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At Futurism, Software Development Methodology
is a fundamental part of our development efforts.
Be it web application development, database
development, or general Windows interface development,
we apply the latest Software Development Methodology
to all of our development efforts.
Our development starts with a Needs Assessment
where we ascertain the nature of the problem.
We begin by talking with your staff, your management,
and your clients where appropriate. The goal
of this phase is two-fold. First, we want to
understand the true nature of the perceived
problem. Second, we want to make sure that we
are devising a solution that fits and will successfully
solve the problem.
Another aspect of the Needs Assessment is
the building of a development team. Because
we believe client involvement is a critical
aspect of a successful project, the team will
usually include members of your staff, and can
even include client representatives. Occasionally,
if the expertise is not already in-house, we
bring in additional expertise through our partner
organizations. Our goal is to build the best
team for the job, with the skills necessary
to make the project a success.
Once the Needs Assessment has been completed,
and work is to move forward, we begin the Design
Phase. During this time, we develop basic design
elements, such as the look of the application,
a skeletal structure of the application, or
even simple story boards to illustrate the applicationıs
flow. Once the basic design has been approved,
Futurism moves into a phase of Detailed Design.
It is here that the appropriate development
platform is chosen, key portions of code logic
are developed, and simple on-paper software
testing gets underway.
Throughout development, specific deliverables
are made available. These documents act as reference
points and provide guidance throughout the project.
Additionally, these deliverables give you a
firm sense of what is being developed, how itıs
being developed, and why. With your signoff
on these documents, we know that your expectations
and our development efforts are a matched set.
After careful planning and design, implementation
begins. Code is written, revisions are made
to design documents, true testing occurs, and
the application grows. As milestones are reached,
Futurism communicates these with you through
our online Client Extranet, and through status
meetings where new areas of functionality are
demonstrated and feedback is solicited.
As the project nears completion, beta testing
can begin. We release the product to key groups
of users who can test the core functionality
of the application in a production environment.
These users provide valuable input on usability,
key application features, and yes, even bugs.
This phase of development sees the largest number
of testing plans, including automated testing
plans. These test plans are part of the deliverables,
and can be used in regression testing. Finally,
the application is released to the full user
base.
A key element to any successful project is
the Project Manager. The Project Manager sees
the project through from Needs Assessment to
Release, and is your primary point of contact
at Futurism. Effective Project Management is
the key ingredient to Futurismıs success in
software development. The Project Manager is
responsible for communicating with the client,
building the team, development estimations,
resource scheduling, risk management, and quality-assurance.
Futurism invests heavily in its Project Managers,
and in providing them with the resources they
need to successfully fulfill your needs in a
timely and efficient manner.
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