Dynamic

Customer Development vs Waterfall Methodology

Developers should learn Customer Development when working on new products, startups, or innovative features to ensure they build solutions that solve real problems for users meets developers should learn and use the waterfall methodology in projects with well-defined, stable requirements and low uncertainty, such as government contracts, safety-critical systems, or large-scale infrastructure where changes are costly. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Customer Development

Developers should learn Customer Development when working on new products, startups, or innovative features to ensure they build solutions that solve real problems for users

Customer Development

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Customer Development when working on new products, startups, or innovative features to ensure they build solutions that solve real problems for users

Pros

  • +It is particularly valuable in agile and lean startup environments to avoid wasted effort on unvalidated ideas, helping teams pivot or persevere based on evidence from customer interactions
  • +Related to: lean-startup, product-management

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Waterfall Methodology

Developers should learn and use the Waterfall Methodology in projects with well-defined, stable requirements and low uncertainty, such as government contracts, safety-critical systems, or large-scale infrastructure where changes are costly

Pros

  • +It is suitable when regulatory compliance, detailed documentation, and predictable timelines are priorities, as it provides a structured framework for managing complex, long-term projects
  • +Related to: software-development-life-cycle, project-management

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Customer Development if: You want it is particularly valuable in agile and lean startup environments to avoid wasted effort on unvalidated ideas, helping teams pivot or persevere based on evidence from customer interactions and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Waterfall Methodology if: You prioritize it is suitable when regulatory compliance, detailed documentation, and predictable timelines are priorities, as it provides a structured framework for managing complex, long-term projects over what Customer Development offers.

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The Bottom Line
Customer Development wins

Developers should learn Customer Development when working on new products, startups, or innovative features to ensure they build solutions that solve real problems for users

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev