Christopher Mwesigwa’s Post

𝐈𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥? 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦. In the fast-paced world of workflow digitization, a crucial question often pauses on table during decision making, "𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮? 🤔" Below are points to consider to back up your team's decision making: 𝟏. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭: 🛠️ A well-structured development team comprises experts in various fields – from front-end and back-end development to UI/UX design and QA testing. This ensures that every aspect of your project is handled by a specialist, leading to a more polished and robust final product. 𝟐. 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 📅 Teams typically come with established project management processes. This includes clear timelines, regular updates, and systematic approaches to handling any issues that arise. Effective project management reduces the risk of delays and ensures that the project stays on track. 𝟑. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 🔄 When working with a team, you benefit from the consistency of a collective approach and the reliability of a structured workflow. Individual contractors, while skilled, may have varying working styles and availability, which can sometimes lead to inconsistencies. 4. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 🤝 Collaboration is key in software development. Teams have established communication channels and tools that facilitate better collaboration among team members and with clients. This leads to more innovative solutions and a product that better meets your needs. This is so crucial for the aspect of ideation by the fact that so may clients have non backed ideas like require validation and restructure to achieve feasibility. 5. 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 🛡️ With a team, there’s always someone available to step in if a developer is unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances. This redundancy ensures that the project does not come to a halt, mitigating risks associated with dependence on a single individual. Ready to take your software project to life or even a restructure and maintenance? Feel free to reach out IDM Data, corp. 💬 #SoftwareDevelopment #SoftwareMaintanance #WorkflowDigitization #SoftwareEngineering #BusinessGrowth

New Post: A guide to requirements management software - https://lnkd.in/dnrpyjqA - When developing projects, stakeholder expectations are very hard to manage. Aligning expectations with project goals is critical for success as a product manager. The good news is that when you run requirements gathering correctly, the process becomes much smoother. In the requirements gathering phase, teams need to keep track of user needs, and expectations. Requirements management software can become a powerful tool to capture, analyze, and meet these expectations throughout the project lifecycle. Let’s dive deep into the nuances of RM software and how teams can make the best use of them to streamline the process. What is requirements management software? A requirements management software is a tool designed to facilitate the process of handling project requirements from gathering ideas to project completion. Think of it as a central point for collecting, documenting, analyzing, and tracking stakeholder expectations. It provides a structure to the process from the very beginning and ensures that every project element is aligned with defined objectives. This minimizes the communication gap and scope creep, enhancing overall efficiency. It helps with: Capturing requirements from various stakeholders Documenting, organizing, and recording requirements for easy access Analyzing the requirements for feasibility and impact Tracking changes to requirements throughout the project Key features of requirements management software A requirements management software has a range of features designed to address the complex nature of a project lifecycle by addressing the challenges of each aspect: Document collaboration This feature facilitates a workspace where team members can work on documents in a collective manner. It helps to gather feedback from all stakeholders making sure all ideas are taken into consideration. These tools can include version control and change tracking, acting as a single source of truth for all teams involved. Baseline management Baseline management provides an overview of project requirements and their evolution during the entire lifecycle. It acts as a reference point to gauge progress and manage changes. Project teams can reference specific versions of requirement documents when discussing project milestones. Traceability Traceability in RM software is essential for systematic linkage between a requirement and its deliverable. This can include, design documents, test cases, and plans of deployment. Such transparent connectivity promotes a sense of accountability, ensuring the final delivery tackles every set objective. Impact analysis Gauging impact at any given stage of a project lifecycle is a challenge. Impact analysis tools help teams evaluate the consequences of each change. It also helps to understand how a change in one area of a project affects a different area. This applies to project scope, budget, timelines, and

