How does the agile approach differ from the waterfall approach?

The agile approach is characterized by its iterative and incremental nature, which involves repeating small portions of each phase in sequence. This means that instead of completing all aspects of the project at once, agile methods break the project into smaller segments or iterations. Each iteration involves planning, execution, and testing, allowing teams to gather feedback and make adjustments continuously. This flexibility makes it easier to adapt to changes and improves collaboration among team members.

In contrast, the waterfall approach is a linear process that completes each project phase before moving on to the next one, and it typically does not revisit earlier phases once they are finished. This fundamental difference allows agile to respond to evolving requirements and stakeholder feedback more effectively compared to the more rigid structure of waterfall.

Understanding this key distinction is vital for recognizing the strengths and applications of the agile methodology within project management and software development.