US Department of Defence and the History of Waterfall Delivery

Explores the US Department of Defence’s shift from traditional waterfall delivery to lean-agile methods, highlighting new procurement rules and the need for true agility.

Published on 8 June 2025

1 minute read

https://nkdagility.com/resources/mlGmtc4ZqJM

For years, the US Department of Defence was the poster child for waterfall delivery. Locked gates, stage-based approvals, and delivery dates that existed more on paper than in production.

But now? The DOD has effectively banned waterfall by rewriting its procurement rules to favour lean-agile delivery.

They’ve acknowledged what many in our industry already know: that agility isn’t optional when the stakes are high, the domain is complex, and success can’t wait five years.

This isn’t theory. It’s law. And if the DOD can shift, what excuse do the rest of us have?

If you’re still dragging delivery through stage gates, ask yourself: are you enabling agility or just maintaining the illusion of control?

Also published on: LinkedIn

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