The importance of an IT architect at the beginning of an IT project📊 An IT architect plays a crucial role in the success of any IT project. They are responsible for designing the overall architecture of the system, ensuring that it meets the business needs and objectives. Involving an IT architect from the start of the project can have a significant impact on the overall success of the project. Here are some of the key benefits of involving an IT architect at the beginning of an IT project: Ensures alignment with business goals: The IT architect can make ensure that the system architecture is designed to meet those goals. Reduces risk: The IT architect can identify and mitigate potential risks early in the project, which can save time and money in the long run. Improves system quality: A well-designed system architecture will be easier to develop, maintain, and extend, which will lead to a higher quality system. Increases agility: A flexible and scalable system architecture will allow the business to adapt to changing needs more easily. 🔝Here are some tips for choosing an IT architect: Look for experience: The IT architect should have experience in designing and implementing IT systems that are similar to the one you are planning. Make sure they have a good understanding of your business: The IT architect should be able to understand your business goals and objectives and translate them into technical requirements. Check their communication skills: The IT architect should be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Ensure they are a team player: The IT architect will need to work closely with other members of the project team, so it is important that they are a team player. WhippetSoft can provide you with an experienced IT architect who can help you to ensure the success of your IT project. We can also help you to build your project from the ground up, from designing the system architecture to implementing and deploying the system. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you. 📞 https://lnkd.in/g8Sb9KrZ #WhippetSoft #Digital #it #IT #web #programmer #coding #webdevelopment #clients #service

Bridging the Software Requirement Gap: From Client Vision to Usable Deliverables The image humorously highlights a common issue in software development: the gap between what the client wants, how it's interpreted during development ("What We Develop"), and what should be delivered. It serves as a metaphor for the recurring challenge of misaligned requirements in project management. The Client's Perspective: A Vision Without Boundaries Clients often present an idealized vision, requesting features that are out of scope or technically unfeasible, unaware of the resource, time, and cost constraints in software development. Misinterpretation by Business Analysts Business Analysts (BAs) translate client needs into requirements, but unclear communication can lead to scope misinterpretation. For example, a vague request for "a platform that does everything" may cause BAs to include unnecessary features, leading to scope creep and unrealistic project expectations. The Development Team's Struggle: Misinterpretation and Lack of Focus Developers depend on accurate, actionable specs, but incomplete or unrealistic ones lead to features that don’t align with client needs, adding another layer of misinterpretation. Teams also risk neglecting key practices like Code Review and Unit Testing, leading to poor code quality, undetected bugs, and technical debt. Additionally, ignoring Dependencies between features can cause integration problems, delaying the project and resulting in a flawed, unreliable product that misses client expectations.   Bridging the Gap: Elicit, Clarify, and Validate 1. Elicit Clear Requirements: Understand the client's goals, constraints, and priorities through workshops and interviews to gather detailed requirements.    2. Set Feasibility Boundaries: Manage client expectations by explaining what’s achievable within the available resources and timeline to minimize out-of-scope requests. 3. Use Prototypes for Feedback: Prototypes and mockups allow clients to visualize the product early, helping identify and address mismatches before development begins. 4. Frequent Communication: Maintain regular communication and reviews between the client, BA, and development team to keep the project aligned with client needs. 5. Maintain a Traceability Matrix: Track and manage requirements to avoid overlooking dependencies between features. 6. Deliver Usable Products: Focus on delivering functional products that meet core business needs, using an MVP approach for iterative improvements.

Product development in the #SaaS domain entails a distinct set of challenges for software developers, given the dynamic and complex nature of the process. Here are some common issues: - Prerequisite Volatility Poorly defined project requirements can cause volatility, leading to changes in development and business environments. To overcome this, precise prerequisites on requirements and objectives are necessary, with a focus on user-centricity and clearly defined user expectations. - Backward Compatibility Backward compatibility means a software compiler can accept programs or data that worked for the previous version, which is crucial when updating an existing product or developing an add-on for the same product. Breaking changes can create problems if the upgrade needs to work with systems or services from different companies. - Constant Technological Advancements Technology is evolving rapidly, making tools and libraries obsolete quickly. To keep up, programmers and project managers should allocate 20-30 minutes daily to learn about new updates and keep up with the latest coding practices. - Managing Project Timelines Faulty initial time estimates can cause cost overruns and erode organizational credibility. To avoid this, break down tasks into subtasks, draw estimates from experience, add buffer time, keep project architecture linear, minimize third-party outsourcing, and consult everyone involved when setting timelines. Have you and your team faced such problems? #development #commonproblems

𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙀𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 – 𝗢𝘅𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅? As engineers, we’ve all been there: asked for "accurate estimates" before we’ve even fully scoped a project. But can we really be "accurate" when estimating something as dynamic and unpredictable as software development? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Estimation is an approximation. Accuracy, on the other hand, is about precision, supported by a well-processed strategy. In software development, with constantly changing requirements, unexpected bugs, and external dependencies, accuracy often becomes elusive. Trying to deliver exact estimates feels more like an oxymoron. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 We know the least about a product at the start of development and the most by the end. Yet, it’s at the very beginning when we’re asked for the most “accurate” estimates! This gap is where many estimation challenges arise. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲? Often, we’re asked for estimates while the requirements are still unclear. So how do we estimate when the destination isn’t fully defined? Here are a few approaches: • T-shirt sizing (S/M/L/XL) for rough estimates. • Provide confidence levels (e.g., 50% or 90%) alongside estimates. • Encourage iterative discovery to refine estimates as clarity emerges.    𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Into my third decade of leading software teams, I’ve learned that estimates aren’t set in stone. Regular evaluations and risk management help reduce uncertainty: • Identify risks early (e.g., scope creep, tech debt). • Communicate risks and adjust estimates accordingly. • Build buffers to account for unknowns and manage expectations. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗼? 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: Define clear product requirements and set the right expectations early, acknowledging that estimates will change. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: Foster a culture where estimates can evolve, use ranges, and regularly revisit estimates. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀: Break down tasks, communicate risks early, and be transparent about confidence in estimates. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: Keep plans flexible, communicate risks, and collaborate with engineers to refine estimates. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Instead of chasing "accurate" estimates, aim for 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 and 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 ones: • Leverage past data, • Break down tasks, • Communicate risks clearly, • Adapt estimates as the project evolves. Estimates should guide progress, not be set in stone. Flexibility, transparency, and risk management are key to managing complex projects. 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴: 𝘰𝘹𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘹? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦? #SoftwareDevelopment #Estimation #EngineeringLeadership #Agile #ProductDevelopment #RiskManagement

Here are some important aspects to consider when developing software: 1. **Clear Requirements and Objectives**: Understanding the problem the software needs to solve and defining clear goals are essential. Gather detailed requirements from stakeholders to ensure the software meets their needs. 2. **Design and Architecture**: Plan the software structure, including the system architecture, data flow, and design patterns. A good design ensures scalability, maintainability, and performance. 3. **Technology Stack**: Choose the right programming languages, frameworks, and tools based on the project requirements, scalability, and team expertise. 4. **User Experience (UX) and Interface (UI) Design**: Focus on creating a user-friendly interface that enhances the overall user experience. Usability is key to the success of the software. 5. **Development Methodology**: Select an appropriate development methodology (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Waterfall) based on the team and project needs. Agile methodologies are commonly used for flexibility and iterative development. 6. **Testing and Quality Assurance**: Regularly test the software throughout development to catch bugs and ensure it functions as expected. Use both manual and automated testing strategies. 7. **Security**: Implement security best practices, including encryption, authentication, and authorization, to protect the software from potential vulnerabilities. 8. **Scalability and Performance**: Ensure the software can handle increased load and user activity. Optimize performance to prevent bottlenecks. 9. **Documentation**: Maintain comprehensive documentation for both developers and end-users, covering everything from setup to usage and troubleshooting. 10. **Maintenance and Support**: Plan for ongoing maintenance to fix bugs, provide updates, and support users after the software is deployed. 11. **Version Control**: Use version control systems (e.g., Git) to track code changes, collaborate with team members, and manage releases efficiently. These points form the foundation for a successful software development process. #software #sofrware_development #webdesign #web_development #cloudservice

