An Introduction to Software Development Methodologies

There are numerous ways to organize the process of developing and writing code. Although it is
impossible to mandate one way as the only path, there is a great deal to learn from each one. Learn
about the benefits to working in different formats and procedural approaches in this overview on code-
creation techniques. Watch our video to understand the main concepts in processes that are known to
generate a successful outcome with code design.

What is a software development methodology?

Software development methodology is a process or series of processes used in software development.

Again, quite broad but that it is things like a design phase, a development phase. It is ways of thinking
about things like waterfall being a non-iterative kind of process. Generally, it takes the form of defined
phases. It is designed to describe the how of the life cycle of a piece of software.

It is also codified communication. So you’re actually setting a set of norms between a group of people
that say this is how you’re going to work and this is how you’re going to pass information between each
of you in certain ways; whether that is documentation, whether that is discussion, whether that is
drawings on paper.

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%20phases.

Common Methodology Best for Web Development?

If you decide to hire an IT company to develop your web app, you will most likely need to interact with
the team, discuss your project requirements with them, monitor how the work is done and check the
results. Thus, one of the important steps to be taken before starting any engagement is to decide on the
software development methodology. There are several software development methodologies to choose
from depending on the project goals, requirements, size, timeline, team members involved, project
management tools used, etc. In this article, we will cover the most popular approaches for web app
development.

Waterfall
Waterfall is the most conventional software development methodology. In fact, it has been one of the
most popular approaches for web development projects for several decades due to its plan-driven
approach.

The Waterfall approach requires a lot of structure and documentation. The process is divided into
several stages that form a sequence:

The first stage is critical and requires a complete understanding of the project’s demands and scope by
both the developers and the product owners.

Waterfall lacks flexibility which means that every phase should be fully completed before moving
forward to the next stage. Once any modifications are needed or any errors are detected during the
course of the project, Waterfall will require a full restart. As a result, projects managed under the
Waterfall method might require much more time. On the other hand, it is great for ensuring that all
deliverables meet expectations and it allows for easily measuring the progress since you see the full
scope of the project in advance.

Waterfall methodology is mostly used for web development projects with a clear and predefined scope,
with a fixed timeframe for project completion and few iterations or revisions.

Agile

Agile is another methodology widely used for web app development projects. The Agile method is often
used for the projects with no definite requirements and limited short timeframes.

The key characteristics of the Agile methodology are the following:

There’s no pre-planning of the entire project, so the tasks are accomplished in an adaptive manner. The
teams’ efforts are concentrated on small tasks that require urgent attention. Agile approach also
supports quick modifications in the project’s scope and direction based on the market changes.

Agile is better suited to manage complex web development projects that involve variability. It allows
teams to develop in short iterations that have a specified timeframe and deliverables but don’t have a
specific order.

Scrum

Scrum shares Agile’s fundamental philosophy that development teams should collaborate daily and
intensively. Scrum uses an iterative approach to web development where the team is a key. This
approach requires self-management and self-organization which means that it will be a good fit for
smaller projects with experienced and organized team members.

Scrum combines the flexibility and iterative practices of the modern-day Agile method and the discipline
and structure of more conventional methodologies. End goals are broken into smaller ones and the
teams are supposed to use fixed-length iterations (typically they are two-week-long) to develop
software and present it to the client. Meetings are crucial here and during each iteration, teams conduct
daily meetings to track progress and get feedback. Such iterative approach allows quick changes and
increases effectiveness for complex projects.

Extreme Programming

Extreme Programming (XP) is one more Agile framework that aims to produce high-quality web apps
and responsiveness to changing customer requirements. Just like many other Agile methodologies, XP is
focused on regular releases in short iterations, enabling change when needed.

XP is more than just a sequence of steps to manage web development projects – it adheres to a set of
values that are supposed to help teams work more efficiently. These values include:

This approach implies that the development team should first understand the project’s needs well
enough to give the client feedback about the technical aspects of how the problem can be solved.

