# Agile and waterfall delivery for integration projects

*MuleSoft Integration Foundations Study Guide · Identify the roles, responsibilities, and lifecycle of a integration project · Last updated November 2, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/mulesoft-integration-foundations/project-roles-responsibilities-and-lifecycle/agile-and-waterfall-delivery-for-integration-projects*

How agile project development (user stories, sprints, continuous integration and delivery) differs from waterfall's all-at-once delivery, the five benefits MuleSoft lists for agile, and why agile alone does not clear an IT backlog.

- Certification: Salesforce MuleSoft Integration Foundations
- Exam section: Identify the roles, responsibilities, and lifecycle of a integration project
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/mulesoft-integration-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> Describe the common delivery methodologies for integration projects.

## What the exam expects

- Distinguish agile (iterative, incremental from the start) from waterfall (delivered all at once) given a project requirement.
- Describe how agile work flows: user stories, prioritization, sprints and iterations, delivered through continuous integration and delivery.
- Name the benefits MuleSoft lists for agile: higher quality, better visibility and performance, greater predictability, less risk, higher customer satisfaction.
- Reject myths: agile drops quality or documentation, delays customer feedback, or removes the need for continuous integration.

Key terms:
- **Agile project development**: an iterative approach in which software is built incrementally from the beginning of the project.
- **Waterfall model**: a traditional approach in which the project is delivered all at once.
- **User story**: a small piece of the project with a simple description of its requirements and components.
- **Sprint**: a short delivery cycle in which the team builds and delivers components.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Agile definition | Iterative; software built incrementally from the beginning of the project | [Agile project development](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/what-agile-project-development) |
| Waterfall definition | Traditional approach; project delivered all at once | [Agile project development](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/what-agile-project-development) |
| Unit of agile work | User stories, discussed and prioritized before work starts | [Agile project development](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/what-agile-project-development) |
| How agile delivers | Continuous delivery and integration, sprints and iterations | [Agile project development](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/what-agile-project-development) |
| Agile adoption | 71% of companies report using agile methodologies | [Agile project development](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/what-agile-project-development) |
| Agile averages | 37% faster to market, 16% more productive | [Agile project development](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/what-agile-project-development) |
| Cox Automotive | From 2-month cycles to 2-week sprints, after unlocking assets with Anypoint Platform | [DevOps team structure](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/devops-team-structure) |
| Agile and the backlog | Adopting agile does not stop the backlog growing | [Managing IT projects](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/secret-to-managing-it-projects) |

## Check yourself

- What share of companies does MuleSoft's page report as using agile methodologies?
- When does agile give customers a way to engage during development?
- Why did Cox Automotive's 2-week sprints help its business partners?
- What average gains does the page attribute to agile in studies?

## Sources

- [What is agile project development?](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/what-agile-project-development)
- [DevOps team structure](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/devops-team-structure)
- [The secret to managing IT projects](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/api/secret-to-managing-it-projects)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 3 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the MuleSoft Integration Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams