Requirement Analysis Design Coding Testing Commissioning

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

According to Roberts P. (2011), "project management is the shared set of values, principles, processes and techniques – the governance – which is used by the project’s management team (not just the project manager) to deliver a successful project". The purpose of the project management is to predict as many of the dangers and problems as possible and to plan, organize and control activities so that projects are completed successfully in spite of all the risks,( Lock, 2007, p.1). Project phases are the key stages in a project. They include several actual tasks carried out by more than one person.

The software development project is a development of a software product. This is an activity of a computer programming. This can be taken as the process of writing and maintain a source code. The structure that should be followed to develop a new software product can be called as the software development process. The process of the software development involves several steps or the phases. This is a unique process for any company. This section will discuss requirement analysis, designing, coding, testing, and commissioning which are the phases of a software development project. The following diagram shows the phases in the software development project.

http://www.technologyuk.net/computing/software_development/images/development_life_cycle.gif

Source:http://www.technologyuk.net/computing/software_development/software_development_life_cycle.shtml

Software development project is a complicated process that requires careful planning and execution. The various phases in the software development project are requirements, analysis, design, coding, testing and commissioning. The requirement phase is the most important focus of the Project Managers and in the requirement phase the software engineer understands the behavior of the software. Analysis is another phase of a software development project. The software development project management team analysis the requirements of the system to gain a clear understanding of what are the requirements of the project. And also the project manager and the team should understand the technical aspect of the requirements and outline the flow of the system. He should figure out where and how the system will be used, identify the users of the system and documents to use in the design phase. In order to produce a proper execution software product; the other team members must document unimportant details during the analysis. At the end of this phase Requirement Specification Document is created. This can be taken as the guideline for the next phases of the project.

In the design phase, the analysis which was done in the previous phase is reviewed and the project manager creates a design solution which support the requirements. In the software design tends to start out relatively simple and at the end it’s become complex as it should consider all the requirements. Therefore, it is important to prioritize the features in the design. The design standard should be adhering to the approved management plan. Software Requirements Specifications document is there to document all the requirements of the project. In this phase the functional specifications document, design documents and the program specifications are created. The team should assure that all the software requirements are allocated to the software components. This helps to define the overall system architecture. The system design specifications supply as key for the next phase of the model.

Next comes the phase of coding which is the longest phase of the software development project. In this phase the executable which can be read by the computer is created. In order to create the final executable of the software application the individual modules of programs are accumulated. After producing the code, next is the phase of testing. During this phase program testing is starting. This process mainly focuses on the logical internals of the software. During this phase they verify the correctness of the statements. The team should assure that all tests are run according to the test plan. There are different level and methods of testing such as unit testing and system testing.

Project commissioning is assuring that all systems are designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained according to the requirements of the client. This applies for the existing units such as expansion, renovation, or revamping. During this phase they ensure that the every operational components of the project, such as instruments and equipment. Commission activities are take place till the end of the project and the activities of this applicable to the all the phases in the project.

The above discussion gives a clear understanding of the different project phases in the software development project.

Source:

http://istqbexamcertification.com/what-are-the-software-development-life-cycle-phases/#.UTqyY1eaTIU

http://techforum4u.com/content.php/411-Software-Project-Stages

Question 2

Critically explain the success/failure criteria relevant for the following project phases in an electricity distribution extension project.

Planning

Installation

Hand over

Operation

Planning of installation, implementation and handover activities starts at the early stages of the project. In order to be success in the stages of the electricity distribution extension project there are some criteria to be followed.

In order to be success in the project it is fundamental to implement and maintain some of the policies and standards relating to the system installation, implementation and handing over activities. Therefore, it is necessary to use the correct tools and techniques in line with standards of the electricity distribution extension project. Best practices should be apply and need to identify the internal and external stakeholders to install, implement and handover activities in the particular system. There should be an agreement with the handing order arrangements and timescales. This is one of the main criteria for the success of the project. The team members of the project can gather lot of information while processing the project. This information should be gathering and evaluate for the future reference of the projects.

Mange the activities to installation, implementation and handing over is another success factor for the project of the electricity distribution extension project. In order to manage the above it is essential to see that all the resources are available on the schedule date. The information gather should be accurate, complete and relevance to the above mentioned phases in the project. The system coordination plays vital role in this. During the installation, implementation and handing over activities changes should be manage effectively through the change control mechanisms. The activities should be adhering to the rules, standards and regulations. The project will be failed if they did not select the proper actions in the event of deliverables. The project team should monitor the quality and the effectiveness of the external providers of installation, implementation and handing over activities.

Communication plays an important role in any project. The external personnel such as stakeholders, sponsors should be communicating effectively about the relevant activities of the project. This helps to maintain a better relationship between stakeholders, sponsors and external bodies. Presentation of the findings and the recommendation should be done accurately. The progress of the project should be discussed with the relevant parties in order to be success in the electricity distribution extension project.

Question 3

Critically explain the general principles behind Project Management in planning, executing, controlling and closing of a mobile telephone area coverage expansion project.

Project Management includes five different processes that composition a project. They are initiation, planning, execution, control and closing.

Mobile phone is an electronic device and universal among one and all. Mobile telephone area coverage expansion project is a vast project that comprise with different stages. This part of the study will explain the above principles of project management with reference to the mobile telephone area coverage expansion project.

Planning

In the project management planning includes devising and maintain a workable scheme to ensure that the projects meets its scope, time and cost goals as well as organizational needs (Schwalbe,2006). The project can be planned once all the information is gathered. Planning enables to achieve the results on time, to the budget cost and to the desired level of quality.

Project planning is essential and it helps to identify the all requirements to the project. The project team can reduce the risk and get high level of security by planning the project. It also provides the structure to carry out the project and launch performance standards. Planning enables to set up procedures for effective control over the work. And also it allows them to get the desired outcome within the short period. Planning is a dynamic and continuous process to enable you to remain proactive throughout the project.

Some of the tools of project planning are as follows:

Work Breakdown Structure and Work Package – this is used to define the project work and break it down into specific tasks.

Responsibility Matrix – this is to define the project organization, key individuals and their responsibilities.

Events and Milestones – this is to identify critical points and major occurrences on the project schedule.

Gantt Charts – This display the project master schedule and detailed task schedules.

Source: Nicholas, J. M. 2001, Project Management for Business and Technology, p.163

In the planning process of the mobile telephone coverage project, it is essential to have a better coverage of network. Therefore, it engages a complex planning. Let’s discuss the activities during the project planning. The project manager along with his team comes to a decision on the cost, time and resources. They create the project scope. Calculating the circulation of electromagnetic waves is the main feature when planning a mobile phone coverage project. Planning a mobile phone transmitter site requires much more precise calculation as the small geographic reach of cells. The network’s traffic level is another thing which should be consider when planning a mobile phone coverage project. And also the network planners first establish the search radius, considering the geography of the area. They mainly select the high towers and buildings for the base station.

Executing

The plans which were created during the planning process are put into action during this process. This is to coordinate people and other resources to carry out the project plans and produce the deliverables of the project or phase. And also this includes in the guiding execution, coordinating efforts and motivating the staff. These tasks need the most resources and time followed by planning tasks.

Let’s look at the execution process at the of a mobile telephone area coverage expansion project. Once they select the base station, they start their constructions on the mobile phone project. In this process architects develop the construction plan to show the location of the antennas and other electronic units. These plans should act in accordance with the building regulations, preservation orders and should obtain legal requirements for the operations.

Controlling

This process measures progress toward achieving project goals, monitor deviation from plans, and take corrective action to match progress with plans and customer expectations. Controlling of changes should follow the processes that are outline in the change management plan. This also engage in the revise any risks and problems that possibly will result from the project execution process.

In the process of controlling, the mobile telephone coverage expansion project measures the progress of the project in order to accomplish the project goals. And also they find out the risks and the problems which can occur while in the process.

Closing

Closing includes formalizing acceptance of the project or phase and bringing it to an orderly end. This requires the least amount of resources and time.

The mobile telephone coverage expansion project comes to the end with the closing process.

The above discussed are the general principles behind the project management in planning, controlling, executing and closing of a mobile coverage expansion project.

Source:

http://www.slideshare.net/TechNoleGirl/process-groups1

http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=159450

http://quizlet.com/327771/intro-to-project-management-chapter-3-flash-cards/

Question 4

Critically describe the key elements involved in terminating projects and conducting post-project appraisals due to delays in a software development project outsourced to a local software company in Sri Lanka.

Terminating is the final stage of the project life cycle. Terminating begins once the project work has completed. It requires various actions to finalize the project accurately. This is useful to find out the experience that gain from the project and improve performance for the future projects. Therefore, it is essential to identify and include the actions related to termination in the project plan. Filing project documents, conducting post-project evaluation meetings with both contractor’s and the organization, and finalizing payments can be taken as the terminating activities. There are four different ways to close out a project. They are,

Termination by Extinction

Termination by Addition

Termination by Integration

Termination by Starvation.

Termination by extinction is the project is stopped. It may end because it has been successful and achieved its goals. In a software development company, the software has been installed and is running. And also the project can be stopped due to the unsuccessful. A special case of termination by extinction is "termination by murder". They range from political assassination to accidental projectcide. Two important characteristic of termination by murder premeditated or not, are the suddenness of project demise and the lack of obvious signals that death is imminent. The substance of the project ceases is most noticeable event when decision is made to terminate a project by extinction. (Source: Meredith, J. R & Mantel, S. J. Project Management, p.644, 645)

Termination by addition is if a project is a major success, it may be terminated by institutionalizing it as a formal part of the parent organization. Project personnel, property, and equipment are often simply transferred from the dying project to the newly born division. The metamorphosis from project to department, to division, and even to subsidiary is accomplice by budgets and administrative practices that conform to standard procedure in the parent firm. (Source: Meredith, J. R & Mantel, S. J. Project Management, p. 645)

Termination by integration is the most common way of dealing with successful projects and the most complex. The property, equipment, material, personnel and functions of the project are distributed among the existing elements of the software parent organization. The output of the project becomes a standard part of the operating systems of the parent, or client. Personnel, manufacturing, accounting/ finance, engineering, information system/software, marketing and purchasing, distribution and legal can be taken as the important aspects of the transition from project to integrated operation that must be considered when the project functions are distributed. (Source: Meredith, J. R & Mantel, S. J. Project Management, p. 647, 648)

Termination by starvation is a fourth type of project termination. It is "slow starvation by budget decrement". Anyone who has been involved with projects over a sufficient period of time to have covered a business recession has had to cope with budget cuts. Budget cuts, or decrements, are not rare because they are common; they are sometimes used to mask a project termination.

There are many reasons for software companies to delay their projects. They are expansion of functionality, gold plating, neglecting quality control, overly optimistic schedules, poor design, and too many projects at the same time, research oriented projects, and customers fail to fulfill the agreements, tension between customers and the developers. Due to the above mentioned delays the software companies have to terminate projects. Once they decided to terminate the project it is essential to conduct post- project appraisals. The software development team should have individual meetings and group meetings with the team members as soon after the completion of the project. These meetings facilitate the team members to communicate their personal impression about the project. During these meeting the team should discuss the performance of the software development project and recommendations for the future software development projects. And also the team discusses the cost, schedule, technical performance of the project, customer and team relationship, project planning and control, communication and problem identification and resolution.

Sources:

http://www.slideshare.net/arsalankhan30/project-termination

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22246158/Project-Management-A-Managerial-Approach-4-e

http://www.slideshare.net/dmdk12/pm-session-8-presentation