Software Development: Easy Steps To Follow For The Process
Todays software development companies and the developers are continuously working
to create and deliver software that suits a customer's need and streamlines their business process.
Here are some strategies that have been used extensively to deliver web development projects successfully, on-time and on-budget.
Many times, customers don't understand the inefficiencies in their business process and dont know how to apply a software solution to make it more efficient. In such cases, a software developer develops a custom application that can be used to manage the process in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Successful implementation of this task can be broken down into ten definite steps.
Ten Steps for Success
Study Customer's Business Process Flow
1. The process on flow must be understood by contacting the customer.
2. This gives the developer a brief idea of the business process so that it could be explained thoroughly to someone else.
3. Then the developer works with the customer on possible ways to rationalize the process with a software solution.
Collect Requirements from the Customer
4. In India, software development is incomplete without good requirements. The typical result of software does not meet the customer's needs or does not fit their business process flow.
5. Requirements make up the detailed blueprint for the software program to be developed.
6. They are detailed lists and descriptions of specific actions that the software must perform.
7. This often includes defining levels of security, or access to the software, data setup and storage requirements, specific functionality throughout the application, reporting capabilities and other details.
8. All of this needs to be hashed out with the customer as completely as possible before one line of code is written.
9. This is why it's crucial to understand the problem the software is addressing and the business flow the software is being developed to support. Requirements should cover every step of that process.
Document the Requirements
10. After gathering the requirements create a proper document of it.
11. Organize the requirements in a way that follows the business process flow.
12. Create a brief document that embodies all the customer requirements.
Analyze the Requirements with the Customer
Ensure that software development companies jot down every detail of the requirements document is covered so that it meets the customer's needs and will fully support their business process flow.
Estimate Completion Date
Discuss the project time-frame with the customer for proper development, testing and release of the application. If the deadline is too hostile, there are a couple of choices like:
13. Adding more developers to the project speeds up development.
14. Secondly, the developer and the customer can start the process of trimming down the requirements in an effort to shorten the development time.
15. In the end, agree on a date and stick to it. Not only will the customer be happy, but the developer can then move on to the next project.
Code the Application
16. Coding is the time for the developer to flex his technical and creative muscles.
17. Developers take each project as an opportunity to stretch technical understanding and learn a new skill.
18. During the coding phase, meet the customer to get clarification on a requirement.
Avoid Scope Creep
19. "Scope creep" is the process by which the customer continues to add or change requirements well into the code phase, or even the testing phase.
20. Point out to the customer that it was not captured in the agreed-upon requirements and refer to the document.
21. In most cases on Indian software development, the change or feature can be shelved until after the initial release and a second version is being considered.
22. In some cases the developer can concede and incorporate changes into the software.
Developer Tests the Application
Developer must test every scenario in the software. The goal is to hunt out as many bugs as possible before releasing it to the customer for testing.
Release it to the Customer for Testing
Demo the finished product to the customer. Show the customer how the software addresses the business needs. Familiarize them different screens and functions of the program.
Provide the customer with some testing scripts, steps to follow for testing, to prime the pump and get them started. Establish a good process for the customer to use to document bugs. Have the customer document the bugs in bug-tracking software, or even just a spreadsheet. Show them how to provide screen shots that show the application state and error. As bugs are fixed, the document can be updated to reflect the fix.
Release to Production
Finally the project will be used to manage the customer's business process. Fix a date of release and remind the customer that communication about the new software should be going out to the company weeks in advance so that people are prepared for the change. The customer should also hold any necessary training classes needed before the release or shortly after it.
After release, check with the customer on how the software is working for them and determine if there are any problems that need to be fixed product.
Conclusion
The above mentioned steps increase the chances of creating useful software. It takes experience to gain the necessary skills for a good software project, but each time the process is completed, the developer should become more capable of avoiding common pitfalls and releasing a great product.
by: Holly Maxted
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