A successful development initiative
is dependent to a great extent on a Project Management
Plan and its plan. The plan deploys the basic tenets
of management and control of structured application
development, i.e., initiating, planning, executing,
controlling and documenting the phases of each project.
Through its unique Project Management Methodology,
NSI Software India can provide a roadmap for the successful development
and deployment of each the applications we create.
Any development initiative
is thoroughly analyzed to put together a project management
plan that addresses every minute detail of that initiative.
Our project management methodology encompasses:
Scope Management
Each project has a specific scope. The scope clearly
identifies boundaries related to the development of
the project. The scope management may involve a single
system or multiple systems. The scope of a project
will also exclude what is not within the purview of
the scope analysis.
Time Management
User requirements and the actual design clearly identify
the timeline(s) and deliverable(s) for any project.
Each deliverable is qualified using a timeline. Managing
these timelines is an essential part of time management.
Resource Management
Each deliverable has one or more resources that determine
delivery. NSI Software India Project Managers ensure that resources
being allocated to a project remain available throughout
its lifecycle. NSI Software India also pre-qualifies additional resources.
These will be implemented if the team size has to
be escalated or a specific resource has to be replaced.
Development Infrastructure Management
Development infrastructure
and communications are an absolute part of any offshore
delivery. Our hybrid model and project management
approach ensures that there is a strong synergy between
the stakeholders, the Onsite Team or "OT"
and Offshore Development Center or "ODC".
The success of any offshore development initiative
depends on the development infrastructure and its
accessibility, as well as effective communication
between all onsite and offshore team components.
Each project will have a development approach ideally
suited to its execution. Iterative development where
part of a process can be isolated and moved offshore
is an important facet of our offshore development
model. We will work in tandem with a Customers Internal
Team or "CIT" to storyboard a plan. That
plan provides us with the schema of the development
infrastructure realistically required to support the
project initiative. The development infrastructure
will include any or all of these significant aspects:
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Remote access to the customer's environment through secure, high-speed connection to the customer's gateway and VPN. |
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Isolation of modular systems for offshore development. These systems are independent of other subsystems. They can be programmed independently. |
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Replicated or mirrored environments
wherever possible. NOTE: This alternative may not be viable for highly distributed component architecture applications that involve intense information exchange with other systems. |
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Remote component testing |
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Performance testing. |
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Onsite development, deployment, integration and testing. |
Project Status Management
Project Status would be monitored
during each phase of development. The activities to
manage the status of each project are summarized here:
Tracking And Monitoring
The Onsite Team "OT"and Offshore Development
Center "ODC" tracks and maintains records
of problems and technical issues related to any stage
of application development. Our project teams ensure
that these issues are evaluated, remedied, and closed
within appropriate timeframes.
Joint Reviews
Joint reviews will be conducted according to schedules
listed in the chart of events and the project management
execution plan. These reviews discuss project schedules,
deadlines, constraints, risks, change requests, or introduction
of any new functionality and its impact, together with
any other project aspects that may warrant intervention.
Such joint reviews will be scheduled at the onset of
the project. NSI Software India wants participants to be informed well
in advance of any review meetings and are available
during the dates specified.
Status Reports
NSI Software India has a reporting mechanism to communicate
the status of a project effectively to all participating
teams viz. CIT, OT, ODC and the steering committee.
The reports will include summary information on:
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Project Schedule, i.e., milestones and deliverables |
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Constraints and risks |
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Minutes of previous meetings |
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Change in management issues |
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Over-all summary of tasks completed during the reporting period. |
Escalation
The escalation path clearly establishes the
channel of communication. If resolution to a problem
is required on a priority basis, the CIT can escalate
the issue, starting with the project manager and ranging
to the level of engagement manager.
Configuration Management
Each project requires an environment that supports
its development. A matrix will be prepared to finalize
the elements both in terms of hardware; software and
licensing that are required to develop the applications
for the customer. Our team regularly documents a detailed
configuration management plan that details:
Hardware and software infrastructure
available to a team before execution.
A schema for the software components under development.
A list of deliverables-also designated
teams for each set(s) of deliverable(s) and a timeline
for delivery.
A summary of the guidelines necessary to secure the
software being developed against potential damage or
loss.
Any software licensing requirements that require intervention
of the stakeholder or any additional expenditure by
NSI Software India
Quality Management
Quality control is an important part of our development
philosophy. Our Quality management plan defines the
quality control mechanisms that protect our development
processes. Our Quality Management methodology provides
guidelines that assure the quality of procedures, work
instructions, standards, testing, review and development.
These guidelines will also ensure compliance as per
ISO 9001/CMM 5 guidelines. Our Quality Management methodology
covers those personnel involved in the administration,
development, implementation, and execution of the product
or application we are developing.
Change Management
After the scope of work is finalized, any additions
and/or changes will be requested in writing. NSI Software India will
evaluate and communicate the effect that each change
will have on the project schedule and provide an effort
estimate and cost to our customer. NSI Software India will incorporate
the changes into the design document, but only after
authorization by the customer. Change Management issues
will also be reviewed routinely between OT and CIT.
