Gaining expected results from software projects

Software projects have traditionally been extensive, draining processes due to the amount of resources and considerations required to deploy a successful product on schedule. The fragmentation of the mobile market has made app development more complicated than ever, leaving developers with numerous options for which component suites to use. While most business leaders hope that their software projects will be profitable, it's becoming more common that projects are not yielding the results that they expect. This can include missing out on potential benefits or the simple fact that employees are bypassing the program for their own alternatives.

Organizations are under more pressure than ever to support user needs and ensure that they have the best tools to do their jobs efficiently. This includes incorporating mobile processes into everyday operations and providing applications that will streamline tasks. However, developers need to think about which operating system to code for, what features should be included and whether to use a native approach or HTML5 development that will cover a broader range of devices. By fully addressing these areas, app builders are a step closer to deploying a completed product, but the initial planning stage is not the only area where mistakes can happen that may change the course of the program. By understanding which elements may cause issues, developers can better adjust their strategy to ensure that they get the results they want.

Mitigating the potential for substandard outcomes
When a project doesn't come out as expected, it often discredits that amount of work and resources that were put into it. For software, the outcomes are typically seen shortly after deployment, where employees will either use or discard the program entirely. The later could be due to lack of usability or missing features that are essential to worker functions. According to a Collaborative Consulting white paper, inadequate software quality is a major source of failed projects because it can introduce significant inefficiencies and errors, resulting in missed business goals. Industries that have zero defect tolerances often have lives on the line, requiring early corrections of any problems. For higher quality issue tolerance sectors like gaming software, developers will often deploy the application before thoroughly testing every aspect, making it necessary to deliver patches later on. Many organizations take a middle approach that allows only a few lapses, but still has the app builders monitor their creation to ensure its feasibility.

"When developers hand off clean, working code, the project's official testing tail will shorten significantly," the white paper stated. "You will have the option of letting QA focus on edge cases and other kinds of testing much sooner. And automation of testing the new features in the same project cycle can become the standard expectation rather than the exception."

Solving issues in software projects
While having quality coding initially is optimal, there are other steps developers can take to ensure the success of their project. According to The Server Side, by establishing defined goals, app creators will have a guide to what needs to be accomplished. The organization must also ensure that its development team is happy and prepared to maintain the software as needed. This is critical as the employees are the forces that determine what capabilities to offer within the program. Businesses must choose their team and delegate responsibilities to guarantee that the staff members are in their element at all times.

"A project with no barrier to entry, granting commit rights to people who don't understand the problem space or the project architecture, is likely to have a rockier road to success than a project with a tightly knit, focused group of maintainers who value merit," The Server Side noted.