The traditional Waterfall approach to product development follows a step-by-step path: planning everything upfront, then building, testing, and releasing. This method creates a fixed structure where changes become more costly as the project moves forward. Agile takes a different approach by using short, repeated cycles called sprints. Instead of planning everything at the start, Agile teams deliver working product pieces regularly, using feedback to make improvements along the way. In Waterfall, product managers create detailed requirement documents that specify exactly what needs to be built. The development team then follows these specifications with little room for change.

Agile instead uses user stories, personas, and team collaboration, where everyone works together to find the best solution to user problems. The main difference is how each handles change. Waterfall tries to predict everything in advance, while Agile expects change and builds processes that can adapt quickly. This changes how product managers choose which features to build first, talk with stakeholders, and measure success. Rather than checking progress against a fixed plan, Agile teams focus on delivering value to customers and responding to what they learn.^[1]