The Stages of the Software Development Lifecycle as it Relates to The Salesforce Adaptive Methodology

Whether a company needs to implement a brand new software to assist with their day to day processes and procedures, or they are needing to enhance a current system, following the software development lifecycle stages can provide the project management team the appropriate tools to ensure the changes to the system are not only completed in a timely manner but are successful. When working with Salesforce, the Salesforce Adaptive Methodology is ideal because of its ability to quickly adapt to a project’s needs.

What is the Software Development Lifecycle?

The software development lifecycle is the process of evaluating a current software solution, identifying and qualifying opportunities for improvement, and then developing a roadmap to complete those improvements.

The stages of the software development lifecycle can be practiced while following a variety of deployment methods. One method in particular that we will discuss here is Salesforce’s Adaptive Methodology. Salesforce’s Adaptive Methodology can be used to help stakeholders and the project team complete the project in a timely manner. Often times there are multiple hurdles in the software development lifecycle, which can include scope, time, cost, and quality. While there are many different methodologies available to mitigate some of these hurdles, Salesforce concentrates on a combination of two, Waterfall and Agile. We will talk more about that later.

The Stages of the Software Development Lifecycle

A typical Software Development Life Cycle can consist of a variety of stages. Some of the most common stages are the following:

Stage 1: Prepare

The preparatory stage begins with a preliminary analysis of a current system, identifying any current problems with an existing software solution (or the lack of a software solution in general) and the potential solutions, costs, budget, and a plan/recommendation of how to accomplish the goals laid out. During this stage, any knowledge or information is gathered and shared with the project team and stakeholders. An outline is prepared documenting roles and responsibilities and a project kick-off meeting is held to introduce and explain these details to key stakeholders.

Stage 2: Plan and Architect

During this stage, functional requirements are established, and it is identified what the solution needs to do to become an effective tool for the organization. A technical design document is created outlining not only how the intended solution should look and feel, but also how it should be built. It is during this stage where you get the customer sign-off and approval.

Stage 3: Construct, Validate, Deploy, and Support

At this stage, a “sprint” (which is a short, defined period of time when the team works to complete specific deliverables) is outlined and the project deliverables are created.
Once the work has begun, sprint reviews, user acceptance testing, and continual feedback are gathered so the solution can be adjusted accordingly if required. Once these issues are resolved or an appropriate resolution plan is put into place, the completed and approved functionality is moved over to a production environment.

Go live support is then provided for a defined period of time at the end of the project.

Stage 4: Monitor and Control

During this stage, not only is the system that was developed evaluated but so is the delivery process that was used. Reports are completed to determine if the initial business requirements and objectives adequately explained the overall needs, as well as if the system that was built is functional and meets the client’s expectations.

This is also the time to evaluate and communicate any progress or performance issues discovered during the software development lifecycle and deployment of the project.
The overall scope is reviewed during this stage and can identify any areas where changes are required. Once changes are determined and agreed upon, the proper change management steps can be executed to see those through to completion.

Now that the steps for an effective Software Development Lifecycle have been laid out, let’s talk about how that fits into Salesforce’s Adaptive Methodology.

Salesforce’s Adaptive Methodology

In order to deploy a successful software implementation or project, it is important to implement all of the appropriate stages of the software development lifecycle at the right time during the deployment method that best fits the organization’s pace.

While there are many different methods available, Salesforce has developed a unique mixture of two of the most popular methods to ensure a successful and smooth implementation.

To get a better understanding of this practice, let us define the two methods used: Waterfall and Agile.

The Waterfall Methodology

The waterfall method follows a defined structure or path to move efficiently from one phase to the next. Milestones are very important in a waterfall method project plan to organize tasks and stages. This project is good for simple, predictable projects.

The Agile Methodology

The agile method allows for discovering requirements and developing solutions throughout the project in a collaborative effort, while self-organizing across cross-functional teams. This method uses shorter sequences of events (sprints) to complete the work and respond to new requests. This method is good for complex projects where work is ever-evolving.

The Salesforce Adaptive Methodology is ideal for the ability to quickly adapt to a project’s needs. It uses the waterfall method with the project management team to confirm that the customer understands and approves of the intended software solution scope and design, while using the agile method for the software development team, so they can select the most vital portion of the project to complete first. Then the teams can effectively move on to the next task at hand. This allows for the defined deliverables to be determined, discussed, and agreed upon in a timely and efficient manner so the project can begin. This allows continued collaboration throughout the sprints so required modifications are not left behind and backlogged, which can cause end-user frustration if important missing features of the initial solution design were not discovered and prioritized.

Conclusion
The process of the implementation or modification of a software solution is vital for the overall success of the organization using that system. The stages of the software development lifecycle can come in handy in ensuring the most important information is gathered, appropriate steps are followed, budget is maintained, and all users are trained efficiently. The Salesforce Methodology can assist in deploying these stages at the appropriate timeframe of the project to ensure adequate communication and expectations are met.

Overall, following these steps and procedures helps to ensure not only a successful software implementation, but also improves overall satisfaction for the project management team, the project’s key stakeholders, and also the end-users who will be using the newly created system the most frequently.

Having a successful implementation under your belt allows for more opportunities for growth and future enhancement within the system. Want to discuss the Salesforce Adaptive Methodology, just let us know. 

About Roycon
We’re an Austin-based Salesforce Consulting Partner, with a passion and belief that the Salesforce platform’s capabilities can help businesses run more efficiently and effectively. Whether you are just getting started with Salesforce or looking to realize its full potential, Roycon specializes in Salesforce Implementations, Salesforce Ongoing Support, and Salesforce Integrations, and Development. We’re the certified partner to guide the way to increase Salesforce Adoption, make strategic decisions, and build your Salesforce Roadmap for success.