Wednesday, July 4, 2007

The Construction Phase of an IT Project

The construction phase of an IT project involves building the application using the agreed-upon environment and specialized tools. Developers create the application by using the design document as their guide.

During the construction phase, the project manager (PM) doesn't actually take part in conducting the components, but must have an understanding of each, so that he or she can oversee the project in a monitoring role. The components of the construction phase of the IT project life cycle are described below.

1. Inputs
The only input needed for the construction phase is the design document created during the design phase of the life cycle. The design document input is used as an outline for the development team to follow. It identifies what the final product should do, how it should function, and any necessary technical details.

2. Key activities
The key activities for the construction phase are preparing the detailed design and performing the programming. To complete the first key activity, which is to prepare the detailed design for each work unit, you should use the technical design as your guide. The steps for completing the detailed design are listed below.
  • Complete the technical design. Complete any outstanding design work and estimate the impact of any design changes.
  • Design the work units. Review the technical design and plan the individual work units for the application. A work unit is a logical portion of the project that can be designed and developed independently from another part of the project and then integrated as needed later.
  • Complete the database design. Document the logical data structures and data areas used in each programming work unit and make this documentation available to the project's programmers.
  • Review the performance design. The complete project team, along with end users, conduct a review of the programming work unit design to ensure that the design meets functional and quality requirements. This review helps ensure that the programmers understand the requirements and that the design is feasible.
  • Iterate the detail design. After the design review, the preceding steps are conducted as many times as necessary to enable the project team to refine the design.
  • Prepare the common test data. Construct a master test database with which to test each work unit. The database may contain the testing methods, test data, expected results, user instructions, and possible sample documents for use in the testing.
3. Tools
The primary tools needed to conduct the construction phase of the IT project life cycle are the specific programming languages and compilers that the programmers will use to create and test the programming code.

4. Outputs
The outputs of the construction phase of the IT project life cycle are the code, programming work units, test database, and unit/string test results. Once the outputs of the construction phase are complete, you will have a working application that can be tested during the next phase of the IT project life cycle. More information about the outputs is provided below.
  • Code. Using a programming language, programmers write a sequence of instructions that translates the product design into a language that a computer can understand. The instructions are referred to as the program source code or the executable code.
  • Programming work units. Programming work units are an output of the detailed design key activity and are used as the basis for the development of the code.
  • Test database. A set of common test data is developed to provide quality control for unit testing.
  • Unit/string test results. The actual test results from unit tests—and if applicable, string tests—need to be documented and preserved as part of the project documentation.
5. Milestones
The final component of the construction phase for the IT project life cycle, the milestones, must be met before the project can move on to the next phase of the life cycle. The milestones that must be reached during the construction phase of the IT project life cycle are the code review complete form and the string test sign-off.
  • Code review complete. Once the review of the code developed during the construction phase is complete, the PM can sign off the code review complete milestone.
  • String text sign-off. The PM signs the string test sign-off to indicate acceptance of the string test results and implies the completion of unit testing.
Using the design document as a guide, developers construct the application that meets the requirements of the user. Once the milestones of the construction phase have been met, you are ready for the next phase: testing the application.

3 comments:

Byggestyring said...

The Construction of an IT Project is a very difficult way, because you need to do some methods like trial and error after that you need to test it again for debugging. And you need to guaranteed the lifetime and consistency of your software. I like your blog and its really interesting thank you for posting.

John Michle said...

Some facts and other points given here are quite considerable and to the point as well, would be better to look for more of these kind for efficient results for your business.

Construction Service Management Software

Anonymous said...


Tag: PM206A57. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it

1. Plan your day using time management techniques

As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.

If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.

Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager

2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations

While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.

Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.

Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.

3. Regularly communicate with your team

Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.

For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.

4. Anticipate project setbacks

Even the best-laid plans often go awry.

Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.

Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.

Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.

Related post: 92 free project management templates

5. Stay focused on the details

A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.

Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.

And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs