Reverse the Dot-Com Slump, Part 2 Sanity Check

Traditionally, software development processes often fall short of their intended purposes. In the numerous software companies we have examined, we have observed that the corollary to user dissatisfaction is always the absence of a product lifecycle.

Products without a lifecycle are characterized by ill-conceived specifications, development and testing, poorly coordinated staff overworking at a frenetic pace, and, worst of all, an uninformed sales channel.

Methodology is intended to control and monitor product development. When you initiate and adhere to common processes and procedures, you encourage collaboration and get a team that is on the same page. To look at various models, please see: Software LifeCycle Models.

Furthermore, if you have more than one software company or development location, you can encourage cross-pollination by implementing the same software lifecycle at all sites.

The corollary to the lifecycle is the Project Charter, a simple signed agreement across the company, framed by phases, milestones and deliverables, naming participants and their functional responsibilities. Project controls are set in place with a tracking and communication portal on the company’s web site.

ßetaWatch Inc. President and Senior Consultant Temi Grafstein and her team provide audit services for clients in a wide range of technologies including middleware, virtual private network, customer-relationship management, e-commerce, firewall, knowledge management, transaction switch, point of sale, media convergence, online auction, and information warehousing.

Grafstein developed ßetaWatch's digital due diligence™ to accelerate revenue growth.