{"id":31441,"date":"2025-07-14T19:13:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T19:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/?p=31441"},"modified":"2026-09-21T16:29:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T16:29:40","slug":"waterfall-methodology-with-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/waterfall-methodology-with-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Waterfall Methodology: The 6 Phases, Documents, and a Full Example"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/waterfall-methodology-ai\/\">waterfall methodology<\/a> is a project approach where work flows through six phases in a fixed order: requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Each phase must be finished and signed off before the next one starts. It suits projects with clear, stable goals and strict documentation needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Picture water falling down a set of steps. It only ever flows downward. It never climbs back up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is the whole idea behind the waterfall method. You plan everything first, then build it in order, and you try hard not to go backwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide explains every phase, the document each one produces, a template you can copy, and a full worked example with real dates and numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ol><li><a href=\"#what-is-waterfall-methodology\">What Is Waterfall Methodology?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-are-the-core-phases-of-the-waterfall-development-lifecycle\">What Are the Core Phases of the Waterfall Development Lifecycle?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#which-document-does-each-waterfall-phase-produce\">Which Document Does Each Waterfall Phase Produce?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-are-phase-gates-and-how-do-you-run-one\">What Are Phase Gates, and How Do You Run One?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-does-waterfall-scheduling-work\">How Does Waterfall Scheduling Work?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-does-a-waterfall-project-look-like-in-real-life\">What Does a Waterfall Project Look Like in Real Life?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#waterfall-vs-agile-what-is-the-real-difference\">Waterfall vs Agile: What Is the Real Difference?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#can-you-combine-waterfall-and-agile\">Can You Combine Waterfall and Agile?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#when-should-you-use-the-waterfall-approach\">When Should You Use the Waterfall Approach?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-are-the-benefits-of-the-waterfall-method\">What Are the Benefits of the Waterfall Method?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-are-the-downsides-of-the-waterfall-method\">What Are the Downsides of the Waterfall Method?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#can-i-integrate-waterfall-methodology-with-agile-tools-offered-by-major-vendors\">Can I Integrate Waterfall Methodology With Agile Tools Offered by Major Vendors?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-project-management-software-supports-the-waterfall-methodology\">What Project Management Software Supports the Waterfall Methodology?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-do-you-implement-the-waterfall-methodology-using-popular-enterprise-tools\">How Do You Implement the Waterfall Methodology Using Popular Enterprise Tools?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-waterfall-project-template\">The Waterfall Project Template<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-are-the-8-most-common-waterfall-mistakes\">What Are the 8 Most Common Waterfall Mistakes?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-does-writegenic-ai-fit-in\">How Does Writegenic AI Fit In?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions About What is Waterfall Methodology<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-is-waterfall-methodology\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Waterfall Methodology?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waterfall methodology is a way of running a project in a straight line. You finish one phase completely, get it approved, and only then start the next one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of building a house. You cannot put up walls before the foundation is poured. You cannot paint a room before the walls exist. The order is fixed by reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waterfall works the same way. Each phase depends on the one before it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where does the name come from?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The model was first described in a 1970 paper by Winston W. Royce called <em>Managing the Development of Large Software Systems<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is the interesting part. Royce never used the word &#8220;waterfall.&#8221; And he did not fully recommend the strict step-by-step version. He drew it as an example, then argued that you need feedback loops between the steps to make it safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The industry kept the diagram and dropped his warning. That is why many teams today use a softer version, with checks built in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Waterfall methodology in one table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Feature<\/th><th>How waterfall handles it<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Order of work<\/td><td>Fixed and sequential<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Planning<\/td><td>Done in full, at the start<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Requirements<\/td><td>Locked before building begins<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Customer involvement<\/td><td>Heavy at the start and the end<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Changes<\/td><td>Handled through formal change requests<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Documentation<\/td><td>Detailed, and produced at every phase<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Testing<\/td><td>A dedicated phase, after building<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Delivery<\/td><td>One complete product at the end<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-core-phases-of-the-waterfall-development-lifecycle\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Core Phases of the Waterfall Development Lifecycle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 6 core phases. Some guides list 5 and merge testing into deployment, but 6 is the version most teams and exams use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>#<\/th><th>Phase<\/th><th>Main question it answers<\/th><th>Main output<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Requirements<\/td><td>What must this do?<\/td><td>Requirements document<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Design<\/td><td>How will we build it?<\/td><td>Design specifications<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Implementation<\/td><td>Let&#8217;s build it<\/td><td>The working product<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Testing<\/td><td>Does it work properly?