XP was designed to help development teams adjust to the fast-changing requirements. So, this approach
will suit small teams working on a new system, especially when a client sets tight deadlines for a project.
Lean

Lean is more than just a workflow methodology – it’s a mindset too. Originating from manufacturing, as
a way to optimize the production line to minimize waste and maximize value to the customer, lean
approach is widely used in various spheres, including web application development.

Lean means creating more value for customers with fewer resources involved. Lean’s basic principles are
the following:

Waste is defined as anything capable of impairing code quality, hindering time and effort, and reducing
the delivered business value. These may be issues like excessive code or functionality, development
delays, vague requirements, and insufficient testing. The Lean methodology focuses on eliminating these
issues, learning the required technologies, and identifying the real needs of the project.

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%20methodology%20is%20mostly%20used,and%20few%20iterations%20or
%20revisions.20iterations%20or%20revisions.

Tips for choosing a software development methodology

When choosing the right software development methodology for your project, consider using these tips:

Prioritize the needs of clients or users

Knowing what the client or user expects and whether their needs may change can be a solid foundation
for deciding on a methodology. If your target audience has fixed or fairly consistent needs, a non-
iterative approach is likely suitable. If your audience is diverse and has varied needs, you can expect a
sizable amount of feedback and might consider a more collaborative methodology

Consider project characteristics

Characteristics such as project size and time frame can also help determine which methodology to use.
Smaller projects usually require fewer people, resources and adjustments, in which case a linear model
such as the waterfall method might be suitable. In contrast, a large project with a relatively tight
deadline might benefit from an agile framework.
Determine your flexibility

Flexibility refers to your ability to adapt to new requirements. If your team can manage shifting client
expectations throughout the development process, an adaptive methodology, such as extreme
programming, may be suitable for you. If your team requires predictability to produce a high-quality
product, a stable process, such as the waterfall methodology, may be ideal.

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The Agile web design process provides a framework to deliver exceptional websites on
time and on budget while ensuring optimal use of resources. Such a framework is crucial
in a digital world where web design is critical to any successful digital marketing strategy.

While in the past, websites were seen merely as fancy digital business cards, today, they
are immersive digital experiences that drive revenue generation – in some instances,
being the sole revenue generation source (e.g., e-commerce).

When designing websites, it’s crucial to remember that if users only have 15 minutes to
view content, two-thirds of them would visit an aesthetically pleasing website instead.

Moreover, users are more likely to leave a poorly designed website, with just under
half of website visitors polled in a survey saying they consider design the most important
element in determining a brand’s trustworthiness.

The agile web design process is an evolution of the traditional and waterfall design
approaches and considers the highly dynamic and extremely competitive online
environment.

The Agile Methodology Defined

The agile methodology is a SCRUM-based iterative, incremental approach to web design

or software development that prioritizes continuous delivery over linear, step-based
milestones, and rigid objectives. In this approach, designers work in short sprints (one to
two weeks) to rapidly prototype and test new features or designs at every step of the
project.

The agile web design process directs designers to release designs and get real-time
feedback from users and other stakeholders early, providing an opportunity to make
changes quickly and iteratively. The result of an agile design development methodology is
an agile project that incorporates detailed feedback while sticking to relatively short
timelines.
Principles of the Agile Web Design Process

During the design process, options and priorities must be weighed, with each choice
either speeding up the workflow process or impeding it.

Although it’s not always clear which option is best, the agile method offers four core
principles that determine what to prioritize during the design process:

 Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

 Working software over comprehensive documentation
 Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
 Responding to change over following a plan

Agile vs. Traditional vs. Waterfall Web Design Processes

Three options are on the table in any web design scenario: traditional, waterfall, or agile
web design. Although traditional web development is archaic, some companies still use it,
especially when website redesigns are internal. Waterfall and agile fall under modern
web design, each with unique nuances. Here’s a roundup of the main difference between
traditional, waterfall, and agile web design processes.
Agile vs. Traditional

Traditional website design is primarily an internally-driven process. A company will hire a

web design agency but call all the shots regarding design, execution, functionality,
testing, etc. This type of design is outdated because it does not consider the customer at
all.

Main difference: Agile is user-centric while traditional is company-centric.

