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Answering What A Software Program Will Accomplish
Any and every project starts off with one of these – Why? Because having a Mission Statement helps the NeoBook DOS Pro Author focus and develop professional strategies from the start. Some questions to answer when designing a new software program:
1. What type of software program will it be?
2. What kind of license it will have (freeware, shareware, commercial)?
NOTE: If you plan on developing a software program that is based on two or more of these licenses, you’ll need to create a separate plan for each!!)
3. Is there a market for it?
STOP HERE and perform an internet search for the application area your product will be in. Copy the resulting pages to see what’s already or what hasn’t been developed. Note the names, average price, and any indication of sales made for this type of product.
Don’t forget to check where these products are promoted because if you do decide to develop a similar software program, you’ll want to position your software in the same place! However, if you find that the market is already filled, work on developing a different software program – one that will fill a niche and address the concerns of today’s issues.
4. Who is going to use it?
Establishing the software program’s type, market, and audience will help you later decide what features to include and how to appropriately design it for your audience.
Other factors can determine what the software program will accomplish for you. Consider these elements when creating the software program’s Schedule Estimate.
1. A Schedule Estimate contains estimated dates of completion for some parts of the software program’s development – answering how long you’ll spend time on planning, designing, constructing, testing, changing, and correcting things.
2. Be aware that you may not know all of the estimates at this point and because this is a document that is constantly updated, nothing you write in is set in stone. Just fill out as much as you can.
3. You can see a representation of the schedule I use to estimate the time I’ll complete the construction of my software programs through this link. This schedule is based on past experience and is provided as an example only – your estimates will be different.
4. And of course, what kind of schedule estimate would you have without a calendar?! Fill in the days you expect to have completed certain tasks.
While you’re determining what the software program’s mission will be, note how you think you can compensate for it’s shortcomings through a Risk Management Plan.
1. A Risk Management Plan helps you determine what strategies you’ll use to overcome obstacles you may occur during development. Some obstacles you can expect to encounter are delays, problems with equipment, budget cuts, lack of support, insufficient skills, etc.
2. Be aware that you may not know all of the risks at this point and because this is a document that is constantly updated, nothing you write in is set in stone. Just fill out as much as you can.
4. Once you’ve considered the software program’s risks and estimates, and have found them to be workable within its goal, start a Project Log – (a sort of diary detailing your efforts, progress, and method of solving problems).
When finished, approximately 94% of the software program development process remains! (iy – yi yi!)
