Difference between Scrum & Waterfall

Scrum is an Agile framework for managing projects. It is often used in software development and other fields to organize and manage work in a collaborative and flexible way. Scrum is based on the principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation, and it is designed to help teams work together to deliver products or services in an efficient and effective way. The framework includes roles such as Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team, and it includes ceremonies such as Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective.

Waterfall is a linear, sequential method of software development, in which progress flows in one direction, like a waterfall, through the phases of requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, deployment and maintenance. The process of Waterfall development is typically divided into distinct phases, with specific deliverables and a review process at the end of each phase before moving on to the next. This method is known for its strong emphasis on planning and design, and a strict separation between each phase. It is considered to be a traditional, "old school" method of software development, and not as popular as Agile methods such as Scrum.

Agile development methods, such as Scrum, are often preferred over Waterfall in situations where the project requirements are uncertain or likely to change, or when a rapid development and deployment cycle is needed. Agile development focuses on delivering working software incrementally, with frequent reviews and adjustments, rather than waiting until the end of the project to deliver a final product.

Some situations where Agile may be a better choice than Waterfall include:

• Projects with rapidly changing or highly complex requirements

• Projects that require frequent interaction and feedback from the customer

• Projects where the end-product is hard to define or predict

• Projects that need to be delivered quickly

• Projects that involve a high degree of collaboration and communication between team members

• Projects with a high degree of technical uncertainty

On the other hand, Waterfall method is more appropriate for projects where the requirements are well understood, stable, and unlikely to change. For example, projects with well-defined goals and deliverables, where the end-product is easy to predict, and the process is well-defined.

In summary, Agile is a better choice when the project is complex, uncertain and needs frequent feedback, while Waterfall is better when the project is well-defined and predictable.