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Methodology
Our 7 phase development methodology guarantees
the success of every project. It is outlined below.
Phase 1: Client Contact
Every project
begins with an initial meeting between NDIC
and the client. The primary goal of this phase is to establish
the scope of the project, including a preliminary definition
of the target market, project purpose, and budget, as well
as an outline of the general content.
The process begins when our client presents us with the
project scope or idea. NDIC
will in turn generate a custom proposal
based on the information provided by the client. The deposit
and signed client acceptance of that proposal complete this
phase.
Primary Deliverables:
- Proposal
- Signed Contract
- Deposit
Phase 2: Planning and Research
During Phase 2 a team
consisting of representatives from NDIC and the client research
the project
on every level, determining its complexities and possible solutions.
Projects of common type are researched, business objectives are pointed
out, long-
and short-term goals are ascertained and potential revenue
streams are established.
During Phase 2, all details
relevant to the development of the project are collected and
clarified. The collected
information
is used in Phase 3 to establish the Detailed Design
Specifications, which consist of a portfolio of technical documents
such as the Functional
Specification, flowchart of the proposed site, graphic
mockups and page specific layouts. Each page will be
laid out as
flat work and with functionality written out. This
will become the architectural blueprint for constructing
the project.
NDIC will conduct interview
sessions with the client’s business leaders
during this phase to research the project on every
level, determining
its complexities
and solutions. Once again, projects of common type
are researched, technical user groups are determined,
business
objectives are
pointed out and long and short-term goals are ascertained
and potential revenue streams are established.
Following the interview
sessions that aid in visualizing the project in its entirety,
NDIC
will package the entire spectrum of functionality,
listed with descriptions, the complexity of implementation
and
the priority
of development noted. This will create a roadmap
of the core functionality to be delivered in
each of the
future
phases
of the web site.
Primary Deliverables:
- Definition of the entire spectrum of functionality
- Estimate of difficulty for each of the NDIC
development areas
- Project rollout strategy
Phase 3: Detail
Design
In Phase 3, all information and details
relevant to the development of the project which were collected
and clarified in Phase 2 are used to create the Detailed
Design Specifications, which consist of a portfolio of
technical documents
such as the Functional
Specification, flowchart of the
proposed site, graphic mockups and page specific layouts.
During this phase each page will be laid
out as flat work and functionality will
be specified. This will
be used
as the architectural
blueprint for constructing the
website.
The Technical Resource Manager
will determine human and technical
resource
requirements,
and the Project
Manager
will schedule
client meetings to review these
documents when necessary. During
this phase
it is once again
imperative that
the client be intimately
involved to avoid the later need
of a change of scope proposal amendment.
Change
of
scope proposals
will
be written if
the portfolio created is inconsistent
with this proposal. The
client will review and approve
these materials, which will include
revised costs and date specific
timelines,
before proceeding to Phase 4.
Primary Deliverables:
- Functional specifications
- Site flowchart
- Graphic mockups
Phase 4: Development
In Phase 4 the actual development of the
project takes place. Using the Detailed Design Specifications,
the developers
will
transform these designs from
a hard copy form into an electronic one. The graphic mockups chosen by the
client
will
be
re-developed as project specific graphics. All the programming
and
coding will be implemented to achieve what has been approved
in
the Detail
Design Specifications. The
client will review and approve the pjoject at this point
before Phase 5 begins.
Primary Deliverables:
- Project Beta for
review and testing
- Polished user interface
Phase 5: Testing & QA
In this phase, the project undergoes rigorous
testing by both NDIC and the client. Final editing of any copy
and graphics occurs. All bugs are entered into a bug tracking
database, squashed and cancelled. It is also during this phase
that any users manuals that are needed to explain
functionality
will be written
and given to the client.
Primary
Deliverables:
- Necessary changes
- User Documentation
Phase 6: Training
During this phase individuals
from the client company will
be instructed and trained at the NDIC location in all
aspects of the
project including any administrative
tools,
data input, queries, access and editing if determined
necessary. At this time any required
documentation
will be provided and reviewed.
Primary Deliverables:
- Administrative Access
- Administrative Training
and Manuals Review
Phase 7: Deployment
In Phase 7 the project will be officially
released. All client
materials will be returned, and any arrangements for support
going forward, maintenance,
and/or ongoing
training
contracts
will be finalized. Sign off on this phase must
take
place before moving into the next phase of the development,
if such a phase is warranted.
Primary Deliverables:
- Client materials
returned
- Launch
- Determination of ongoing project maintenance
and subsequent phases
(if necessary)
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