Waterfall and agile depend on customer relations

The debate between Agile and Waterfall methods for project management seems to have forgotten about customers, and more specifically the commitments made to customers.

Waterfall and Agile methods differ in that Waterfall promises a specific set of functionality on a specific date, and Agile promises that the product is always ready to ship (but perhaps not with all the features you want). These two methods require different techniques for project management, but also imply different relationships with customers.

It's easy to forget that the customers are the people who actually pay for the product (or service). Too often, we focus on the "internal customer" and think of due dates and service level agreements. But let's think about the traditional customers.

If your business promises specific functionality to customers on specific dates, they you probably want the waterfall project management techniques. Agile methods are a poor fit. They may work for the development and testing of the product, they don't mesh with the schedules developed by people making promises to customers.

Lots of companies promise specific deliverables at a future date. Some companies have to deliver releases in time for other, external events, such as Intuit's TurboTax in time for tax season. Microsoft has announced software in advance, sometimes to deter competition. (Microsoft is not alone in this activity.)

Not every company works this way. Google, for example, upgrades its search page and apps (Google Docs, Google Sheets) when they can. They have never announced -- in advance -- new features for their search page. (They do announce changes, sometimes a short period before they implement them, but not too far in advance.) Amazon.com rolls out changes to its sales pages and web service platform as they can. There is no "summer release" and no analog to a new car model year. And they are successful.

If your company promises new versions (or new products) on specific dates, you may want to manage your projects with the Waterfall method. The Agile method will fit into your schedule poorly, as it doesn't promise what Agile promises.

You may also want to review your company's philosophy towards releases. Do you need to release software on specific dates? Must you follow a rigid release schedule? For all of your releases?