<\/td><td>Test results and fixes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>Deployment<\/td><td>Let&#8217;s give it to users<\/td><td>Live product and training<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>Maintenance<\/td><td>Keep it running<\/td><td>Support log and updates<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 1: Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You gather everything the product must do, and write it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You talk to users, managers, and anyone affected. You ask what problem needs solving. You write each need as a clear statement that can be tested later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This phase matters more in waterfall than anywhere else. A mistake here travels through all five remaining phases. Fixing it at the end costs far more than fixing it now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Phase ends when:<\/strong> the client signs the requirements document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 2: Design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You decide how the product will be built, before anyone builds anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Design usually splits in two. The high-level design covers screens, user journeys, and how parts fit together. The low-level design covers the technical detail, such as data structures and how systems talk to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The output is a <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/functional-design-specification\/\">functional design specification<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/technical-design-specification\/\">technical design specification<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Phase ends when:<\/strong> the technical lead and client approve the design documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 3: Implementation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team builds the product, following the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In software this means writing code. In construction it means pouring concrete and raising walls. In manufacturing it means making the parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Developers do small checks as they go, but full testing waits for the next phase. Work is often split between people by section, so several parts get built at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Phase ends when:<\/strong> all planned features are built and pass a basic check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 4: Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Testers check the product against the requirements document, line by line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They look for bugs, missing features, and anything that does not match what was agreed. Every problem goes into a defect log, gets a severity level, and is sent back for fixing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Users often join at this point for acceptance testing. They try the product in a realistic way and confirm it does what they asked for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Phase ends when:<\/strong> all serious defects are fixed and users sign the acceptance form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 5: Deployment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The product goes live and real people start using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This covers installing the product, moving old data across, training users, and writing user guides. Many teams keep the old system running in parallel for a short time, as a safety net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Phase ends when:<\/strong> the product is live and the support team has taken ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 6: Maintenance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The product is running, and you keep it working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You fix bugs found by real users, apply security updates, and make small improvements. Big new features usually become a new project rather than an extension of this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Phase ends when:<\/strong> the product is retired or replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"which-document-does-each-waterfall-phase-produce\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Document Does Each Waterfall Phase Produce?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waterfall runs on paperwork. That is the point. Every decision gets written down, so a new team member can pick up the project and understand it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Phase<\/th><th>Documents produced<\/th><th>Who signs it off<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Before you start<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-charter-template\/\">Project charter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-planning-and-scheduling-manual\/\">project plan and schedule<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/risk-assessment-plan-template\/\">risk assessment plan<\/a><\/td><td>Sponsor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Requirements<\/td><td>Requirements document, acceptance criteria<\/td><td>Client and business analyst<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Design<\/td><td>Functional design spec, technical design spec<\/td><td>Technical lead and client<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Implementation<\/td><td>Build notes, code documentation, <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/write-successful-project-execution-plan\/\">execution plan<\/a> updates<\/td><td>Technical lead<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Testing<\/td><td>Test plan, test results, defect log, acceptance form<\/td><td>QA lead and client<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Deployment<\/td><td>Deployment plan, rollback plan, user guides, training material<\/td><td>Operations lead<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maintenance<\/td><td>Support log, change requests<\/td><td>Support manager<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>At the end<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-closure-guide-for-project-completion\/\">Project closure report<\/a>, lessons learned<\/td><td>Sponsor<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If documentation feels like a lot of work, that is because it is. It is also the reason regulated industries choose waterfall. When an auditor asks why a decision was made in month three, someone can show them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-phase-gates-and-how-do-you-run-one\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are Phase Gates, and How Do You Run One?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A phase gate is a checkpoint between two phases. Nobody moves forward until the gate is passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Run each gate as a short meeting, using the same five checks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>[ ] Every deliverable for this phase is complete<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>[ ] The right people have reviewed and approved the documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>[ ] Open issues have owners and dates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>[ ] The budget and schedule still look realistic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>[ ] The next phase has the people and money it needs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a check fails, you have three choices. Fix the gap and meet again. Pass the gate with conditions written down. Or stop the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Passing a gate &#8220;because the deadline is close&#8221; is the most common way waterfall projects go wrong. The problem does not disappear. It just gets more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-does-waterfall-scheduling-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does Waterfall Scheduling Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waterfall scheduling means building one long schedule at the start, covering the whole project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because phases run in order, most tasks depend on earlier ones. That makes a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gantt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Gantt chart<\/a> the natural tool. Each bar is a task, and arrows show what must finish first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four ideas do most of the work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Idea<\/th><th>What it means<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Dependency<\/td><td>Task B cannot start until Task A finishes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Milestone<\/td><td>A zero-length marker, such as &#8220;design approved&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Critical path<\/td><td>The chain of tasks that sets the project&#8217;s end date<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Buffer<\/td><td>Spare time added to absorb delays<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two practical rules for waterfall scheduling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Put buffer at the end of each phase, not inside each task.<\/strong> If you hide spare time in every task, people use it all. Pooled buffer is used only when it is needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Watch the critical path weekly.<\/strong> A one-day slip on the critical path pushes the whole project by one day. A one-day slip elsewhere may cost nothing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-planning-and-scheduling-manual\/\">project planning and scheduling guide<\/a> walks through building the schedule step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-does-a-waterfall-project-look-like-in-real-life\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does a Waterfall Project Look Like in Real Life?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is a full example. It&#8217;s a clinic booking system for a small private health clinic. The numbers are illustrative, but the shape is realistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Project:<\/strong> Online appointment booking system <strong>Planned length:<\/strong> 20 weeks \u00b7 <strong>Budget:<\/strong> \u00a396,000 \u00b7 <strong>Team:<\/strong> 6 people<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Phase<\/th><th>Weeks<\/th><th>Cost<\/th><th>What happened<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Requirements<\/td><td>1\u20134<\/td><td>\u00a314,000<\/td><td>11 staff interviews. 84 requirements agreed and signed.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Design<\/td><td>5\u20138<\/td><td>\u00a316,000<\/td><td>Screens, database design, and integration with the clinic&#8217;s records system.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Implementation<\/td><td>9\u201315<\/td><td>\u00a338,000<\/td><td>Build split into booking, reminders, and admin sections.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Testing<\/td><td>16\u201318<\/td><td>\u00a314,000<\/td><td>63 defects found. 9 serious, all fixed. Staff ran acceptance testing in week 18.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Deployment<\/td><td>19\u201320<\/td><td>\u00a310,000<\/td><td>Old system ran in parallel for 2 weeks. 22 staff trained.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maintenance<\/td><td>Ongoing<\/td><td>\u00a31,800\/month<\/td><td>Support contract, 12 months.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What went to plan:<\/strong> the requirements phase was slow and thorough, and it paid off. Only 3 change requests came in after sign-off, and all were small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What went wrong:<\/strong> the records system integration was harder than the design assumed. Implementation ran 4 days late, which pushed testing into week 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What that cost:<\/strong> \u00a34,200 in extra developer days, and a one-week delay to go-live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The waterfall lesson:<\/strong> the design phase assumed an old system worked a certain way, and nobody tested that assumption. In waterfall, an untested assumption in phase 2 shows up as a bill in phase 4. Build a small proof-of-concept for any risky integration during the design phase, not after it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"waterfall-vs-agile-what-is-the-real-difference\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Waterfall vs Agile: What Is the Real Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Agile splits work into short cycles, usually one to four weeks. Each cycle produces something usable. Plans change as the team learns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waterfall plans everything up front and delivers once, at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><\/th><th>Waterfall<\/th><th>Agile<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Structure<\/td><td>6 phases, in order<\/td><td>Repeating short cycles<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Requirements<\/td><td>Fixed early<\/td><td>Expected to change<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Delivery<\/td><td>One release at the end<\/td><td>Small releases throughout<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Customer input<\/td><td>Start and end<\/td><td>Every cycle<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Documentation<\/td><td>Heavy and formal<\/td><td>Lighter, &#8220;just enough&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Testing<\/td><td>Its own phase<\/td><td>Continuous<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cost and date<\/td><td>Estimated early, tracked against a baseline<\/td><td>Adjusted as you go<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best for<\/td><td>Clear, stable goals<\/td><td>Unclear or shifting goals<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Biggest risk<\/td><td>Finding a mistake late<\/td><td>Scope drifting forever<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither one is better. They answer different questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask yourself: <strong>do I know exactly what I need before we start?<\/strong> If yes, waterfall gives you control and predictability. If no, agile lets you discover it safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"can-you-combine-waterfall-and-agile\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Combine Waterfall and Agile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, and many teams do. The common name for it is a hybrid approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The usual pattern looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Waterfall at the front.<\/strong> Requirements and design are done properly, with sign-off and a budget.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agile in the middle.<\/strong> The build happens in short cycles, with testing inside each one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Waterfall at the end.<\/strong> Deployment, training, and formal closure follow a fixed plan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This suits organisations that need a firm budget and a delivery date, but also want the team to catch problems early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trap to avoid is doing both badly. If you demand a fixed scope, a fixed date, <em>and<\/em> frequent change, you get the paperwork of waterfall with none of the stability. Pick which part is flexible before you start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"when-should-you-use-the-waterfall-approach\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Should You Use the Waterfall Approach?