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Sweat the small stuff
Designing new software applications is difficult. You must contend with work processes, business rules, policies and procedures that are informal, unwritten or new.
If the details of design are not managed well, it often results in a need to change or modify a project late in the schedule. That's when it is most expensive and painful.
If you want predictable results....Methodology
Matters.
Gotta have it.
Gotta follow it.
Our methodology separates the application development process into distinct phases. Each phase has milestone dates and specific deliverables. We don't progress to the next phase until all deliverables have been have accepted to your satisfaction.
Envision. Set the target.
This phase allows the client and Cornerstone to mutually explore
the fundamental project scope, as driven by the client's
business needs. The end result of this phase is a shared vision
for your project.
Plan. Create a comprehensive
plan. Once the initial vision has been established,
Cornerstone identifies the functional requirements for your
project. A Functional Specification developed in this phase is
an agreement with the client on exactly what form the solution
will take.
Develop, Stabilize & Deploy.
Engineer it and ensure it's right. In the Developing
phase, Cornerstone will create all the software components of
your project. This includes writing code, unit testing, unit
verification testing, system integration testing and internal
acceptance testing, along with a training plan. Once we have
completed internal acceptance testing, the Stabilizing
phase is entered. In this phase, we'll hand the system over to
your team for client testing. In this phase, Cornerstone will
instruct you how to install the system in a test environment and
help you perform alpha and beta testing, regression testing (if
necessary) and performance/scalability testing. After all the
testing has been completed the system is Deployed.
Cornerstone will install the developed system and train your
team in its operation. We'll also work with you to convert your
existing data into a new database structure as required.
Cornerstone will then certify the system as production ready.
Support. Support and enhance
it. In the final phase, Cornerstone will resolve any
previously unidentified system issues and provide ongoing
support as necessary.
During all phases, we evaluate changes
outside the shared vision of the project. Change is a fact of life, but uncontrolled change leads to project death. Strong language perhaps, but true. Correctly managing change will dramatically affect the eventual success of the project.
When necessary, we prepare a Change Definition Document that identifies the nature of the changes and estimated cost and budget impact. You will sign the Change Definition Document indicating either acceptance or rejection of the change. Project schedules are modified accordingly to reflect accepted changes.
Cornerstone's methodology is not rocket science, but it leads to success. Let us put it to work on your next project.
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