Scrum Team Asks... Can We Combine Scrum and Waterfall?

There's no question that Scrum and waterfall have their differences. Scrum is an agile methodology for managing work, while waterfall is more of a traditional, linear approach.

So, what happens when you try to combine the two?

The answer is, it depends.

On the surface, it may seem like a bad idea to mix two different approaches to work. After all, they're designed to be used in different ways.

But there are some situations where combining Scrum and waterfall can be helpful. For example, if you're working on a large project with a lot of moving parts, using both Scrum and waterfall can help keep things organized and on track.

Of course, it's not always a perfect fit. There can be challenges when trying to use both Scrum and waterfall at the same time. For example, you may need to be flexible and adaptable, and be willing to change your approach as the project progresses.

But if you really see a need to combine the two methods, it would probably be best to have waterfall as the micro methodology and the steps during a sprint with sequenced tasks, or to use waterfall as the macro methodology and using a little Agile flavor on the appropriate steps that flexibility and feedback would be useful. Most importantly, use clear communication with your team so they understand expectations as you switch between methodologies or use them al a cart!