Custom software has the potential to streamline your company’s operations and increase productivity. But first, you’ve got to get through the software development process. While there are dozens of ways that a project can fail, most fall into two overarching categories: failures of foresight and failures of oversight.
Asking an overtaxed IT department to tackle a technology that they’re not familiar with would fall into the failure of foresight category. Frequently moving the goalposts throughout the course of a project, on the other hand, is a failure of oversight. Both of these issues can result in a project that runs over budget, misses critical deadlines or collapses before it reaches the finish line.
When companies are over-eager to launch into a project, they often neglect to establish a firm foundation to build on. Like any other endeavor, custom software development is only as successful as the preparation that goes into it. A thorough discovery process ensures your software developers move forward with a clear understanding of your budget, time frame, expectations and goals.
To avoid falling into this trap, the Antares software development team takes time to get a clear picture of client needs, processes and desired outcomes. Below are some initial questions to be addressed before beginning a project:
❏ What are the project requirements?
❏ What are the project parameters in terms of time and budget?
❏ What are the client’s expectations in terms of the final product and the development process?
❏ What goal is the client attempting to accomplish through the software?
❏ How does the client define success?
Even the best laid plans can be laid to waste by poor project management. Without a knowledgeable guide navigating the project, the output will be mediocre at best. More likely, it will be over budget and past its deadline and a frustrating disappointment for everyone involved.
On the other hand, a savvy project manager makes sure all of the following pieces are in place for a finished product that everyone can be proud of:
❏ A team with talent, skills and relevant experience
❏ Clear understanding of desired software features and functional requirements
❏ Frequent progress updates and sustained communication
❏ Clear understanding of change requests and their implications
❏ Rapid adaptation to unanticipated challenges
A no-fail solution to software development projects
At Antares, we’ve spent thirty years successfully developing custom software for clients in healthcare, insurance, finance, oil & gas and the enterprise. Our experience in wide-ranging industries equips our skilled technical experts with relevant knowledge of critical content areas. Our project management is second to none, and our constant communication ensures all stakeholders stay informed and empowered from the first meeting to the final product launch.
Adopt a no-fail approach to your company’s software development. Get in touch with the agile, on-top-of-it team at Antares today to schedule your complimentary consultation.
