Thursday, June 29, 2006

Analyzing requirements in offshore software development

Are you a Software professional? If yes, then you must be familiar with SDLC, "System Development Life Cycle". Here are some key points are given to implement your work for a success on any website.
How does the customer tell you what he needs?

As an offshore software developer, you should be able to fully explain how you conduct your work. You should have a common process that applies to every project in offshore software development. The process should define how you gather your customers' requirements and specifications, how you develop schedules and prices, how you communicate with your customers, how you develop, test, and document your work product, and how you deliver the product to your customers.

To work out this methodology under offshore software development, you must follow the first step of SDLC which is a "Problem Identification and Requirement Specification"

Once you identify the actual problem i.e. the aim of the project, you can turn to gather the information. There are different sources to collect and analyzing software requirements in offshore software development.

1.Interview: If the Client is available, then conduct an interview through MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger; discuss your problems related to software. Note down the important things for offshore software development. Ask limited and actually needed question to him. Try to collect the sufficient information within less time. Thus this is the best technique for analysing Software requirement in Offshore software Development

2.Questionnaire: An offshore software developer uses this technique for collecting information. If the interview is not possible or if you are not able to attain the interview, then just by sending the Questionnaire to your Client via email, you can collect the information. As an offshore software developer your questionnaire must be formatted with again limited questions. All the questions must be meaningful with explanatory format. As an analyst under offshore software development, you can send Questionnaire again for detailed information as per the Requirement.

3.By the nature of your specialization, you must bring extensive world- class resources to meet the needs of your customers. Partnering with an organization with world-class capabilities can offer access to new technology, tools and techniques that you may not currently possess; you, as an offshore software developer, should always use more structured methodologies, procedures and documentation; and a competitive advantage through expanded skills.

What are you looking for?

You must look forward in achieving the best software solution for your offshore client and you must have a preferred method of doing business with companies for numerous positive reasons. As an offshore software developer, you must think about the following in respect of your client company and you should make sure that your software solution provides:

1.Effective utilization of resources being utilized.

2.Enhancement of corporate financial goals by IT Department.

3.The compatibility of current resources and new technology.

4.Quicker and more effective method to handle these issues.

5. Find out the consequences for a wrong decision.

What for information do you need?

A project under Offshore Software Development is not deemed complete until you have proper documentation with you. "System Design" is the main phase of SDLC. This phase is the skeleton of your Software and that's why you must request for layout of the working process of your clients project. In offshore software development you can request to your client for the flow of information in their working area.

This information is needed for proper structuring of your collected data under offshore software development process. If your clients already have computerized system then you must focus on the drawback or limitation of the previously existing system. As an offshore software developer, you must study the Software and Hardware specification to improve the performance of the proposed system. You must study their management strategies for a System Design.

How do you communicate back what you will create?

As an offshore software developer, you must implement the Software Quality Assurance (SQA) process that addresses the quality assurance needs at every phase of the development cycle. Your QA team must focus on quality control checklist. In addition, you must also have a comprehensive Quality Testing Checklist which ensures that every solution delivered measures up to the highest possible international standards.

Testing and implementation is one of the phases of System Development Life Cycle. As an offshore software developer, you must ensure through proper planning that the project doesn't move away from its targeted goals while the customer gets a clear definition of the project and is in the know of the project status and has ready access to project deliverables at any point of time. As an offshore software developer, you must ensure the timely and quality delivery of the following, for 100% client satisfaction:

- Prototypes & Staged Deliveries

- Weekly Status Reports

- Final deliverable

How do you make sure?

Under offshore software development process, you must check out that your client has received the reports, prototypes, final deliverable and obtain a receipt of these you're your client. You will receive positive response from your client. As an offshore software developer, you must take care about their time to time requirements. If your client is satisfied or impressed by your regular work then you can make sure that the software you have developed has "Good Quality". Thus this positive response will motivate you for offshore software development.
For details read here.