Few days ago, I encountered with a client who was frustrated with his prior IT services provider and looking for a reliable one. At the initial communication, his first concern was what is our standardized procedure for software project management.
He asked what milestones we usually set and follow? How much are we efficient in the services we are offering to him? How is our communication channel? What our project planning involves? etc. These questions show his dissatisfaction with agile development methodology by his previous IT services providers.
Along with a satisfactory reply to his questions, our representatives provided detailed information about ideal software project management practices that involve:
- Scopes Identification
- Planning
- Execution
- Controlling and Validation
- Delivery and Evaluation
So let’s explore these above-mentioned software project management methodologies in brief:
Scopes Identification
It contains interactive communication through kick-off meeting between the development team and client to get clear understanding of requirements. After collection and analysis of expectations, identify development areas that need to focus.
This phase contains open discussion about technical and managerial excellency of the team members for a project development and management. The sales and technical teams guide non-technical clients in choosing an appropriate technology by explaining different technologies in detail. It aids clients in making profitable business decisions.
Planning
Basis of requirement analysis, planning of agile development methodology comes into existence. This is a key stage as it divides the entire project into different parts. If the planning is not proper, it leads the project into the wrong direction and drives negative consequences. This phase involves a development schedule with the defined timeline of completion, resource hiring, efforts for development, etc. based on client’s budgetary constraints.
Execution
The very next stage is implementation of requirements to accomplish project objectives. By following prior set milestones at planning stage, set the team of developers, communication plans, role and responsibilities, project schedule, reporting schedule, etc. Project delivery is varied case to case. It can be one-time or different phases. This covers changing requirements of clients during project development.
Controlling and Validation
Throughout the software project management life cycle, it is necessary to strictly follow pre-defined processes for delivering a robust solution. Controlling covers various operations such as project planning, quality assurance using testing, communicating with client to discuss several aspects of the project and much more.
In case, there are any issues with protocols, the situation will be under control. Validation is an agile development methodology that is followed by experts for all features, functions, and modules developed or integrated in the solution to check its output.
Delivery and Evaluation
Once installation of system is completed, it comes to delivery of solution to customer and close the project. If client is satisfied with performance of solution, he will accept it and accomplish payment. If there are any issues with the solution, the professionals search out best solutions and resolve all of them to deliver an application that generates expected output.
Tips for successful software product development
- Take non-development work off the plate of your team and let them concentrate on core software product development
- Motivating your team by sharing the success stories of others, such as those of tech giants, that inspire and excite them
- Avoid making any alteration in the project after it has been assigned. Ensure you and the client have understood every detail of the project and then only assign the task.
- Attempt to adhere to the schedule (until it needs to be changed)
- Preparing plans for promoting business by coordinating
- Streamline productivity via efficient delegation
- Create out-of-the-box strategies that lower the overall software development time by increasing efficiency.
- Don’t depend on verbal communications that are recalled during meetings. Everything should be documented and organized in the backlog with a pre-defined format.
Choose a reliable IT Offshore Software Development partner that offers streamlined software project management practices to develop effective solutions to simplify business processes. Contact us now to build your next project with the best software project management practices.
