Effective Software Development Process

Written by Blane Warrene


Continued from page 1
* Doesrepparttar architecture meetrepparttar 133550 standards ofrepparttar 133551 organization and industry standards? * Scale ofrepparttar 133552 system to handlerepparttar 133553 level of use and growth of systems such as data storage, new interfaces, future improvements and modules. User Interface Design This can be a web browser based GUI or a software GUI. Either way, consideration should be given to both design ofrepparttar 133554 interface and discussion of how to handle changes torepparttar 133555 interface so as not to disrupt underlying application development. Database Design This isrepparttar 133556 place to architectrepparttar 133557 top-level view ofrepparttar 133558 database for this application. Depending uponrepparttar 133559 scale, perhaps some ETL (extraction, transformation and load) tools may be used for design purposes. This is an area where challenges and risks can be identified further, as mentioned earlier. This would include reliance upon data sources or interfaces outside ofrepparttar 133560 control ofrepparttar 133561 technical team. Roles and Responsibilities A final step is to assign resources torepparttar 133562 varying sections ofrepparttar 133563 whole application. This is where expertise and experience are married torepparttar 133564 components and systems required to completerepparttar 133565 project. The completed design specifications will naturally lead to a functional specification. This makes it important to take an additional step prior to moving forward. This is a good time to bringrepparttar 133566 original charter group back together with a presentation that shows howrepparttar 133567 design ofrepparttar 133568 system answersrepparttar 133569 business requirements and meetsrepparttar 133570 overall scope ofrepparttar 133571 charter. This discussion will most likely bring about some changes torepparttar 133572 design, andrepparttar 133573 previously agreed upon change management process should be used to updaterepparttar 133574 design specification and move on torepparttar 133575 final stage prior to gettingrepparttar 133576 programming started. Functional Specification The goal of a functional specification is to achieve a handbook reference forrepparttar 133577 technical team to develop, integrate, test and finally release a completed application. This document is much easier to complete withrepparttar 133578 previous road map documents in hand. The technical team will never lose sight ofrepparttar 133579 business goals throughrepparttar 133580 charter and requirements, andrepparttar 133581 design document has setrepparttar 133582 parameters through whichrepparttar 133583 project will be accomplished. Also,repparttar 133584 repeated steps of communicating back torepparttar 133585 original group keepsrepparttar 133586 flow of information on status and issues between business and technical teams and support does not waver forrepparttar 133587 project. Now isrepparttar 133588 time to address language specifics and how issues such as hardware and software dependencies and limitations will be addressed, performance requirements, security requirements, error handling and overall logging requirements. The applications varying sections are addressed withrepparttar 133589 resource(s) in mind. This will enable a very clear timeline to be drawn and matched againstrepparttar 133590 original timeline fromrepparttar 133591 charter and updates may need to be provided torepparttar 133592 original group (keep in mind those QA and testers we mentioned) for scheduling. Again, be sure to userepparttar 133593 change management process. The completed functional specification will read like a technical reference guide forrepparttar 133594 resources to constructrepparttar 133595 application. It will provide a timeline to be followed and reported upon. And ultimately, it should lead to successful testing and completion ofrepparttar 133596 project. Conclusion Critical torepparttar 133597 success of any endeavor is communicating issues and solutions, andrepparttar 133598 steps to achieve results. In application development, communication is very critical, not just between technical team members, but also between senior management and business users involved inrepparttar 133599 project, as well as your QA and testers who will sign-off prior to deployment. The steps of any application project userepparttar 133600 business charter, business requirements, design and functional specification to ensure scope management and that goals are met withrepparttar 133601 end result. However, there can be a disconnect between these parties asrepparttar 133602 project is underway andrepparttar 133603 coding begins. This can lead to loss of momentum and support from non-technical staff and managers, scope creep and/or misunderstandings, which may lead to failure. To avoid this, consider setting broad parameters for reporting status and general communications when buildingrepparttar 133604 charter atrepparttar 133605 inception ofrepparttar 133606 project. These can be scheduled meetings, e-mail updates and even presentations as needed. Also ensure your change management process is inrepparttar 133607 charter, and that it entails communicating change requests to this group with a clearly defined process for approvals and comments. While some ofrepparttar 133608 project will seem technical and difficult to follow by non-technical team members,repparttar 133609 group remains informed, can feel they are invested inrepparttar 133610 success ofrepparttar 133611 project, and can be your biggest cheerleaders when obstacles arise.

Prior to participating in the founding of BMRW & Associates, Blane served most recently as the Director of Technology for VESTAX Securities Corporation. In this capacity he was responsible for the management and evolution of the IT infrastructure and services for internal operations and field technology services for VESTAX financial advisors.

Blane brings substantial knowledge in application & data integration, mining and management .


Information Security Policy

Written by Blane Warrene


Continued from page 1
Back to TopA daily and monthly data backup process should exist which also provides for off-site or fireproof storage ofrepparttar backup data in a non-editable format (i.e. offline magnetic tape or CD-R (not CD-RW)). Any connection torepparttar 133549 Internet, from a shared 56 K modem to a broadband (DSL, Cable or T1) connection, should be behind a software or hardware-based firewall. If not, this is an immediate and gaping hole through which crackers can access your private network or use your computer for an attack on a larger public or private network (often called a DDOS or Distributed Denial of Service attack). Use a password to login to your computer even if it is not on a network. Passwords should be at least eight characters and changed as often as tolerable (90 days is a satisfactory time period). Use and update daily an anti-virus software suite, which can protect your individual computers as well as any servers you use. By taking these steps, you are dramatically reducing your exposure to uninvited intrusions. The inventory you established earlier can then be reviewed and a plan can be developed by your business and your technology staff/consultant to ensure your office network and data is a fortress with a little risk as possible. Learn More About Securing Your Computer, Data and Network

Security Tracker This site tracks all known vulnerabilities and threats in Internet and network technology. http://securitytracker.com Microsoft Security Micorsoft's site dedicated to their own applications, including software patches and alerts to newly discovered security issues. http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.asp TinHat The ABCs of web and Internet Security. http://www.tinhat.com/



Prior to participating in the founding of BMRW & Associates, Blane served most recently as the Director of Technology for VESTAX Securities Corporation. In this capacity he was responsible for the management and evolution of the IT infrastructure and services for internal operations and field technology services for VESTAX financial advisors.

Blane brings substantial knowledge in application & data integration, mining and management .


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