases the risk of project failure, especially if critical issues are discovered late in the development process.
  • Difficulty in handling complex projects: Complex projects often require feedback and iteration, which can be difficult to accommodate with the Waterfall model's highly structured approach. This can lead to delays, cost overruns, and a final product that doesn't fully meet customer needs.
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