6D Solutions | Software development methodology

The following process outlines our standard working methodology. Depending on the size of the project we will expand or simplify the process to suit the requirements.

Marketing
- Our own client base
- Associate companies and individuals
- Our outsourcing partner Insigma
Business process analysis
- Requirements definition
  - Accurate client requirements
  - Achieve cost effective results
System architecture
- Software
- Hardware
- Hosting

System design
- Design tool of choice
  - Enterprise Architect (EA) (Sparx)
  - The specific tool in the EA toolset will be selected based on the system being developed
  - The model will fully demonstrate the logical flow of the system
  - Each design element will contain the detail of how each main function is to be implemented
- Technical specifications
  - Use case
  - WSDL
  - XSD
  - Database ER diagram
- And / or:
  - Level two & three DFD’s
- Work package definition = task level

System analysis
- Display / page design (general layout rather than the specifics)
- System analysis and level three and/or four DFD’s
- Detailed database design
- Test cases design (testing responsibility)
- Detailed process steps = activity level
Development
- Hand over meeting to technical lead and programmer
- Detailed design issues, like data transforms, page layouts, etc.
- Pages follow the general product look and feel and will use MVC3 and/or the devExpress toolset unless otherwise decided
- Check point / milestone signoff / %age complete by technical lead
- Programmer signoff and integration testing

Testing
- Does the code encapsulate & deliver the specification, function correctly and not break anything else?
  - Unit testing
  - Functional testing
  - Regression testing
- Finalise detailed test cases
- Test each case
- Testing signoff
Integration
Scalability simulation and stress Testing
Implementation
- Staging
- Release to client
- Installation and setup
- Running in
- Training
Post implementation
- Bug fixes
- Maintenance
- System administration

Our team is trained to support our software throughout the product lifecycle. We use BONTQ for the bug tracking and reporting function. BONTQ is accessible to authorised client representatives.

Staff roles:
The directors will retain overall responsibility for all management and work allocation tasks.
System design and architectural issues will be resolved by the directors with the clients and or through our associate companies and partners. Our preferred method of design and communication with all relevant parties is through the EA diagrams.
Our system analysts will develop the detailed design of each task and in addition will generate a MS-Project Gantt chart of each activity within the task. Each activity longer than 3 days must have a check point built in.
The technical leads will check the implementation of each activity and verifying that each check point built in is passed 100%. Those activities that are not passed must be estimated as x% complete.
The programmer(s) allocated to the task will be responsible for agreeing a time slice for each activity with the system analyst and the team leader.