Agile vs. Waterfall

The waterfall method for web design is a feature-driven development process that tackles
one stage of the design process at a time, hence the waterfall or cascading motif.
Although this approach is goal-driven, it falters in its lack of flexibility. Its main risk is
that any issues in the early stages can hold up the rest of the steps, leading to ever-
increasing project delays.

Main difference: Agile is flexible and iterative, while the waterfall approach is linear and
rigid.

The Agile Web Design Process

The agile web development process has multiple steps that usually co-occur. It relies
heavily on teamwork, and early team meetings are essential to the project's success.
Instead of following a long sequential design process, agile web design involves sprints--
each with a unique goal and timeline.

The agile approach will usually include the following steps:

Step 1: Goals

The first step in any web design project is to set clear goals. What are you trying to
achieve with your website? Who is the target audience? What needs to be included on
the site? Answering these questions helps create a clear roadmap for the project.
Step 2: Ideation

Once the goals are defined, it's time to start generating ideas for meeting them. Here,
the assembled design and development team brainstorms with other stakeholders to
explore new and innovative ideas for the website.

Step 3: Plan

With a list of ideas/concepts, it's time to start planning how to turn those ideas into
reality. This step involves creating a project plan covering user flows, wireframes, and
prototypes to help visualize the website. It's essential to keep the customer in mind and,
if possible, involved during this step to ensure that the final product meets their needs.

Step 4: Sprint

A sprint is a short, focused period (usually 2-4 weeks) in which the team works on a
specific goal. This goal could be anything from designing the home page to adding a new
feature to the site. During sprints, staying focused and avoiding scope creep is essential.

Step 5: Iterate

After each sprint, the team takes a step back and subjects the outcome of the sprint to
user-centric testing, analysis, and feedback. Data collected from feedback and
functionality metrics are reincorporated back into the process, informing the team
whether to proceed or tweak the design further. During iteration, the focus is to keep
progressing and not get stuck.

Step 6: Production

Once all the project goals have been met, the design is usually production-ready and can
move to the development phase. While this might seem like the end of the process, the
concept of agile assumes that this step can loop back to any previous stages, depending
on any new information arising.

Benefits of Using Agile Web Design

There are many benefits to using an agile web design process.
Some of these benefits include:

1. Transparency

One of the main benefits of agile is that it is a very transparent process. Everyone on the
team knows what needs to be done and when it needs to be done, helping avert surprises
and keeping everyone on track.

2. Faster launch

Because the agile web design process involves sprints, the project tends to move along
faster as each sprint has a specific goal and timeline.

3. Improved quality and customer satisfaction

Since agile involves getting feedback from users early in the process, it helps improve the
final product quality, leading to higher levels of customer satisfaction.

4. Focus on core project deliverables

Another advantage of agile web design is that it helps teams focus on the most critical
aspects of the project, allowing for better use of resources and results in a higher-quality
product.

5. Reduced risk

Agile web design inherently reduces risk because changes can be made quickly based on
user feedback, helping avoid costly mistakes and keeping the project on track.

6. Cost savings

Agile web design can also lead to cost savings due to a flexible and adaptable process
structure. Teams can make changes quickly and easily without incurring high costs.
7. Easy adaptation to change

Since agile web design is all about flexibility, it is easy to adapt to new circumstances,
requirements, or data, which is especially beneficial when run as a data-driven process.

8. Better communication

Better communication is a vital hallmark of the agile web design process. It encourages
open communication between all team members, the customer, and stakeholders
throughout the process, helping avoid misunderstandings and keeping everyone on the
same page.

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%20Agile%20Methodology%20Defined,based%20milestones%2C%20and%20rigid%20objectives.

Top 12 Software Development

Methodologies

Looking to add more structure to your software development workflow?

Selecting the right software development methodology for your product
organization depends largely on your team size, goals, and other factors.

