Technology Process

Define

The definition phase involves meeting with the customer to determine their needs from a business and technical stance.

Detailed system requirements are gathered by interviewing prospective users and determining necessary pieces of the system. Technical analysis is conducted to determine how to best meet client needs, then conceptual ideas are created and presented for customer approval.

Next, data flow and navigation are addressed. We determine how the system will work be analyzing how users will navigate through the system. Levels of security are determined based on customer requirements and feedback gathered from user interviews. If converting from another system, we analyze the existing system and that information is applied to the new system.

Finally, a tentative timeline is created for the project with milestone dates to reach and provide feedback to the customer.

Design

At the design stage, customer requirements are translated into a workable system design.

After reviewing any limitations that may have been unearthed in the Definition phase, we design a graphical user interface (GUI) to fit the data flow needs. Then a database framework is designed and detailed rules are created to facilitate the data flow.

A detailed plan is created to implement conversion to the new system and deploy the new system, then test and support plans are developed. Test plans include steps to create test data and test scripts. Support plans include description of support roles and customer requirements for support. When applicable, existing system integration plan needs are created.

We use the technical strategy that was determined in the Definition phase to find the technology platform best suited for the customer's needs.

Develop

During this phase, we build upon the prototype from the Design phase, incorporating business rules and a complete database.

This is accomplished by determining coding and database platforms based on the agreed upon technology for development. The platforms depend on the size of the project and security requirements.

Business rule objects are created as separate modules, which can be referenced from the user interface. An administrative code is written to allow the customer to make administrative changes to the product as needed.

Finally, we address any integration with previous systems. This involves migrating test data from the old system to make sure both pieces work well together.

Test

Thorough unit testing will be completed by HT using test data approved or provided by the customer.

At this stage, we look to the customer to provide valid test data (or for the customer to approve test data we create). Test scripts also need to be written. HT personnel will perform unit testing of the system once coding has been completed. This testing primarily serves the purpose of discovering any bugs that may exist, as well as basic functionality.

We ask the customer to perform alpha testing. This involves comprehensive testing of the system to insure we have met the requirements set forth in the Definition phase. Testing encompasses verification that any data or functionality migrated from an existing system is performing correctly in the new system.

We then ask a group of users to perform beta testing, which involves in-depth testing of the system. This should catch anything not found in the two other test phases.

Refine

After the testing phase has been completed, any re-design, re-development and re-testing will be completed based upon the original test results.

First, we evaluate test results to determine if any modifications are necessary prior to migrating the system to production. Then, any modifications deemed necessary are make, including any bug fixes, as well as functionality modifications to insure that the system meets original design specifications. Customer approval is imperative before the system can go live.

Deploy

Once final revisions are completed, the system is migrated to production servers and any necessary conversion from an existing system occurs.

At this stage, we register the domain name, or if the domain name is already registered, we set up any hosting services and begin marketing as needed.

Any support plans laid out in the design phase will need to be implemented and in place prior to the system deployment. This helps insure the system will be supported once it is live.