TRAINING for Strategy > Software Development Processes

Software Development Processes

The various activities which are undertaken when developing software are commonly known as a software development process. This process begins with the identification of a requirement for software and ends with the formal verification of the developed software. There are a number of different models for software development processes include Sequential processes, Progressive Development processes and Iterative processes. The documented collection of policies, methods and procedures followed by a development team or organization to practice software engineering defines the software development Process of that organization. Latest software development methodologies are the organized structures of sequential and parallel activities imposed on the development of software products. A series of definable, repeatable and measurable tasks lead to a useful result. The benefits of a well-defined process are numerous.

Software is no longer marginal in technical systems but has now become a central factor in many fields. There is an enormous expansion in the use of software in business, industry, administration and research. System features are based on software functionality, rather than other characteristics. These are becoming the most important factor for competing in the market. Usability, robustness, simple installation and integration have become the most important features of software. The demand for the integration of different areas include vertical integration, in which data and processes at different levels are integrated, and horizontal integration, in which similar types of data and processes from different domains are integrated.

Lack of careful planning and execution never meet the goals. A consequence of all this is that software is becoming increasingly large and complex. Software development should address the challenges of increasing complexity and dependence on external software. This has led to a number of problems resulting in the failure of the majority of projects to meet their deadline, budget, and quality requirements and the continued increase in the costs associated with software maintenance. A large percentage of software projects fail because of improper planning.

The efforts of creating software are wasted if nobody in an organization uses it. People are often resistant to change and avoid venturing into an unfamiliar area, so as a part of the deployment phase, it is very important to have training classes for new clients/ end users of new software. A worse situation can arise when a project starts with new people in the team, new and unproven technology, unknown business domains and that is too with challenging deadlines.

STRATEGIQA has been deploying various customized training programs addressing the needs of IT Industry. In our courses we provide knowledge and visibility about timely management control and mid-course corrections against the expected as well as unexpected errors and crisis. It helps developers to prepare for faults quite early before they cause an entire failure. This also avoids cascading of faults into later phases where, accumulation of increased number of faults leads to failure. Individual productivity along with the teams’ productivity increases due to coordination of activities.

A formal development methodology also helps to organize workflow and outputs to maximize resource utilization and to define everybody’s roles and responsibilities clearly. The adoption of a formal development process includes clear and complete policies that will lead to the benefits of correct requirements to generate the correct product in order to meet the customers’ needs. This leads to the inclusion of necessary features that will in turn, reduce the post-development cost. We will be able to estimate how long it will take to complete the project, to test and deploy. Not only that, we will have an easier time debugging and finding flaws in the software program or make enhancements to it. There are various phases in the process in software development. These phases can be summarized as analysis, design, implementation, testing, debugging, deployment and enhancement.

STRATEGIQA trains people in the development processes that include notation-a graphical or textual set of rule for representing a model, method-a repeatable technique for solving a specific problem and methodology-a collection of methods for solving a class of problems. We conduct a comprehensive SQA program along with 1 day workshops on Configuration Management, Test Management, Metrics, Estimation, Requirements Management, Root Cause Analysis, Peer Reviews and many more custom developed programs. We recommend a clear focus on doing the analysis and design before writing programs. STRATEGIQA helps teams visualize the available resources to make sure they have the time, money, and personnel to complete the project. Additionally, STRATEGIQA helps teams organize iteration or sprint plans to manage and schedule software releases.

STRATEGIQA firmly believes that every process and sub process exists to manage a business risk. Promulgating the same thought process we train the development managers and teams in understanding and managing business risks. Once the team understands what is at risk and how to mitigate the same, process adherence becomes much easier with the inherent understanding of the purpose.

SDLC Methodology
SDLC methodologies have evolved over time and STRATEGIQA fully understands their role in Software Development. The challenge is to select an appropriate SDLC methodology as per the business and delivery needs. STRATEGIQA helps clients identify these needs and adopt the most appropriate SDLC methodology for executing the project. STRATEGIQA has helped clients identify integrated SDLC methodologies for handling some highly complex projects.

System Development Methodology
STRATEGIQA helps clients in evolving a system development methodology, in Hyderabad and other IT hubs in India. This involves understanding the business objectives, target market needs and the intended scope of the services being offered. Once the scope of service is defined, STRATEGIQA helps clients identify the ways and means of creating a systemic approach for delivering the solutions. Also, STRATEGIQA helps the clients understand the systemic approach to the solution and look at the client problem from a systems point rather than focusing on just their piece of work. This helps them unearth hidden challenges and additional revenue opportunities with in the engagement.

QA Methodology
STRATEGIQA believes that quality is a philosophy, not just a function. In line with that, we promulgate QA methodologies across the organizations in an effective manner. We firmly believe that the QA methodology must add bottom line value. This is where QA gets aligned with business objectives rather than just quality objectives. STRATEGIQA also believes that the QA methodology should give any organization a unique edge in the market. This will elevate QA to a strategic level from operational level. STRATEGIQA advocates the development of QA methodology as a strategic component

Testing Methodology
STRATEGIQA believes that testing is a non-value adding activity. It can only preserve the value inherent in the product but it can not add additional features. However, we believe that Testing can add value, depending on the methodology adopted. STRATEGIQA advocates the involvement of testing team right from the contractual phase. This will help the teams develop and consistent understanding of the final solution. Also, the testing team can provide insights into the way the application can be designed and developed so as to meet the business needs. STRATEGIQA helps clients in adopting innovative testing methodologies to reduce the testing efforts and improve the test effectiveness.

Please have a look at Switchcraft, our own development methodology, to leverage on the weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

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