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Answer these 6 questions. Count your yes answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do you know exactly what the finished product must do?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are the requirements unlikely to change during the project?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does your industry require detailed documentation or audits?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the technology familiar to the team?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you need a firm price and date before work starts?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Would delivering it in small pieces be useless or unsafe?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4 or more yes:<\/strong> waterfall method project management fits well. <strong>2 to 3 yes:<\/strong> consider a hybrid approach. <strong>0 to 1 yes:<\/strong> agile is probably the better fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which industries use waterfall most?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Industry<\/th><th>Why waterfall fits<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Construction and engineering<\/td><td>You cannot iterate a bridge. Order is set by physics.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Manufacturing<\/td><td>Tooling and materials are fixed long before production.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Government and defence<\/td><td>Contracts, audits, and approvals demand documentation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Healthcare and pharmaceuticals<\/td><td>Regulators require evidence for every decision.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Finance and insurance<\/td><td>Compliance rules must be proven, not discovered.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hardware products<\/td><td>Physical parts cannot be changed every two weeks.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-benefits-of-the-waterfall-method\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Benefits of the Waterfall Method?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clear structure.<\/strong> Everyone knows the phase, the deadline, and the deliverable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Predictable cost and dates.<\/strong> Full planning up front gives you a real budget and end date.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Easy progress tracking.<\/strong> &#8220;We are in testing, 70% through&#8221; means something specific.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strong documentation.<\/strong> New people can join and get up to speed from the files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Less need for constant client time.<\/strong> Clients approve at gates, not every week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Simple handover.<\/strong> The support team inherits complete documents, not tribal knowledge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Audit-friendly.<\/strong> Every decision has a date, an owner, and a signature.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-downsides-of-the-waterfall-method\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Downsides of the Waterfall Method?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every weakness has a partial fix. Use both columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Downside<\/th><th>How to reduce it<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Mistakes found late are expensive<\/td><td>Build a prototype during design for anything risky<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hard to change direction<\/td><td>Agree a clear change request process on day one<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Testing sits near the end<\/td><td>Run small technical tests during implementation too<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Customer sees nothing until late<\/td><td>Show clickable mock-ups at the end of the design phase<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Heavy documentation takes time<\/td><td>Use templates and AI drafting so writing is not the bottleneck<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A delay in one phase moves everything<\/td><td>Track the critical path and hold buffer at phase ends<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Assumes requirements are knowable<\/td><td>Be honest early: if they are not, use a hybrid approach<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"can-i-integrate-waterfall-methodology-with-agile-tools-offered-by-major-vendors\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I Integrate Waterfall Methodology With Agile Tools Offered by Major Vendors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Most modern project tools were built for agile, but nearly all of them can run a waterfall project. You just have to set them up differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is the usual translation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Waterfall idea<\/th><th>How to set it up in an agile tool<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Phase<\/td><td>A parent item, such as an epic, a section, or a swimlane<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phase gate<\/td><td>A milestone task with a checklist, and required approvers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dependency<\/td><td>The tool&#8217;s &#8220;blocked by&#8221; or dependency link between tasks<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Long schedule<\/td><td>The tool&#8217;s Gantt or timeline view, not the sprint board<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phase sign-off<\/td><td>A required approval field, or a task assigned to the approver<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Documents<\/td><td>Linked pages in the connected wiki or document tool<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three tips that make the difference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Switch off sprints, or make each phase one long sprint.<\/strong> Fighting the sprint model is the main reason these setups fail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Turn on the dependency view.<\/strong> Without it, you lose the critical path, which is the heart of waterfall scheduling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make approvals real.<\/strong> A gate that anybody can drag past is not a gate.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tools change their menus often, so check each vendor&#8217;s own help pages for the current steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-project-management-software-supports-the-waterfall-methodology\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Project Management Software Supports the Waterfall Methodology?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No single tool covers everything. A waterfall project needs three jobs done, and different tools are best at each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Job<\/th><th>What to look for<\/th><th>Type of tool<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Building and tracking the schedule<\/td><td>Gantt view, dependencies, critical path, baselines<\/td><td>Scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project, Primavera, Smartsheet, or the timeline view in a general project tool<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Managing tasks and gates<\/td><td>Parent items, approvals, checklists, custom fields<\/td><td>General project management platforms<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Writing and storing documents<\/td><td>Templates, version history, shared editing, search<\/td><td>Wiki and document tools, plus AI writing assistants<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two things matter more than the brand name:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Baselines.