Software Development

The overall process of developing a new software product involves seven phases

stipulated by the software development life cycle. The first phase is a preliminary analysis that

involves reviewing the questions on problems the system will solve, whether the software

development is good for the organization, or n This step helps determine if the software

development project should start or be terminated. The second phase is system analysis, where

the system analysts work with the customers to determine the system's specific requirements.

They collect the requirements by using appropriate methods such as interviewing. The third

phase is system design which involves documenting the requirements to develop the technical

details for the system (Bourgeois et al., 2019). This phase involves designing the user interface,

database, etc. The fourth phase is the programming phase which involves coding the system

based on the specified requirements detailed in the analysis and design phases. The testing phase

then follows which the programmer puts the coded system through structured tests by testing the

system unit, the overall system, and user acceptance. Implementation and maintenance are the

sixth and seventh phases, respectively. Implementation involves implementing the system in the

organization, while the latter involves having a structured system support process that helps

update and remove the bugs.

There are various methods of developing a new software product. These methods include

Rapid Application Development, Agile, Iterative, and Lean methodologies. Though these

systems work towards one main goal, there are differences in that RAD involves four phases:

requirement planning, user design, construction, and cutover. This method focuses on building a

working system providing the users with the system, and using the feedback to improve the

system, unlike the software development life cycle, which does not return because its phases
flow in a waterfall-like manner. The Agile methodologies, unlike RAD, uses incremental

methods and focuses on developing a quality product (Al-Zewairi et al., 2017). The Iterative

method, on the other hand, uses iterations methods that allow modification and review of the

software product. Lean methodology is still a new methodology in the market that involves using

the initial idea to develop a viable product. The main difference between the above

methodologies and the software development life cycle is that it allows for a comeback, thus

developing a quality system, unlike SDLC, which does not allow the developer to return to the

previous phase.

References

Al-Zewairi, M., Biltawi, M., Etaiwi, W., & Shaout, A. (2017). Agile software development

methodologies: survey of surveys. Journal of Computer and Communications, 5(05), 74.

Bourgeois, D. T., Smith, J. L., Wang, S., & Mortati, J. (2019). Information systems for business

and beyond.