Would you order a bespoke suit without getting measured? Of course not! In the same way, you should not invest in bespoke software development services without quantifying your requirements.
Defining requirements is challenging, so it’s tempting to skip it. Yet without written, clear requirements, your chances of a successful software development project are slim.
Writing custom software for businesses since 1988, DragonPoint has refined our process for defining requirements that help us deliver on time and in budget. Unfortunately, we’ve followed some unsuccessful projects, and we’ve learned how to avoid the following pitfalls.
- Assuming you and the developers understand your business process.
- Not putting requirements in writing.
- Having the wrong person write requirements.
- Not starting with pictures.
Following are details about avoiding the second pitfall: not putting requirements in writing.
The first blog in this series discussed the importance of creating a clear picture of what works – and what doesn’t – in your business process before creating requirements. Click here to read our blog about avoiding the first pitfall.
Future blogs will cover the last two pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Pitfall 2: Not putting bespoke software development requirements in writing
If you avoid Pitfall 1 by ensuring you have the complete picture of how your business works, you may think you can meet with the developers, tell them what you need, and move on with coding.
Not so fast.
Have you noticed that not much is accomplished after meetings where no one takes notes or assigns action items?
It’s the same with requirements definition. If you have a great discussion with your software requirements team, but you don’t get written clarification of requirements, you are unlikely to get the software you need.
It can feel like a shortcut to have programmers write code based on verbal requirements. After all, it’s a good feeling to tell someone what you need and they immediately get to work. Unfortunately, if the programmer doesn’t understand what you need, the code will reflect it.
Don’t be fooled: a laundry list is not a requirements document.
Some companies think that a list of bullet points about what the software needs to do is a requirements document. It is not. While helpful, bullet points are just a checklist to be sure each requirement is defined and completed.
DragonPoint identifies each requirement with a unique number, and includes the number in the requirements document, where each task is expanded to a full description of the work to be completed.
It takes longer and is more expensive to retrofit code than to write it correctly the first time. Your investment in written requirements will actually save time and money over the life of the project.
To avoid this pitfall, take the time to create and review written requirements.
Clear, written requirements are your best investment in ensuring your bespoke software meets your unique business needs and objectives. Don’t skip this important step in the bespoke software development process.
When you’re provided with a requirements document, read it. At a minimum, have your project manager walk through the requirements document with you.
The project manager will use the requirements to create tasks and deliverables. The programmers will code based on the written requirements. User acceptance testing will ensure the software performs the actions documented in the requirements.
Before coding begins, you need to verify that the developers will be developing bespoke software that exactly fits your business.
Conclusion
Successful bespoke software development projects are possible if you start with strong requirements that clearly define your business needs.
Of course, great requirements alone don’t guarantee great software. You also need an experienced bespoke software development project manager, skilled developers, testers who catch every detail, and a support team that prioritizes your success.
If you’d like more information about DragonPoint’s successful bespoke software development services and our team, please email sales@dragonpoint.com or call 321-631-0657.
