Systems Development Methodology
Our approach to system development is collaborative and synergistic with our clients.
We utilize a highly flexible rapid or iterative development model that can operate as a
standalone process or could be integrated into a customer specific process if appropriate.
This process leverages a feature point model that defines key functionality and timelines based on 30-day intervals.
Our team has many years of production experience working together on a multitude of projects.
During this time we have developed a cogent and effective methodology that we like to describe as
the "Work Flow," moving through the following five major phases:
Discover:
This is the strategic planning and research phase. During this phase we expand general
business requirements into detailed requirements. Deliverables produced will be used to
establish technical infrastructure, create technical specifications, create object and data models,
and diagram navigational flow of business processes.
During this phase our team uses jump-start processes like our SCOPESM model to engage with the
content experts and the client management team.
Define:
This Phase utilizes the information developed in the previous phase. During this phase
the development team meets with the subject matter experts and the client leadership team.
Tasks are to give clear description to:
- The educational and interpretative goals of the entire project
- The specific content and usability objectives for the information to be presented
- Review data, application and security requirements
- Outline the data model
- Discuss the testing approach
Design:
This Phase takes the approved definitions of the project and translates these ideas,
values and objectives into tangible design and architecture. The primary goal
of this phase is to establish technical infrastructure, create technical specifications,
create object and data models, and diagram the user interface and navigational flow
of business processes based on detailed requirements. This work is an iterative process
in collaboration with the client leadership teams. Initial designs will evolve over these
iterations until a final specification is created.
Develop:
This Phase develops the application based on the Design Specification completed in the prior phase.
This phase is iterative with interim releases being developed during the course of
this phase. The client leadership team will review the releases to ensure they meet
the educational, technical and aesthetic objectives of the project. The conclusion of
this phase is when the components are available for performance testing, adjustment and delivery.
Deploy:
The goal of this phase is to prepare, certify, and deploy the final application.
The application is then performance tested and tuned. Analytic tools are integrated and
search engine registration for publicly facing Internet applications is applied. We support
the launch and further maintenance if needed.