<\/strong> Waterfall compares planned against actual. If your tool cannot save a baseline schedule, you cannot measure slippage properly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dependencies.<\/strong> If the tool only offers a flat task list with due dates, it cannot show you a critical path.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick tools your team already uses. A perfect process in an app nobody opens will fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-do-you-implement-the-waterfall-methodology-using-popular-enterprise-tools\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do You Implement the Waterfall Methodology Using Popular Enterprise Tools?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The steps below describe the usual approach in each type of platform. Menu names change, so check the vendor&#8217;s help centre if a step looks different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Microsoft Project<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create 6 summary tasks, one per phase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add the tasks for each phase underneath as sub-tasks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Link tasks with finish-to-start dependencies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add a milestone with zero duration at each phase gate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set the baseline once the plan is approved, so you can compare planned against actual later.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jira with a timeline or plan view<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create an epic for each of the 6 phases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add stories and tasks under each epic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use &#8220;blocks&#8221; and &#8220;is blocked by&#8221; links to build dependencies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open the timeline or plans view to see the Gantt layout.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep design and requirements documents in the connected wiki, linked from each epic.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smartsheet or a spreadsheet-style tool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start from a project or Gantt template.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add a row group per phase, with an indented task list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fill in the predecessor column to create dependencies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add an approval column for gate sign-off.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Primavera P6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Build a work breakdown structure with phases at the top level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add activities under each phase, with durations and relationships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Run the schedule to calculate the critical path.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save the baseline and track progress against it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Document tools such as Confluence, SharePoint, Notion, or Google Docs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create one project space, with a folder per phase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Save a page template for each document type.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn on version history and require reviewer approval.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Link every document from the matching task in your project tool.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-waterfall-project-template\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Waterfall Project Template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Copy this into your project tool or document. It gives you the shape of a full waterfall plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>WATERFALL PROJECT PLAN\n\nProject name:\nProject manager:               Sponsor:\nStart date:                    Planned end date:\nTotal budget:\n\nPHASE 1 \u2014 REQUIREMENTS\n  Dates:                       Owner:\n  Tasks:\n  Deliverables: requirements document, acceptance criteria\n  Gate criteria: client signs requirements document\n  Gate date:                   Approver:\n\nPHASE 2 \u2014 DESIGN\n  Dates:                       Owner:\n  Tasks:\n  Deliverables: functional design spec, technical design spec\n  Gate criteria: technical lead and client approve designs\n  Gate date:                   Approver:\n\nPHASE 3 \u2014 IMPLEMENTATION\n  Dates:                       Owner:\n  Tasks:\n  Deliverables: built product, build notes\n  Gate criteria: all features built and passing basic checks\n  Gate date:                   Approver:\n\nPHASE 4 \u2014 TESTING\n  Dates:                       Owner:\n  Tasks:\n  Deliverables: test plan, test results, defect log, acceptance form\n  Gate criteria: no open serious defects, users accept\n  Gate date:                   Approver:\n\nPHASE 5 \u2014 DEPLOYMENT\n  Dates:                       Owner:\n  Tasks:\n  Deliverables: deployment plan, rollback plan, user guides, training\n  Gate criteria: product live, support team has ownership\n  Gate date:                   Approver:\n\nPHASE 6 \u2014 MAINTENANCE\n  Support owner:               Support period:\n  Deliverables: support log, change request process\n\nACROSS ALL PHASES\n  Change request process:\n  Risk register owner:\n  Status report: weekly \/ fortnightly, to:\n  Buffer held:                 days, released by:\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-8-most-common-waterfall-mistakes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the 8 Most Common Waterfall Mistakes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rushing the requirements phase.<\/strong> Every hour saved here costs many hours later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Passing a gate to hit a date.<\/strong> The problem does not go away. It just hides.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Locking requirements with no change process.<\/strong> People will need changes. Give them a proper route.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leaving all testing to the end.<\/strong> Do technical checks during the build too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hiding buffer inside every task.<\/strong> Pool it at phase ends instead.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ignoring the critical path.<\/strong> Not every delay matters equally. Know which ones do.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Writing documents nobody reads.<\/strong> If a document has no reader, replace it with one that does.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Using waterfall for an unclear goal.<\/strong> If you cannot describe the finished product, you are not ready for waterfall.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-does-writegenic-ai-fit-in\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does Writegenic AI Fit In?