---
title: "Waterfall, agile, and hybrid: choosing your approach"
course: "PMGT 170 · Get projects done on time"
unit: "Starting a project"
lesson: 6 of 38
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/waterfall-agile-and-hybrid-choosing-your-approach
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Waterfall, agile, and hybrid: choosing your approach

Lesson 6 of 38 in **Get projects done on time** (PMGT 170), unit "Starting a project". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Distinguish between waterfall, agile, and hybrid methodologies based on their assumptions about planning and change
- Apply a set of criteria — project size, uncertainty, stakeholder involvement, and change likelihood — to select the most appropriate methodology for a given scenario

## Teaching notes
Use an illustration that shows waterfall as a linear sequence of phases (requirements → design → build → test → deliver) next to agile as repeating sprint cycles, each producing a working increment. This side-by-side comparison makes the core difference immediately visible. Make stakeholder involvement a visible decision factor: for example, when requirements are stable and stakeholder feedback is less frequent, one approach may fit better, while frequent stakeholder input and changing needs may favor another.

No need to use the CrossTown Fitness scenario, choose other examples as you wish.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 6 complete: Waterfall, agile, and hybrid: choosing your approach."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Writing a project charter" (lesson 7 of 38), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/get-projects-done-on-time/writing-a-project-charter.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: The triple constraint: scope, time, and cost
Next lesson: Writing a project charter