Agile vs Scrum vs Waterfall: What’s the Difference?

Key Difference Between Agile vs Scrum vs Waterfall

Software development is iterative in agile. Instead of in-depth project planning, cross-functional teams work iteratively and prioritize their work by customer value. Every cycle should yield a working result. Agile evolution was aided by Agile membership.

Complex software and product development can be iterative. Sprints, one- or two-week iterations, allow software to be shipped regularly.

Agile vs Scrum vs Waterfall Comparison Table

Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall are project management and software development approaches with diverse principles, processes, and traits. Here’s a comparative table to show their main differences:

Aspect	Agile	Scrum	Waterfall
Philosophy	Iterative and flexible	Iterative and structured	Sequential and rigid
Approach	Collaborative and adaptive	Framework within Agile	Sequential and linear
Project Type	Best for dynamic projects	Suited for product development	Well-defined projects
Phases	No specific phases	Divided into Sprints	Sequential phases
Requirements	Evolve throughout	Defined but can change	Fixed at the beginning
Documentation	Minimal documentation	Light documentation	Extensive documentation
Change Management	Embraces changes	Allows changes within Sprints	Resists changes
Testing	Continuous integration	Throughout development	After development
Client Involvement	Continuous engagement	Regular feedback	Limited until the end
Roles	Collaborative teams	Scrum Master, Product Owner	Defined roles
Meetings	Daily stand-ups, retrospectives	Daily Scrum, Sprint Review	Formalized meetings
Delivery	Frequent, incremental	At the end of each Sprint	At project completion
Risk Management	Early issue identification	Addresses issues regularly	Late issue identification
Adaptability	Highly adaptable	Adapts within Sprints	Low adaptability
Quality Control	Ongoing quality checks	Continuous inspection	Final inspection
Feedback	Continuous feedback	Regular feedback loops	Feedback at the end