Our approach to software development is based on the standard Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). We follow it closely in the execution of our projects in order to minimize risks and assure that our products are delivered in time and with quality.
The general phases of the SDLC process in chronological order ARE as follows:
– Audit & Analysis
– Specification & Software Architecture
– Code Development
– Testing & Deployment
– Production & Training
– Maintenance & Monitoring
All of our projects begin with an audit and analysis of the environment. This stage begins by interviewing stake holders at all levels (management, power users, end users, third parties involved in the client’s business process). From the results of the conducted interviews, an analysis of the existing software is made for validation. The research produced at this stage becomes the foundation for our requirement documents, which are then validated by the client’s technical and management team.
The results of our Audit and Analysis help us map out the client’s business processes. With these business processes and gathered requirements, we produce a quick specification book that will include a list of deliverables by priority to be validated to the client. This ensures us a full buyout of the client’s team, and an agreement on the scope of the projects.
Following the validation of the quick specification book, our software architect completes the specification book that will be used by the developers, testers, and documentation writers to launch their share of the project.
Depending on projects and when time allows, we also offer a functional prototype at this level in order to give a better idea to our client of the user interface of the target application.
At the coding stage, our development and testing environment are put in place. Our approach here is to use agile software development which allows us quicker results by using smaller iterations cycles. We involve the client team at the higher level at the coding stage, by giving them a preview on our testing environment as a proactive way of gathering requirements for future releases while allowing refinements due to major changes in client’s business process.
All our software, whether web-based or a client/Server application, follows a strongly independent n-tier approach allowing service packs to be released seamlessly.
Testing is done at many levels of our SDLC to ensure the high quality of our product. Our developers use Unit Test to test at the code level all the modules being produced. A team of end users tests the functional level of the application. We also use market standard tools to conduct load testing and functional tests based on test cases we have previously devised. Depending on the type of application, we also conduct security tests to ensure that the application is well protected against unwanted users.
Our team will train both users and technical resources on the application. The technical training ensures that our client’s technical team will be able to maintain the application once it has been delivered.
The maintenance stage consists of monitoring the application to ensure its good functioning, proposing upgrades, implementing service packs. Above all, we also ensure that the application can adapt to changes in the organization.
In order to guarantee that we deliver our services with the utmost attention to quality care and customer satisfaction, we currently utilize a Quality Management System in accordance with the ISO-9000:2001 Standard. Our Executive Management has a strong belief in quality assurance and quality control and is implementing this standard in support of that commitment. The ISO-9000:2001 Standard promotes adherence to a processes and procedures as well as a standardized method of effective quality management controls.
In order to ensure quality at all times, our team develops documentation of all key business processes and all of the corresponding interactions.
