How Significant Is Project Management In Software Development
Fabricating an actual sketch laying down details right from the start to the end form a defining part of the project lifecycle. So, is the planning, management, and implementing of projects by leasing out responsibilities across a group within the organization to ensure a dynamic and collaborative functioning across a whole. More emphasis is laid on the proper alignment of the project goals with that of the client’s framework and that of the business. Conforming to various project management strategies prior to conception ensures software development goes hassle free and exactly as the client envisioned. In brief, project management is all about optimizing planning, judicious allocation of team resources, prompt management, creating effective channels for client interaction and ensuring stringent quality levels throughout.
Project Management Is Becoming More Important Than Before
According to a report by the Project Management Institute, employers will require nearly 87.7 million individuals serving project management oriented roles by 2027. Information technology is a high profile industry where project management has acquired an active role in developing tested software solutions and projects for clients. IT companies big or small are looking to widen their scope of operations to attain high competence in the challenging markets. As of that, project managers are in high demand in the IT industry to help the companies develop software solutions and execute multifarious projects for different clients in an effective and time-bound manner.
Project Management Ties In Closely With The Software Development Lifecycle
The phases involved in both project and software lifecycle tend to overlap at some places. With software development, the lifecycle begins with planning and analysis, which then moves through design, building, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. The project management lifecycle comprises of four stages – initiation, planning, execution, and closure, which when examined closely remain interrelated to the software development lifecycle. Phases of the project lifecycle such as planning and execution ties down exactly with the design, development, testing and implementation phase of the software lifecycle. Beginning with initiation, the goal and scope of the project is laid down, which then moves on to the planning stage once approved and subsequently to the design, building and testing process. Accordingly, one cannot leave out project management from the software development lifecycle, but pin it right at the center, where each process revolves under its sole discretion. In addition, there are several other aspects that make project management such an indispensable part of the software development process. Here are some of the key takeaways:
Facilitates A Single Point Of Contact Between Developers And Clients
Maintaining effective communications between the client and the developers is important. One cannot expect the developers to articulate the work status or any details that might crop up while halfway through the building process to the client side. The development team is a mix of the frontend, backend developers, QA specialists, UI/UX designers, business analysts and so on. And so, client interaction remains difficult and ineffective without the moderation of a project management office. Project management in software development serves as the point of contact between the development team, managers and the client. A project manager articulates the client’s requirements to the developers and vice versa thus acting as a central link between clients and developers by coordinating and transferring information back and forth within the project. Besides, the project manager schedule meetings, manage client relationships, reiterate project requirements to the developers and client as well as furnish the client of the ongoing progress in layman terms.
Effective Utilization And Management Of Team Resources
Coordination is the key, especially when handling a team comprising of not just developers but designers, analysts, managers, testers, content creators etc. In software development, all these individual units act together to produce the desired outcome, in this case, the software product that conforms precisely with the client’s expectations. Developers are creative, goal-oriented and productive, but what they lack is clear direction or supervision. The project manager’s role is to fill in this gap, which is the effective guidance of the development teams to fulfill the project as per the client’s requirements and within the stipulated deadlines. A project manager’s role also extends to coordination and efficient utilization of the team resources by ensuring that the development adheres closely to predetermined phases and foster collaboration between the team members all via optimal usage of resources and time.
Establishing Clear Scope Management For The Project
Scope is an important term in the project manager’s dictionary. Outlining a clear scope of the project clarifies the aim or end use of the software, which helps mold the development process accordingly. Besides that, scope is a measure of the requirements that need to be successfully delivered to the client. Determining the scope of the project assures that everything required to successfully complete the project is kept in order. Project managers give due emphasis for scope management in their projects. It is formulated beforehand, during the planning phase and serves as the foundation for all the subsequent stages. Resources, costs and the project delivery time is the thing. Scope is entirely dependent on them, which means any changes can in fact also make some influences. However, a project manager’s role is to leave the scope unaltered from all these changing factors and persist on with the development.
Assures Stringent Quality Control In The Process And Product
Sticking to quality is yet another defining aspect of the project management process. It means delivering a product, in this case, a software, with excellent quality levels. During the development process, project managers work in tandem with the developers, QA specialists, design team etc. to make sure that the right quality standards are maintained by the team both in the process and the finished product. Project managers passively assess all the process that goes into the testing phase of the software to identify any bugs that may potentially affect or wreck its functioning. The design elements are also closely analyzed by the project manager with the help of the UI/UX team to confirm whether it aligns with the client’s design concept. Besides, they carefully work with the team to make sure the entire software architecture adhere closely to the set of requirements put forth by the client.