Project Management

At IQ Software, strong and readily available project management is essential. This is why we:

a - Always assign a project manager local to the client, to ensure there is good communication and to remove the possibility of misunderstanding. There will always be someone who is able to visit the client site and meet up regularly with the customer.

b - Always assign a project manager or senior engineer to handle any off-shore element of a project. This would generally be local to the offshore development centre.

c - Have our own IQtrack software available from the internet so that clients can get a real-time update and status report on progress of any of their projects.

Change Management

At IQ Software, good change management is an integral part of the process. Through our IQbug software we are able to track all changes and bugs to the system. As the customer works very closely with the project manager we are able to manage change well together.

Development Methodology

At IQ Software we utilize RUP and UML for our projects. These are industry recognized methodologies that are in widespread use.

1. Scoping and Requirement Analysis - Onsite

During this stage the following tasks are completed:

• Identify Project goals, Milestones and Critical Success factors

• Define high level Requirements, Boundaries and Exclusions
  Propose Solution Architecture

• Agree on Effort Estimates and Timelines

• Proposal Document and Project plan are completed during this phase.

• Identify initial Use-cases.

2. System Study - Onsite

Tasks Completed during System Study:

• Detailed Requirements gathering / study

• Pilots / Proof of Concept

• Prototype Preparation

• Detailed Requirements Definition Report and Prototype are Signed-off after this stage.

• Perform detailed use cases analysis.

• Initial UML diagrams

3. Analysis and Design - Offshore

In this stage, using Requirement Definition Report and Prototype as the basis, High-level design is finalized. Tasks involved are:

• High level Design

• Schema finalization

• Integration Test Plans

• Detailed use cases and additional UML diagrams.

During this stage, Integration issues, usability issues are considered before finalization of the high level design.

4. Construction - Offshore

Coding is done as per pre-approved quality guidelines. The tasks involved are:

• Low-level Design

• UML design deliverables (such as activity, class, state, CRC diagrams)

• Unit Test Plans
  Coding

• Code Walkthroughs by team leaders

• Unit Testing by developers

• Documentation - Technical and User Manuals

5. Testing and Audit - Offshore

During this stage, Application goes through the following:

• Installation Testing

• Modular Testing

• Integration Testing

• Stress Testing

• Fixing and Verification

• Audit Review

• Packaging / Shipping

6. Deployment - Onsite

This stage is done Onsite and may call for involvement from customer. We are keen to establish remote connectively in preparation for support requirements. Tasks performed are:

• Onsite Installation

• Prepare end-user Procedures and Training

• Deliver training and user documentation.

• Acceptance testing by customer - Evaluate system readiness

• Data conversion for production server

• Test the helpdesk infrastructure

• Ongoing support

• Install Remote Access (if necessary and agreed)

7. Support – Onsite - Offshore

Maintenance is considered another full project lifecycle, with generally a shorter timeframe.