Software Development methodologies play a vital part in developing

software system. Custom software development companies use many software
development methodologies for their day-to-day operations. There are certain
advantages and disadvantages associated with each of them. The basic
purpose of these methodologies is to provide smooth software development
according to the project requirements.
The software development methodology is a framework that is used to
structure, plan, and control the process development of an information
system. In this kind of development methodology, the only concern of
software development process is that it does not involve any technical aspect
but demands proper planning for the software development lifecycle by the
development organization.
 12 Different Software Development
Methodologies

1. Agile Software Development

Methodology

Agile Software Development methodology is one of the best software

development approaches that is used to design a disciplined software
management process which also allows some frequent alteration in the
development project. This is a type of software development methodology that is
one conceptual framework for undertaking various software engineering
projects. Agile Development is used to minimize risk by developing software in
short time boxes which are called iterations that generally last for one week to
one month.
Advantages of Agile Development Methodology
 Customer satisfaction by rapid, continuous delivery of useful software.
 Human interaction is emphasized rather than process and development tools.
Customers, developers and testers constantly interact with each other.
 Agile methodology has an adaptive approach that is able to respond to the
changing requirements of the clients.
 Direct communication and constant feedback from customer representatives
leave no space for any guesswork in the system.
Disadvantages of Agile Development Methodology
 In the case of some software deliverables, especially the large ones, it is
difficult to assess the effort required at the beginning of the software
development life cycle.
 Agile focuses on working software rather than documentation, hence it may
result in a lack of documentation.
 The project can easily get taken off track if the customer representative is not
clear what final outcome that they want.
 Only senior programmers are capable of taking the kind of decisions required
during the development process. Hence it has no place for newbie
programmers unless combined with experienced resources.
2. DevOps Methodology
 DevOps is a popular term gaining a lot of attention among all the software
development methodologies because of the unconditional benefits it offers to
its customers. The siloed process of Development and Operations is not the
same as the inception of DevOps. These two departments are functioning
together as a single team for all processes in the entire life-cycle. This works
concurrently for all businesses. The continuous integration and continuous
delivery model allow development and operational teams to perform
everything simultaneously in development, quality assurance, security, and
other operations.

Now businesses are turning more towards DevOps as an agile and lean
approach that enables a crisp collaboration between all the stages of the
development life cycle.

Advantages of DevOps
 Faster Process Multiple ongoing processes work simultaneously which
makes the process faster and easier for businesses to process on time. By
adapting to changes in the market, DevOps enables businesses to grow
efficiently and drive definite business results.
 Offers Rapid Deliveries Microservices and Continuous delivery are some
elements of DevOps that offer business continuity and recent updates rapidly.
DevOps allows businesses to continuously innovate and improve products for
a better software product.
 Reliability With increasing changes in the product and infrastructure, the
developed products are robust and secure with a competitive advantage
against all the peers.
 Collaboration This is a collaborative platform pillared on strong parameters of
accountability and ownership. Both the development teams and operations
team are in sync with all activities of the development lifecycle to deliver faster
and effective products.
Disadvantages of Devops

 DevOps demands Cultural change Yes, this is true if you adopt DevOps in
your business, it demands cultural change and business needs to restart their
processes in order to grow efficiently.
 Organizational Upgradation is another important factor for companies to
upgrade their business from conventional methods to dividing into
multidisciplinary tasks that will allow them to use multiple skills at the same
time.
 Speed and security is not something that is achieved all the time using
DevOps. For some critical software engineering projects, there are companies
that may not assure both in a single stage and you may need to consider a
separate plan for security at every stage of your DevOps workflow.
3. Scrum Development Methodology
 You can apply the Scrum Development Methodology in nearly all types of
projects. For companies where the requirements are highly emerging and
rapid changes are easily adhered to, we use this type of development method.
The Scrum software development model begins with brief planning, meeting,
and concludes with a final review. Businesses can accelerate the
development of software using this method that allows a series of iterations in
a single go. It is one of the best software development methodologies
because it easily brings slowest progressing projects on track.
Advantages of Scrum Development
 Use Scrum Development for fast-moving, cutting-edge developments, rapid
codes, and testing mistakes that can be easily rectified.
 In this methodology, decision-making is entirely in the hands of the teams.
 This methodology enables projects with the business requirements
documentation and other signs that contribute to success.
 Enterprises can control the Project development steps visible in this method
with emphasis on frequent updating of the progress.
 A daily meeting easily helps the developer to make it possible to measure
individual productivity. This leads to the improvement in the productivity of
each of the team members.
 Due to short sprints and constant feedback, it becomes easier to cope with
the changes.
 It is easier to deliver a quality product at a scheduled time.
Disadvantages of Scrum Development
 As one of the leading causes of scope creep is Agile Scrum thus there is no
definite end date, the project management stakeholders will be tempted to
keep demanding that new functionality be delivered.
 You should keep the estimation of project costs and time accurate if not then
this kind of development model will suffer.
 It is good for small, fast-moving projects but not suitable for large complex
projects.
 This methodology needs experienced team members only. If the team
consists of people who are novices, the project cannot be completed within an
exact time frame.
 Scrum works well for project management when the Scrum Master trusts the
team they are managing. If they practice too strict control over the team
 members, it can be extremely frustrating for them, leading to demoralization
and the failure of the project.
 Project quality manager is hard to implement and quantify unless the test
team is able to conduct regression testing after each sprint.
4. Waterfall Model

