How to choose the right methodology?

When it comes to choosing the right methodology for your project, it is entirely dependent on the type of project you are planning, the type of organization you work for, and the team you are going to be working with. There are a few general rules for choosing the methodology for you.

Waterfall is the best choice for stable projects since all the heavy planning is done initially. Regardless of the project's dimension, Waterfall is the most suitable choice when the external environment is stable and unlikely to suffer changes throughout the plan. If you plan a project in a low-risk environment, there is no actual benefit in splitting it into sprints, instead, it is best to focus on the end result from the beginning. Also, if your project has a strict deadline, tight budget, pre-defined features, or strict regulatory requirements, Waterfall is the best choice.

On the other hand, if you are not sure what you need to build from the beginning, your timeline and budget are flexible, you are open to new ideas, and your team values collaboration, Agile is the way to go. Agile is the right choice for projects that require a more flexible process, or if the product can change due to external factors. It is also the best method to ensure that the project does not stay in development for several months before presenting any result. By the end of each sprint, there'll be a checkpoint in which the product owner can test and approve the completed work.