The software development analysis phase is a crucial part of the software development cycle. After planning a software development project, you’ll find that this is the second step in the process when working with our team. However, there’s often a lot of confusion about what this stage involves.
So, in this blog post, we highlight what the software development analysis phase is and how we use it to make sure every project we work on is a success.
What is the software development analysis phase?
The software development analysis phase is the second stage in the process of building software. It comes after the initial planning stage. The first step is to find out if a project is feasible, and then create a project plan.
This leads to the software development analysis phase. At this time, the goals of the project are converted into the system functions that are needed to develop your software. There are a few different areas that fall under this phase, and they come together to set a project up for success.
Gathering business requirements
The main aim of the software development analysis phase is to gather the business requirements for the project. This is crucial to undertake now to ensure the final results meet the expectations of the end-user. When these aren’t understood at this point, there are often more issues further down the line. A good idea is to use a high-level project charter for this job.
During this phase, the information gathered in the first phase will be broken down into more detailed instructions. A consultant will look at where the project is heading and the documentation needed to get you there. Companies often underestimate how much time and energy will be needed to gather documentation. This stage is not a one-day job and will often take a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the project.
A software consultant will take some time to speak to your end-users. They can discover what users are really looking for from your software or app. This information will be captured and communicated changed into requirements for the team who are working on the project. The consultant will ask questions, let the user share their thoughts, and really take in what they have to say. They will speak to a cross-section of users, which could be staff or customers to obtain the best chance of offering them the product they need.
Creating process diagrams
While gathering business requirements is the main aim of the software development analysis phase, creating process diagrams is also part of this step. These give a clear idea of where the project is heading. The diagram will make clearer the work that’s needed in order to achieve the end goals and fulfil all requirements. This means that it’s easier to track in the long run as your goals are made clear and concise.
Perform an analysis
The final part of the software development analysis phase is to analyse the research and results deeply. Before moving on to the next stage in the development process, your developers will want to make sure you know what has been achieved from this phase. While they might be keen to start with your work, they know it is a good way to ensure that they have all of the research and information they need for your project to be successful.
Can the Software Development Analysis Phase be skipped?
We know that many clients are just keen to skip over any phase which might seem to delay the software development process. While they might think this can just be jumped over, we never recommend this. Instead, we allow time to focus on this part of the project and make sure we have everything in place for the next phase.
When we conduct in-depth business research to gather the requirements for your work, you’ll find that your end results are much more aligned with what your customers expect from you. They’ll appreciate the time and effort we’ve put into your work, which will come across every time they use your software. The more research conducted about their needs, the more likely you can meet these in the future.
What is the next phase of the software development process?
After completing the software development analysis phase, it’s time to move on to the design phase. This phase describes the features and operations of the system being created. We’ll design the IT infrastructure with our team, followed by the system model. We know that many companies are commissioning software for the first time, so we’ll be here to support and update you regularly through all phases.
The IT infrastructure will have a design that aims to avoid crashes and performance issues. You’ll find that we work through this phase with your budget and timeframe in mind. We can create interfaces and data models which showcase how realistic your project is. From there, we’ll enter stage four, which is the development of your software and app. You’ll still have a little while to go until the launch though, as we will need to complete testing first.
The software development analysis phase is critical for any custom software project. We’ll use this phase to make sure our work aligns with the end-user and their needs. This will help us to keep on track throughout our time working together. We never recommend skipping this phase, as it usually results in disaster for everyone involved.
To finish
Are you looking to invest in bespoke software for your business this year? If so, we’re here to help you with projects of any shape and size. Contact our team today for more information or to discuss the various phases of any software development project.
BSPOKE Software is a custom software development company based in Peterborough with many years of experience, check out our previous successes here.
