Title: A Comparative Analysis of Systems Development Lifecycle and Agile

Development Methodologies
Introduction
Two well-known approaches in the field of software development are the Systems
Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile Development. Both provide organized methods
for developing software, but their procedures, guiding ideas, and final products are very
different. The objective of this discourse is to evaluate and contrast various approaches,
clarifying their unique characteristics, appropriate use cases, and possible shortcomings.
Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
The structured and linear procedure of the Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
distinguishes it as a conventional sequential approach to software development. The
requirements collecting, system design, implementation, testing, deployment, and
maintenance phases make up its traditional six stages (Fitzgerald & Dennis, 2009). The
process has limited room for modifications once it has started; each step must be finished
before going on to the next.
Large-scale business systems or critical infrastructure software are two examples of
projects with well-defined requirements and stable scopes where the SDLC is appropriate.
For example, the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) guarantees comprehensive
planning and documentation to fulfill compliance standards while designing a banking
application with strict regulatory requirements (Pressman, 2014).
Agile Development Methodologies
Agile development approaches place a strong emphasis on flexibility, collaboration,
and iterative development in contrast to the strict structure of the SDLC. Adaptive planning,
evolutionary development, early delivery, and continuous improvement are prioritized by
agile approaches such as Scrum and Kanban (Schwaber & Sutherland, 2017). Teams operate
in brief intervals known as sprints, releasing little functional increments at a time.
Agile is appropriate for projects like software startups, mobile app development, or
creative product prototypes that have changing requirements, a high degree of uncertainty, or
fast market changes (Cohn, 2010). For example, Agile development enables regular user
feedback and quick feature changes in response to customer preferences or market trends
when developing a new mobile gaming application.
Comparison and Contrast
Although producing high-quality software is the common goal of both SDLC and
Agile, their methods for doing so are very different. While Agile embraces change and places
a higher value on functional software than extensive documentation, SDLC places a higher
priority on meticulous upfront preparation and documentation (Highsmith, 2004).
One significant distinction is how they handle requirements. While Agile recognizes
the possibility of changing needs and promotes adaptive solutions, SDLC implies that
requirements may be completely known and established at the project's commencement
(Larman & Vodde, 2009).
Drawbacks of Agile Implementation
Agile adoption in businesses may face a few difficulties despite its advantages.
Opposition to change is a prevalent problem, particularly in businesses used to conventional
techniques like the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) (Ambler, 2009). Furthermore,
a cultural transformation that may be challenging to accomplish in hierarchical or walled
organizations is required by Agile's emphasis on self-organizing teams and regular
cooperation (Sutherland, 2019).
Additionally, Agile projects necessitate ongoing stakeholder contact and active
engagement, which can be difficult to maintain, especially in big, geographically scattered
teams (Dybå & Dingsøyr, 2008). Finally, if Agile's iterative nature is not adequately
controlled, it may result in scope creep or feature bloat, which could cause project delays or
budget overruns (Hoda et al., 2019).
In conclusion, there are two different approaches to software development: the
Systems Development Lifecycle and the Agile Development techniques. Each has advantages
and disadvantages. Agile is more appropriate for projects with changing demands and a high
degree of uncertainty than SDLC, which is best suited for projects with well-defined
requirements and stable scopes. While choosing the best software development technique,
organizations must carefully analyze their team dynamics, corporate culture, and project
needs.
References
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