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Our work Our project methodology ensures highly-effective, outcome-driven solutions that deliver results. A successful web project is one in which technical solutions are closely aligned with, and driven by, business objectives and integrated with a creative presence conducive to its uptake.

These objectives can include high level, organization-wide objectives, as well as (at times competing) functional unit objectives. Other important considerations are operational and strategic constraints, including resource availability, and relevant inter-human and inter-functional unit dynamics.

The One Reason development and delivery methodology cuts through the complexity of IT projects by aligning every facet of the solution with all of your key business objectives. Further, the thorough and iterative nature of our process accommodates the changes, adjustments and shifting goalposts that are so common throughout the course of any project.

The methodology lifecycle

Although engagements vary with the unique requirements of each client, there are key processes that are common to most projects.

Some or all of these processes may be called upon, depending on the scope of the work being undertaken. For example, a requirements consulting engagement may include an intensive period of requirements analysis, solution design and quality assurance. An end-to-end application development engagement is likely to include all stages.

The methodology in detail

Define business and project objectives

As the first step in any engagement, we identify the specific challenges or opportunities the project must address.

Whilst we are always mindful of the range of technical solutions available at every stage of our development process, a focus on technology at this preliminary stage can lead to skewed outcomes that don't adequately reflect your unique business needs.

A focus on key business issues is crucial at this stage.

We use a number of tools to identify these issues, including:

  • Audits to establish benchmarks against which future outcomes may be measured.
  • Stakeholder interviews to gain insight as well as to capture non-documented aspects of personnel discharge of tasks.
  • Scoping exercises to identify the boundaries of the deliverables.
  • Business analysis to quantify the feasibility of the proposed outcomes, achievability and timelines of the intermediate milestones and the cost/benefit at each milestone.
  • Surveys to gauge the coherence of the proposed outcomes as identified by the various stakeholders and participants within the organisation and those impacted by the proposed outcomes.
  • Market research to identify current trends and best practice standards.
  • Focus groups to measure the suitability of the deliverables in meeting the proposed outcomes to ensure agreement between the participants on what will be delivered and precisely how it will address the objectives in order to be successful.
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Design the engagement

Armed with this knowledge, research and insight into the specific needs of your business, we produce a detailed project plan identifying where relevant:
  • Precise mission statement of the delivery exercise
  • Detailed breakdown of intermediate objectives and milestones
  • Risks and mitigating activities
  • Resource requirements
  • Comprehensive list of the solution components to be delivered including any training or usage aides, interfaces to other processes or systems and business process changes and associated change management activities (if any).
  • Cutover and/or data/content migration
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Detailed requirements analysis

High level project objectives are the starting point for a detailed requirements analysis. The requirements gathering process varies per engagement, but usually includes a series of interviews with stakeholders to establish detailed business requirements. It also involves activities around end-user needs. Use case studies are often an important element of requirements analysis, as they provide a concrete benchmark against which any solution design may be measured.Top

Solution design

The development of detailed requirements faciliate the solution design process. Depending on the engagement, a solution may comprise an information architecture, full functional requirements, visual designs, and more. Solution design is an iterative process, in which the proposed solution is tested against project requirements, usability evaluations and external standards on an ongoing basis. Technical solution design occurs hand in hand with functional design.

Where an engagement requires extensive business process analysis and design, the solution may include prominent elements of process workflows, implementation strategies, change management requirements and other business process-related solutions.Top

Technical implementation

The outcome of the solution design process is, in part, the provision of sufficient documentation to enable the solution's technical implementation. This may involve implementation of the human interface components, systems integration, technical implementation and more.Top

Quality assurance

Rather than being a distinct, independent phase of our methodology, we employ quality assurance processes at every stage.

Quality assurance activities may include:

  • Functional testing
  • Accessibility and usability testing
  • Load (volume and throughput), stress and scalability testing
  • Interface testing
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Release engineering

Our release engineering process is designed to enhance control over system implementation and reduce the risk of undesirable occurances.

Key elements of this process are:

  • Data/content migration
  • Systems, connectivity, interface migration
  • Contingency planning, fallback and disaster recovery
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Maintenance and support

Maintenance and support are offered as a standard component of our managed services. For pure consultancy engagements, client followup is standard practice, and further work is undertaken on a time and materials basis.Top
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