Waterfall is a project management methodology that has been around for decades. Its linear approach has been the go-to for many industries, but it has its limitations.

The inflexibility of the process and lack of feedback loops can lead to overspending, missed deadlines, and projects never seeing the light of day. One of the biggest problems with waterfall is the challenge of recognizing when a project may be coming to an end. Below are six subtle signals that can indicate that your project is reaching its conclusion.

1. Scope Creep is Under Control

Scope creep is the result of continuous or uncontrolled changes in a project’s scope. It happens when the project manager or sponsor approves changes or additional features that are not part of the original project scope.

When a project is nearing its end, scope creep should be under control. The deliverables should align with the project requirements and provide value to the customer. Any additional features or change requests should be carefully weighed against their impact on the project’s scope, timeline, and budget.

2. Testing and Bug Fixes Are Wrapping Up

Testing and bug fixes are crucial parts of the software development cycle. As a project draws near completion, these activities should be wrapping up. Testing and debugging should have addressed all critical issues.

Any remaining bugs should have been prioritized and addressed based on their severity. The testing process and bug fixes should be planned and budgeted according to the project schedule.

3. Documentation is Almost Complete

Documentation is an important part of any project. It includes functional, technical, and user documentation. Functional documentation describes the system’s functionality and how it relates to the requirements.

Technical documentation details the architecture, design, and development of the system. User documentation describes how the system works, from a user’s perspective. As the project gains momentum, documentation should be developed and updated continuously.

Near the end of the project, documentation should be almost complete, and the final version should be ready for review and approval.

4. Stakeholders Are Looking Forward to the Final Deliverables

One way to gauge how your project is progressing is to get feedback from your stakeholders. Stakeholders are the people or groups affected by the project. They can range from end-users to investors.

As your project nears its end, your stakeholders should be looking forward to the final deliverables. They should be confident that the deliverables will align with their expectations and provide the value the project promised.

5. Final Reports and Metrics Are Being Compiled

Project reports and metrics help project managers and stakeholders measure and analyze the overall project performance.

These reports and metrics provide insights into how the project progressed, any risks that were identified and mitigated, and the return on investment. As the project comes to an end, these reports and metrics should be compiled, reviewed and used for future projects.

This final step is critical for continuous improvement and ensuring that future projects can learn from the project’s successes and failures.

6. There is a Clear Plan for Next Steps (Maintenance or Upgrade)

Projects don’t always end when they’re delivered. Some software projects require ongoing maintenance or upgrades.

Projects that are delivered without a clear plan for ongoing maintenance and support can quickly become outdated or unsupported, which can lead to increased costs and business disruption. A clear plan for ongoing maintenance or upgrade should be in place near the end of a project. The plan should include procedures for detecting and addressing issues that can arise in the post-development period.