Software development projects tend to be complex and multi-faceted. To complete a project on time and in budget, software developers must engage in efficient planning, organization and monitoring. Project management involves the use of various policies, procedures and principles to plan, implement and complete a project. To ensure a 
satisfactory result, projects must begin with specified parameters designed to produce the desired outcome. Every project that goes through the project management process follows a project life cycle that essentially guides the project from start to completion.
Project management focuses on developing a product that will have a positive effect on an organization. Without project management, a software development team may begin working on a project without any clear vision or guidance, resulting in more frequent errors and confusion. Part of project management involves making everyone involved aware of the purpose of the project and what steps are required to meet the end goal. Learn more about project management for software development and what it entails.
Agile Software Development
Agile software development is an umbrella term for a set of practices and methodologies based on iterative development. Also referred to as simply Agile, this form of software development focuses on the clean delivery of each individual part of the software rather than the software as a whole. By using Agile, software development teams can reduce costs, lessen stress on development teams, and improve turnaround times. Agile software development is inspired by the Agile Manifesto which has principles that favor people and interactions over tools and processes. It also promotes customer collaboration and the use of working software over comprehensive documents.
The Orases Process
Based in Frederick County, Maryland, Orases offers custom software solutions that help businesses reach their vision. The Orases project management process involves a series of steps designed to enable teams to feel powerful and reduce risks during projects. The Orases approach includes the following:
- Alignment — Orases pairs a reliable and proven software process with certain mythology to deliver efficient IT projects.
- Iterative & Incremental — Through project management, businesses can improve the quality of their project and reduce costs while maintaining a prominent place in the market.
- Quality-driven — Businesses can achieve a competitive advantage through efficient processes, accurate testing and greater control over projects.
- Scalable — The experienced developers at Orases will help build and secure an adaptable infrastructure to allow businesses to grow and remain compatible.
- Collaborative — Orases works remotely with businesses to create a collaborative team that allows organizations to give feedback and play a critical role in the software development process.
Anticipate Incremental Steps
During the software development process, things can change quickly. It is important for team members to know what risks they face and how to best handle these risks. The iterative and incremental approach to project management involves handling changes and reducing inherent risks to avoid major business interruptions and unexpected costs. This methodology is an excellent choice for large-scale companies that work on multiple projects at one time that present a high degree of risk. There are several project management approaches, such as agile project management, that have evolved from the incremental and iterative approach.
Product Quality Measurable
Using a standardized methodology, businesses are able to define project quality to ensure that the product delivered meets customer expectations. Quality is an important component of software development but measuring product quality is not always easy. Project quality relies on identifying target customers and their unique requirements.
Quality assurance and quality control are often used interchangeably but have different meanings. While quality assurance focuses on preventing defects before they occur, quality control focuses on identifying and correcting defects after production. Project management aims to discover defects before implantation to achieve a higher rate of customer satisfaction.
Collaborative Challenges of Project Management in the Industry
Project collaboration occurs when two or more people work together to achieve a common goal. However, collaboration during the software development process may cause certain challenges. One of the most common challenges faced by developers is poor communication. Miscommunication and misunderstandings can result in conflicts and mistakes; some development teams also experience poor planning. When there is not a solid plan in place, roles and responsibilities can overlap resulting in wasted time and money. Finally, software development teams can experience challenges in relation to the tools used for collaboration. The right communication tools can help team members work together in the most efficient way possible.
Contact Orases to Begin Your Custom Software Project Today
Software development teams often rely on project management to stay on track and avoid hurdles that could disrupt the development process. To learn more about project management for software development or to get started on a custom software project, reach out to the software experts at Orases today.