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The waterfall approach produces a lot of writing. Requirements documents, design specs, test plans, user guides, status reports, and the closure report. For many teams that writing is the slowest part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/\">Writegenic AI<\/a> helps you draft it faster. You can use it to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Turn interview notes into a requirements document<\/strong> with clear, testable statements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Draft functional and technical design specs<\/strong> from your outline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Write user guides and training material<\/strong> from the finished product notes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Summarise defect logs<\/strong> into a short status update for the sponsor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Draft the closure report<\/strong> at the end of the project<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explore <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/ai-generators\/ai-for-project-management\/\">AI for project management<\/a>, browse the <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-management-tools\/\">project management tools<\/a>, or use the <a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/prompt-generator\/\">prompt generator<\/a> to write better instructions for your drafts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Draft with the tool, keep the judgement.<\/strong> AI can produce a solid first draft in minutes. It cannot know what your client said in the meeting, why a technical decision was made, or which risk actually worries your team. In a waterfall project the documents are the contract, so a human must check every line before it is signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/register\">Try Writegenic AI free<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions About What is Waterfall Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005816032\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is waterfall methodology in simple words?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It is a way of running a project in a fixed order. You finish one phase, get it approved, then start the next. You plan everything at the start and deliver the finished product at the end.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005818973\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What are the 6 phases of the waterfall method?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Each phase must be complete and signed off before the next one begins.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005820282\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why is it called waterfall?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Because progress flows downward through the phases, like water falling down steps. It is meant to move in one direction only.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005821505\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Who invented the waterfall model?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The model was described in a 1970 paper by Winston W. Royce. He never called it &#8220;waterfall,&#8221; and he actually warned that the strict version was risky without feedback between steps.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005822792\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Is waterfall methodology still used today?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, especially in construction, manufacturing, defence, healthcare, and regulated finance. Anywhere the goal is clear and documentation is required, the waterfall approach still makes sense.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005824185\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the difference between waterfall and agile?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Waterfall plans everything up front and delivers once at the end. Agile works in short cycles and delivers small pieces throughout. Waterfall suits fixed goals; agile suits changing ones.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005825759\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can you go back to a previous phase in waterfall?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>In the strict model, no. In practice, yes, through a formal change request. The change is documented, costed, and approved before any work restarts.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005908273\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is a phase gate?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>A checkpoint between two phases. The team confirms the deliverables are complete and approved before the project moves on.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005909408\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is waterfall scheduling?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It is building one full schedule at the start, covering every phase, with dependencies between tasks. A Gantt chart is the usual tool, and the critical path decides the end date.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005927762\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What documents does a waterfall project need?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Usually a project charter, requirements document, functional and technical design specs, test plan and results, deployment and rollback plans, user guides, and a closure report.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005928905\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Is waterfall good for software development?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It can be, when the requirements are genuinely fixed and well understood. For products that must learn from users as they go, agile or a hybrid approach usually works better.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790005930824\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can AI help run a waterfall project?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>It helps most with the documentation, which is the heaviest part of the waterfall method. It can draft specs, guides, and reports fast. A person still has to check the facts and approve them.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Related reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-planning-and-scheduling-manual\/\">Project Planning and Scheduling: Steps + Example<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-closure-guide-for-project-completion\/\">Project Closure: Checklist + Closure Report Template<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/technical-design-specification\/\">Technical Design Specification: Template + Example<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/risk-assessment-plan-template\/\">Risk Assessment Plan: How to Write One + Template<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/project-charter-template\/\">Project Charter Templates With Real Examples<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Waterfall methodology explained simply: the 6 phases, the documents each phase produces, phase gates, a free template, and a full worked example with costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":31647,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[32],"class_list":["post-31441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-project-management-guide","tag-project-management"],"authors":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31441"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33656,"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31441\/revisions\/33656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writegenic.ai\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}