Conception
During this phase, the
business goals and objectives are clarified, and requirements, based upon user
needs are clearly defined. Workflows are also defined from a business
perspective. Providence staff members begin to assist you with the initial
feasibility study, based on their familiarity with a wide range of technology.
Analysis
Requirements
are further refined, and translation of user requirements into system
implications begins. During this phase, the constraints of your operating
environment, constraints of off-the-shelf software applicable to your needs, and
the budgetary parameters are all taken into account. The end result of this
phase is a definitive answer on project feasibility.
Design
Details of the
operating environment(s) and co-existing products are more fully investigated,
resulting in detailed technical specifications and system and product
architectures, as appropriate to the project. While this phase is highly
technical, the design is always driven first and foremost by user
requirements.
Construction
Designs are translated into code, using
the best tools of the trade to ensure efficiency and cost controls. Our
programmers who are implementing the code are always part of a larger team that
remains in close proximity and communication with those who brought the project
through the earlier phases. And they're also in constant contact with the
project manager who is responsible for keeping track of the "big
picture", as well as the intricate details.
Quality Assurance
The
pervasiveness of Web technologies has spawned many companies who, unfortunately,
relegate the abundance of the quality assurance task to the client. One reason
this happens is that the companies lack the resources necessary to create a good
test environment. Providence has all the most popular platforms on which to test
code being delivered as part of your project. We create and execute rigorous
test plans, minimizing the chance of delays or negative business impact during
the deployment phase.
Deployment
There are
always unique factors in the live environment. While we typically perform over
95% of the work on our own premises, we'll have someone onsite at some
point during the final deployment, helping you to mange the cutover from an old
to a new system, assuming that is part of the project's scope.
Training
Training should
never be an afterthought. It's part of our project plans; it is well
defined and scheduled before the actual deployment phase really begins. No
matter how easy-to-use the software is that Providence delivers, we understand
that it is new to your IT staff and new to the employees who must use it. Our
training plans take both audiences into consideration. Our goal is to provide
the comfort level that helps your organization receive a return on investment as
soon as possible.
Maintenance
Providence stands behind the
software it delivers with a wide variety of maintenance and support options -
something that is not always available from "job shop" vendors. If
we've built it - or even if we didn't - then
we'll be happy to maintain and extend it in response to new or
changing business requirements. That's why we view our whole process as
being a circular one.
|