𝐈𝐄𝐄𝐄 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐬. 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐄𝐄𝐄 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞: 1. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞:   - Formal and detailed documentation.   - Typically includes sections like purpose, scope, definitions, requirements, and constraints.   - Each requirement is often numbered and follows a specific format. 2. 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥:   - Highly detailed with precise specifications.   - Aimed at providing clear and unambiguous requirements for developers and stakeholders.    3. 𝐔𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞:   - Used in traditional software development methodologies like Waterfall.   - Suitable for projects where detailed documentation is essential, such as government or large-scale enterprise projects. 4. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:   - Provides comprehensive documentation.   - Reduces ambiguity and ensures all aspects are covered. 5. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:   - Time-consuming to create and maintain.   - Can be rigid and less adaptable to changes. 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 1. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞:   - Informal and concise descriptions.   - Typically follow the format: “As a [user], I want [feature], so that [benefit].”   - Focuses on user perspective and value. 2. 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥:   - High-level and less detailed.   - More about capturing user needs and intentions rather than technical details. 3. 𝐔𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞:   - Used in Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban.   - Suitable for iterative development and projects requiring flexibility and rapid changes. 4. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:   - Encourages collaboration and continuous feedback.   - Easier to understand and modify.   - Focuses on delivering user value. 5. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:   - May lack detail and specificity.   - Requires additional work to translate into technical requirements. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫? 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: - 𝐈𝐄𝐄𝐄 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞: Better for projects requiring rigorous documentation, clear contracts, and comprehensive detail. Ideal for highly regulated industries or large-scale, complex systems where every requirement must be explicitly defined and traceable. - 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Better for projects emphasizing flexibility, user value, and iterative development. Ideal for dynamic environments where requirements may evolve, and rapid delivery of user-centric features is essential. 𝐃𝐨 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫? 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲: - 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐬𝐞: In some projects, both can be used together. User stories can capture the high-level needs and goals, while IEEE requirements can detail out the specifics. - 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Projects may start with user stories in the early stages to quickly capture user needs and iterate, then move to a more formal IEEE requirements template as the project matures and solidifies. Choosing between them depends on the project's nature, industry requirements, and development methodology.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹: 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 🤔💻 Last Sunday, I was invited by an Islamic organization to their tech meeting. They asked me a question about their software failure: Why has their management system faced a year-long delay and failed to meet expectations despite the involvement of an experienced software company? Here's a simplified breakdown of the key issues and solutions I proposed: 1. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 ❌🔍 • 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲: The project was assigned to developers skilled in creating replica apps, not customized solutions. • 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Ensure the development team has experience with bespoke software solutions tailored to unique organizational needs. 🛠️💡 2. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 📉📋 • 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲: Developers failed to gather and understand crucial information from the client. • 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: A thorough understanding of the client’s needs and processes is essential. Developers must engage deeply with the client to capture all necessary details. 🤝📝 3. 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 🧩📊 • 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲: The team lacked insight into the organization's business model and logic. • 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Developers should immerse themselves in the organization's processes to align the software with its operational goals. 🔍🏢 𝗠𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 🚀 • 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: Before diving into development, I would spend over 50% of the project timeline—e.g., 5 days of a 10-day project—understanding the organization’s processes and logic. • 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁: I would position myself as an expert in the organization’s management to ensure a deep and accurate grasp of what is required. 🕵️♂️📚 By prioritizing these aspects, software projects are more likely to meet deadlines and align with organizational needs. #Software #softwaredevelopment #projects #ProjectMangment #Faluires #technology #technical #techinsights #customsolutions #logics #clientmanagment

When I'm writing requirements for new software, I tend to use three levels to describe the functionality needed: Epics, User Stories and Acceptance Criteria. The level of detail I go into depends very much on the context, the experience of the development team in this context, and the complexity of the requirements. 🔶 EPICS These paint the big picture, narrative view of a particular requirement. For example, you might be looking at creating a tool to support learning designers. A typical Epic could be something like this: Jasmine, the project manager, has setup a new project in the tool, and marked it as approved to start. The next time Katie, the learning designer, logs into the tool he finds the new project, and is able to start working on it. Jasmine has already invited Leo and Mona, the subject matter experts to start completing the standard questionnaire, ready for a discussion with Katie.... (It goes on, but I hope you get the gist) Epics will then contain multiple User Stories. 🔶 USER STORIES The stories, break the scenario down into component parts. For example, you might have a user story called: Setup a new project. Within the user story, you'd have a brief description, something like: As a project manager, I want to be able to setup a new project for my team, so that I can communicate to them efficiently about the business benefits, size, timescale and stakeholders involved. Alongside that, to assist the developers, I'd be putting background information, links to existing design patterns and branding guidelines, and mockups of how I think it ought to work. User Stories will then contain multiple Acceptance Criteria 🔶 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA This is where we get into the real detail. Acceptance criteria give the developers something practical to test against. If the software passes the criteria, then the software is ready. (Of course, if it passes, but you discover the software isn't ready, then that's down to the person who wrote the criteria, not the developers...) I tend to use the Gherkin approach to acceptance criteria. It's a simple method, containing four elements: ✅ Scenario, eg. Create a project ✅ Given, eg. GIVEN I am logged in with Project Manager capabilities ✅ When, eg. WHEN I click on the Create Project button ✅ Then, eg. THEN I am presented with a form where I can set the project's parameters The beauty of this approach is that it can help development teams create banks of automated tests, whilst still remaining readable by humans. Image credit: This is engineering on Pixabay 🔶 🔶 🔶 I'm Mark Berthelemy, a consultant learning solutions architect. I help organisations navigate the complex relationships between business, learning and technology.