The Waterfall Methodology is one of the most popular software development

methodologies. Most businesses consider this life cycle model as a classic
style of software development. This model clarifies the software development
process in a linear sequential flow. In any phase of the development cycle,
 you should always cross-check that the earlier phase is completed. This
traditional software development method is a rigid linear model. This
development approach does not define the process to go back to the previous
phase to handle changes in requirements.
Advantages of the Waterfall Model
 Waterfall model is very simple and easy to understand and uses methodology.
That is why it is beneficial for the beginner or novice developer.
 It is easy to manage the projects because of the rigidity of the model.
Moreover, each phase has specific deliverables and an individual review
process.
 Waterfall development methodology saves a significant amount of time at all
the phases processed and completed at a given time.
 The requirements are very well understood/defined in the waterfall method.
Also, it works effectively for smaller projects.
 You can easily do the testing that refers to the defined scenarios in the earlier
functional specification.
Disadvantages of Waterfall Model
 If the requirements are precise and are available up-front, then the waterfall
development method can only be used.
 Waterfall method is not applicable to projects that demand continuous
maintenance.
 The main drawback of this method is that once an application is in the testing
stage, it is not advisable to go back and do any amendments changes for
completed software, it may cause a lot of problems.
 There is no possibility that we can to develop any working software until it
reaches the last stage of the cycle
 You cannot include the client’s valuable feedback within the ongoing
development phase.
 In waterfall development method, there is no option to know the end result of
the entire project
 Make your requirements well-defined and clear or else this model is not
suitable. It is effective for long and ongoing projects.
 In waterfall methodology, Documentation occupies a lot of time for developers
and testers.
5. Prototype Methodology
 The Prototype Methodology is the software development process that
allows developers to create only the prototype of the solution to demonstrate
its functionality to the clients. Make all the necessary modifications before
developing the actual application using this methodology. The best feature of
this software development methodology is that it solves a plethora of issues
that often occur in a traditional waterfall model.
Advantages of Prototype Model
 Show the prototype to the client to have a clear understanding and complete
‘feel’ of the functionality developed in the software. It ensures a greater level
of customer satisfaction and comfort.
 Identify the scope of the refinement and accordingly accommodate new
changes in the given requirements.
 Significantly reduce the risk of failure using this method and identify the
potential risks at an early stage and moderation steps can be taken quickly.
 The communication between the software development team and the client
makes a very good and conducive environment during a project.
 It helps in requirement gathering and requirement analysis when there is a
lack of required documents.
Disadvantages of Prototype Model
 Prototyping is usually done at the cost of the developer, so it should be done
using minimal resources otherwise the organization’s development cost
stretches too much.
 Customers sometimes demand the actual product to be delivered soon after
seeing an early prototype.
 The clients have too much involvement which is not always aligned with the
software developer.
 It does not appreciate too many modifications in the project as it easily
disturbs the existing workflow of the entire software development process.
 Customers may not be satisfied or interested in the product after seeing the
initial prototype.
6. Feature Driven Development
 Feature Driven Development is an iterative approach out of all the software
methodologies, intended for use by large teams working on a project using
object-oriented technology. This type of model is good for organizations that
are transitioning from a phase-based approach to an iterative approach.
Feature Driven methodology is also known as an FDD methodology.
Advantages of FDD Methodology
 With Feature Driven Development model, Progress tracking of the project
happens by a feature that is a focused approach.
 It allow multiple teams to work simultaneously. Which, in turn, reduces the
time.
 FDD Helps to move larger size projects and obtain repeatable success.
 The simple five processes help to bring work done in a short time and easiest
manner.
 This type of model is built on set standards for the software development
industry, so it helps easy development and industry-recognized best practices.
Disadvantages of FDD Methodology
 Not an ideal methodology for smaller projects, so it is not good for an
individual software developer.
 High dependency on the main developer means the person should be fully
equipped for an act as coordinator, lead designer, and mentor.
 No written documentation is provided to clients in this methodology, so they
are not able to get proof for their software.
7. Rapid Application Development (RAD)
 Rapid Application Development (RAD) is an effective methodology that
provides much quicker development and higher-quality results than those
achieved with the other software development methodologies. It is designed in
such a way that it easily takes the maximum advantage of the software
development. The main objective of rapid application development
methodology is to accelerate the entire software development process. The
goal is easily achievable because it allows active user participation in the
development process.
Advantages of the RAD model
 Rapid Application development model helps to reduce the risk and required
efforts on the part of the software developer.
 Additionally, this model also helps the clients to take quick reviews for the
project.
 This methodology encourages customer feedback which always provides
improvement scope for any software development project.
 As a result of prototyping in nature, there is a possibility of lesser defects.
 Each phase in RAD delivers the highest priority functionality to the client.
Disadvantages RAD model
 This model depends on the strong team and individual performances for
clearly identifying the exact requirement of the business.
 It only works on systems that can be modularized can be built using this
methodology.
 This approach demands highly skilled developers and a designer’s team
which may not be possible for every organization.
 This method is not applicable for the developer to use in small budget projects
as the cost of modeling and automated code generation is very high.
 Progress and problems accustomed are hard to track as such there is no
documentation to demonstrate what has been done.
8. Spiral Model

