Question

You want to develop an e-commerce web site for specialty toys, what would be the best methodology to develop such a system? and why? (think of SDLC, waterfall, Scrum etc.)

Answer 1

SDLC is the traditional method of project development. It is very primitive in nature. It contains only the basic methodologies. But here in this case, it is project of developing an e commerce site. A lot of complexities are involved in this. SDLC is out of question cannot be used to develop an e-commerce site. Both Waterfall and Scrum methodologies could be used in the project. But Scrum is better equipped to deliver the project of developing an e-commerce site.

Reasons why Scrum is preferred over Waterfall are detailed below:

Difficulties in using Waterfall

The Waterfall model is for very simple and are used for projects that are definite in nature. The goals of the project must not change during the course of the project. It is linear in nature and sudden changes cannot be done. But when developing an e-commerce site, we cannot have a project management tool that is rigid in nature.

While using waterfall model, the project has to complete atleast two phases, before the coding actually begins. So the client will not be able to see the software till the end of the project.

In the waterfall model, the requirement has to given in the early stages itself. But gathering the requirements at the early stages of the project is very difficult, since the stake holders themselves do not have a clear picture of what they actually require. Only the project takes shape, the client would be able to say exactly what they expect.

Advantages of Using SCRUM:

Scrum methodology has high level of transparency, all the all the team members working in the different modules of the project would be able to know what is happening in the other modules.

It can accommodate changes at any time in the project. Changes in the expectation of the stakeholders could be delivered even at the last stages of the project. It is highly accurate and this attribute is required when developing a e-commerce site.

There is no project manager in a scrum team. The Scrum does not require a manager to direct them what to do. They collectively know what job could be completed in a single sprint.

There is increased cost savings, since there is constant communication between the team members. Changes if any are communicated immediately to all the team members. There is a continuous feedback mechanism, which helps to correct mistakes at the early stage itself, instead of going in for a huge expensive alternative.