What is the best way to choose an application development methodology?

1 Project scope and complexity

One of the first factors to consider is the scope and complexity of your project. How well-defined are the requirements, features, and functionalities of your software? How large is the project team and how distributed are they? How much uncertainty and risk are involved in the development process? Depending on your answers, you may prefer a methodology that is more flexible and adaptive, or more structured and predictable. For example, agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, are suitable for projects that have changing or unclear requirements, small and cross-functional teams, and frequent feedback and testing cycles. On the other hand, waterfall or spiral methodologies are more appropriate for projects that have stable and clear requirements, large and hierarchical teams, and sequential and formal phases of development.

3 Development tools and practices

A third factor to consider is the availability and suitability of the development tools and practices that you use or want to use for your project. What kind of software tools do you use for planning, designing, coding, testing, deploying, and maintaining your software? What kind of development practices do you follow or want to follow, such as code reviews, pair programming, continuous integration, continuous delivery, or DevOps? Depending on your answers, you may prefer a methodology that is more compatible and supportive of your tools and practices, or more flexible and adaptable to your needs and preferences. For example, agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, are suitable for projects that use modern and integrated tools, such as cloud-based platforms, code repositories, or collaboration software, and follow best practices, such as code quality, testing automation, or deployment automation. On the other hand, waterfall or spiral methodologies are more appropriate for projects that use traditional or custom tools, such as desktop-based applications, databases, or documentation software, and follow standard practices, such as code documentation, testing plans, or deployment procedures.

4 Team culture and values

A final factor to consider is the culture and values of your project team. How do you and your team members work together, communicate, and collaborate? What kind of roles, responsibilities, and expectations do you and your team members have? What kind of values, principles, and goals do you and your team members share? Depending on your answers, you may prefer a methodology that is more aligned and consistent with your team culture and values, or more diverse and complementary to your team strengths and weaknesses. For example, agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, are suitable for teams that have a high degree of trust, autonomy, and empowerment, and value customer satisfaction, teamwork, and continuous improvement. On the other hand, waterfall or spiral methodologies are more appropriate for teams that have a high degree of discipline, accountability, and authority, and value quality assurance, documentation, and risk management.

5 Tips for choosing a methodology

When selecting an application development methodology, it's important to consider various factors like project scope, complexity, stakeholder expectations, tools, and team culture. To make the decision easier, don't be afraid to mix and match elements from different methods that suit your project needs. Don't be rigid or dogmatic about following a methodology precisely either; be open to adapt and modify it as the project progresses and as you learn from experience. Additionally, don't be reluctant to experiment with new methodologies or practices that you're curious about. By taking these factors into account, comparing various methodologies, and following some tips, you can make a better and more informed choice for your software engineering project.