Waterfall Development Methodology

A faulty schedule or process can be your downfall. When making large financial commitments in this economy, knowing exactly what you're getting offers security and peace of mind.

An innovative vision is great, but with a large or enterprise project, it's only the beginning. Some projects require a structured process with careful planning and approval. Many review cycles and extensive documentation are needed to safeguard that vision.

We begin all of our projects according to the MentorMate Way: determine business needs first, and design from the user perspective. We keep this critical principle at the forefront of our minds throughout each of the 11 steps in our development process:

  1. Initial Storyboard Meeting
    2. Our design team listens to you discuss your needs and begins to sketch out a solution.

  2. Finish Storyboarding Process
    3. Our design team shares the completed storyboard with you and listens to feedback.

  3. Storyboard User Reactions
    4. Further feedback is given about the design, and final modifications are made to the storyboard.

  4. System Requirements Specification (SRS), Creation, and Validation
    5. Our technical team determines clear specifications for your project.

  5. Development
    6. All technical and design features are implemented by our technical team.

  6. Quality Assurance Testing
    7. Our quality assurance specialists examine the product to find potential problem areas.

  7. User Testing
    8. Another form of quality assurance - various users test the product to help find problem areas.

  8. Deployment & Implementation
    9. Your software solution is implemented and we continue to monitor your progress to ensure satisfaction.

  9. Ongoing Support
    10. Your project manager will facilitate ongoing support for your software solution on an as-needed basis.

  10. New Features
    11. Did you think of something else you'd like to add now that you saw your solution in action? This step provides you with the opportunity to change or add to your solution.

  11. Supplemental Materials
    12. If you need additional documentation or supplemental products, let us know and we can design them for you.

The end result of this process is a quality software solution that meets the vision you had before the process ever began - a solution that meets your business needs and is both easy-to-use and appealing to the end user.

Is Waterfall Right for You?

Large corporations, nonprofit groups, and government institutions are examples of organizations that may have waterfall requirements. When a large corporation embarks on a significant project, or a nonprofit/government group begins work using money from third-party funding, a strict project outline can be the best approach.

Countless cycles of revision and extensive documentation make the design process considerably more timely, and thus, more expensive. However, when dealing with third-party funding and large budgets, meticulous planning can offer security and peace of mind. Waterfall also provides artifacts to show board members and stakeholders a tangible idea of what's in store before development ever begins.

If you need some help developing your idea or deciding on a development methodology, fill out our contact form and let us know! We'll get back to you within one business day and give you the next steps you need to make your project a reality.