How to Choose the Right Software Development Model

Finding the right custom software development approach is one of the most critical decisions you'll make when launching or scaling a digital product. With a range of software development methods and software development life cycle models available, it's important to match your model to your unique goals, resources, and project complexity.

This checklist is designed to guide product owners, CTOs, and decision-makers through the essential considerations before selecting a development approach. Use it to align your project goals with the right delivery model—whether Agile, Waterfall, dedicated team, or a hybrid of several.

Your development model impacts more than just code—it shapes your timelines, cost structures, flexibility, and product quality. Different software development life cycle models offer different trade-offs.

Some models offer speed and adaptability, while others provide predictability and structure. This section will prepare you to think holistically before diving into the checklist itself.

Before choosing a development approach, get clear on your pain points and project type. Are you entering a new market, scaling an existing product, or optimizing internal workflows?

Clarifying your core objective will help determine whether you need the flexibility of Agile, the stability of Waterfall, or the long-term support of a dedicated development team.

Start by understanding what your business needs to achieve. Your broader goals will influence the level of control, flexibility, and resources you’ll require.

• Do you need to launch quickly and iterate as you go?
• Are you planning a long-term product or just a one-off build?
• Is scalability a major priority from day one?
• Do you want to test a market with a minimum viable product (MVP)?
• Is your team experienced enough to manage technical scope internally?

Once your goals are clear, they will serve as a compass when selecting your software development model.

Your available budget, internal capabilities, and financial tolerance for iteration can make or break your approach.

• Can you afford a full in-house development team?
• Do you need to control costs with predictable pricing?
• Are you open to outsourcing or hybrid models?
• Do you have access to a project manager or product owner internally?
• Is long-term maintenance a part of your budget planning?

Matching your resources to the right software development methods ensures you're investing wisely.

Some projects are fixed from day one. Others evolve. Your model should reflect how much fluidity your product requires.

• Are your requirements fixed and clearly defined?
• Will your project likely evolve over time?
• Do you need the flexibility to change scope during the build?
• Is compliance or documentation a critical component?
• Do you require heavy user testing and iteration?

Understanding how rigid or evolving your scope is will shape whether you need a Waterfall vs Agile methodology.

Team composition matters. Whether you need ongoing collaboration or short-term execution, the structure of your dev team will shape your success.

• Do you need a dedicated team that feels like an internal unit?
• Would a fixed-scope, project-based model suit a short-term goal?
• Do you require ongoing support and feature iteration after launch?
• Will your internal team collaborate with the external developers?

Choosing the right team setup can directly impact communication, velocity, and long-term scalability.

Risk tolerance and control over your team or product roadmap are important in choosing between insourced or outsourced teams.

• Do you need full control over development priorities and timelines?
• Are you comfortable sharing project ownership with a vendor?
• Would you benefit from a managed service model with less overhead?
• Is data security and IP control a top concern in your sector?
• How involved do you want to be in the day-to-day process?

Your answers here will influence whether you lean toward in-house control or external flexibility.

Now that you’ve evaluated your goals, resources, and risk tolerance, map them to one of the common software development life cycle (SDLC) models.

• Agile/Scrum: Best for iterative development, MVPs, and evolving products.
• Waterfall: Ideal for fixed-scope, compliance-heavy, or linear projects.
• Dedicated Development Team: Great for scaling products with long-term goals.
• Time & Materials: Suitable for projects with unclear or changing scope.
• Hybrid Models: Useful when blending internal and outsourced capabilities.

Select the development methodology that best supports your structure, strategy, and long-term vision.

Choosing the right software development model isn’t about picking what’s trending—it’s about choosing what aligns with your business goals, budget, and risk profile. Whether you go for an Agile custom software development approach, a dedicated development team, or a hybrid life cycle model, the decision should empower your team to deliver value faster and more efficiently.

Need expert guidance to map your checklist answers to the right strategy? Speak to a software consultant at Scrums.com and build a development model tailored to your success.

‍

Additional Software Development Resources

Explore more expert insights and tools to help you navigate the complexities of custom software development, delivery models, and team collaboration.

From Our Blog

• Cracking the Software Development Cycle for Success
  Understand the phases of the SDLC and how to align each with your project goals.
• Adapting Agile Methodologies for Distributed Engineering Teams
  Learn how to apply Agile in a remote environment without losing team cohesion or speed.
• Best Practices in SDLC Implementation for Successful Delivery
  A practical guide for structuring your projects for efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Mastering Agile Software Development
  Go beyond theory with actionable tips on applying Agile in real-world development teams.

Videos

• Maximising Efficiency: Integrating Agile Methodologies
  A visual breakdown of how Agile practices can streamline your development pipeline.

From Our Software Outsourcing Series

• ‍Agile Software Outsourcing Strategies
  Discover how to combine the flexibility of Agile with the cost efficiency of outsourcing.