26 Mar Software Development scope creep

When it comes to customised software development, good intentions can lead to scope creep unless a healthy dose of realism and discipline is applied.

Louie Storm, dataX founder, discusses these two key aspects of successful project delivery.

1. REALISM
If you are a small or mid-sized business, be careful of cutting and pasting all the features of a global multi-national into your business specifications. Louie says clients who build a platform with all the bells and whistles often find that their employees or clients only end up using 25% or so of its full capability.

“That wasted development budget could have been invested in training employees, marketing or getting clients to actually experience the new benefits of the system. One must have a vision so that we all know where the end-game is, but it’s important to understand what will make a tangible difference and what is nice to have.”

2. DISCIPLINE
“We do live in a dynamic, spontaneous world but well-considered time spent planning can make a big difference to the cost of the project.”

Louie is referring mostly to last-minute requirements and endless add-ons which become the exception rather than the norm.

“The project sponsor needs to sit back and look at the original intent of the project. Feature creep can change the shape of the client’s initial objective, which means whatever your strategy was is now out the window. Do you try to offer many disconnected features? Or do you concentrate on doing a few things brilliantly? You cannot be all things to all people, especially when it comes to the complexity and costs associated with customised software development.“