Informal Processes vs Waterfall Methodology

Developers should learn about informal processes to understand how work actually gets done in real-world environments, as they often drive productivity and innovation when formal processes are too rigid or slow 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.

Informal Processes

Nice Pick

Developers should learn about informal processes to understand how work actually gets done in real-world environments, as they often drive productivity and innovation when formal processes are too rigid or slow

Pros

• This knowledge is crucial for improving team collaboration, identifying bottlenecks, and designing better formal processes that incorporate effective informal practices, especially in agile or fast-paced development settings where flexibility is key
• Related to: agile-methodology, team-collaboration

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 Informal Processes if: You want this knowledge is crucial for improving team collaboration, identifying bottlenecks, and designing better formal processes that incorporate effective informal practices, especially in agile or fast-paced development settings where flexibility is key 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 Informal Processes offers.

The Bottom Line

Informal Processes wins

Developers should learn about informal processes to understand how work actually gets done in real-world environments, as they often drive productivity and innovation when formal processes are too rigid or slow