The Spiral Model is a sophisticated model that focuses on the early

identification and reduction of project risks. In this software development
methodology, developers start on a small scale then explores the risks
involved in the project, make a plan to handle the risks, and finally decides
whether to take the next step of the project to do the next iteration of the
 spiral. The success of any Spiral Lifecycle Model depends on the reliable,
attentive, and knowledgeable management of the project.
Advantages of Spiral Model
 The high amount of risk analysis being done hence, avoidance of possible risk
is certainly reduced with this model.
 This model is good for large size and critical projects.
 In the spiral model, additional functionality can be added at a later date.
 Development is fast and features are added systematically in this model.
 It is more suited for high-risk projects, where business needs may differ from
time to time basis.
Disadvantages of Spiral Model
 It is certainly a costly model to use in terms of development.
 The success of the entire project is dependent on the risk analysis phase
thus, failure in this phase may damage the entire project.
 It is not appropriate for low-risk projects.
 The big risk of this methodology is that it may continue indefinitely and never
finish.
 Documentation is more as it has intermediate phases.
9. Dynamic Systems Development Model
Methodology
 Dynamic Systems Development Model is a software development
methodology originally based on the Rapid Application Development
methodology. This is an iterative and incremental approach that emphasizes
continuous user involvement. Its main aim is to deliver software systems on
time and within budget. This model simply works on the philosophy that
nothing is developed perfectly in the first attempt and considers it an ever-
changing process.
Advantages of Dynamic Systems Development Model
 Users are highly involved in the development of the system so, they are more
likely to get a grip on the software development project.
 In a dynamic systems model, the basic functionality is delivered quickly, with
more functionality being delivered at frequent intervals.
 This method provides easy access by developers to end-users.
 In this kind of development, approach projects are delivered on time and
within a specific budget.
Disadvantages of Dynamic Systems Development Model
 The first thing is that DSDM is costly to implement, as it requires users and
developers both to be trained to employ it effectively. It may not be suitable for
small organizations or one-time projects.
 It is a relatively new model, therefore, it is not very common and easy to
understand.
 Dynamic systems model Requires significant user involvement.
 This model Involves the progressive development of project requirements.
10. Extreme Programming Methodology

Extreme Programming is an agile software engineering methodology. This

methodology, which is shortly known as XP methodology, is mainly used for
creating software within a very unstable environment. It allows greater
flexibility within the modeling process. The main goal of this XP model is to
lower the cost of software requirements. It is quite common in the XP model
 that the cost of changing the requirements at later stages in the project can be
very high.
Advantages of Extreme Programming Methodology
 The main advantage of Extreme Programming is that this methodology allows
software development companies to save costs and time required for project
realization. Time savings are available because of the fact that XP focuses on
the timely delivery of final products. Extreme Programming teams save lots of
money because they don’t use too much documentation. They usually solve
problems through discussions inside of the team.
 Extreme programming methodologies emphasize customer involvement.
 This model helps to establish rational plans and schedules and to get the
developers personally committed to their schedules which are surely a big
advantage in the XP model.
 This model is consistent with most modern development methods so,
developers are able to produce quality software.
Disadvantages of Extreme Programming Methodology
 Some specialists say that Extreme Programming is focused on the code
rather than on design. That may be a problem because good design is
extremely important for software applications. It helps sell them in the
software market. Additionally, in XP projects the defect documentation is not
always good. Lack of defect documentation may lead to the occurrence of
similar bugs in the future.
 This methodology is only as effective as the people involved, Agile does not
solve this issue.
 This kind of software development model requires meetings at frequent
intervals at enormous expense to customers.
 It requires too many development changes which are very difficult to adopt
every time for the software developer.
 In this methodology, it tends to be impossible to know exact estimates of work
effort needed to provide a quote, because at the starting of the project nobody
is aware of the entire scope and requirements of the project.
11. Joint Application Development
Methodology
 Joint Application Development (JAD) is a requirements-definition and user-
interface development methodology in which end-users, clients, and
developers attend intense off-site meetings to work out and finalize software
systems. This methodology aims to involve the client in the design and
development of an application. JAD sessions easily accomplish targeted goals
with a series of collaborative workshops. The main focus of this model is to
resolve the business problem rather than technical details. Thus it is most
suitable for developing business systems.
Advantages JAD Methodology
 This methodology allows for the simultaneous gathering and consolidating of
large amounts of information. The collaboration between the company and the
clients lowers all risks.
 This software development mode effectively produces large amounts of high-
quality information in a short period of time. It reduces the costs and time
needed for project development.
 With the proper assistance of the organizer, the differences are immediately
resolved in this method.
 This model provides a forum to explore multiple points of view regarding a
topic.
 Well-defined requirements improve system quality.
Disadvantages of JAD Methodology
 JAD methodology takes a large amount of time as it requires significant
planning and scheduling effort on the part of the project development team.
 It requires significant investor commitment in terms of time and effort.
 This approach requires trained and experienced personnel for the effective
implementation of the entire project.
 Different opinions within the team make it difficult to align goals and maintain
focus.
 12. Lean Development Methodology

Lean Development Methodology focuses on the creation of easily

changeable software. This Software Development model is more strategically
focused than any other type of agile methodology. The goal of this
methodology is to develop software in one-third of the time, with a limited
budget, and a very less amount of required workflow.
Advantages of Lean Development Methodology
 The early elimination of the overall efficiency of the development process
certainly helps to speeds up the process of entire software development which
surely reduces the cost of the project.
 Delivering the product early is a definite advantage. It means that the
development team can deliver more functionality in a shorter period of time,
hence enabling more software projects to be delivered.
 Empowerment of the development team helps in developing the decision-
making ability of the team members which creates more motivation among
team members.
Disadvantages of Lean Development Methodology
 Success in software development depends on how disciplined the team
members are and how to advance their technical skills.
 The role of a business analyst is vital to ensure the business requirements
documentation is understood properly. If any organization doesn’t have a
person with the right business analyst then this method may not be useful for
them.
 In this development model, great flexibility is given to the developer which is
surely great, but too much of it will quickly lead to a development team that
lost focus on its original objectives thus, it hearts the flow of the entire project
development work.

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