How to Improve Productivity in Software Development

Set deadlines to improve productivity.

The Systems Development Life Cycle, or SDLC, is a method that provides criteria for software development. Following the methodology of the SDLC allows for more efficient and effective software development. Proper planning and implementation will speed up the process and make the developers more productive. They will spend less time trying to figure out what to do and more time doing it. Productivity in development starts long before the software coding begins. Use a few simple strategies right from the start to keep the entire project on track for the duration of the development phase.

Instructions

Implementation

1. Determine the requirements of the project. Requirements are the basic functionality of the software. These are usually driven by a business need. Understand the scope of the project and what can feasibly be accomplished during development.

2. Create a software development plan. Include timelines for all phases of the project, including design and development. Give every milestone a deadline and assign an individual to be responsible for its completion. This project plan will drive the schedule for all project activities. Make the dates reasonable and attainable.

3. Draft a design document that outlines exactly what the software needs to do and how it will interface with the end user. The design document should address all user requirements. Involve both technical experts and business experts in the design process to ensure that the software will meet the business need without requiring unreasonable amounts of development.

4. Review the design document with all technical developers. Make sure that everyone involved with development understands the scope of the project and has a clear picture of what the final version of the software will look like.

5. Monitor the progress regularly. You can achieve this by holding regular meetings or requiring daily status reports from developers. Reference the project plan to determine if your developers are staying on task and doing an adequate job of meeting deadlines. Update your project plan regularly to adjust dates or resources as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Testing and implementation are important parts of the SDLC but do not necessarily increase productivity during development. Thorough testing of the software before release is a crucial step and will ensure a quality end product. Allow adequate time for testing and implementation in your project plan.

References

• FFIEC.gov: Systems Development Lifecycle
• Startvbdotnet: SDLC