Preparation is the key to successful software development. Find out how Ceiba’s Inception methodology will put the creation of your company’s digital product on the right path from the start, by defining important project requirements examples.
Which project requirements examples are the secret to success?
Preparation is everything when it comes to developing a successful digital product.
That’s why at Ceiba we have developed a bespoke methodology that ensures our clients define their software project management requirements from the start.
Our tailored approach, known as Inception, puts everyone involved in a project on the same page at the outset – with a shared goal in their sights.
Here we explain why Inception is the jewel in our software development process, and reveal which project requirements examples every company must define.
What is a software requirement specification and why do I need one?
Products need these project requirements examples to succeed
At Ceiba, we work with companies of every size and shape, from start-ups to publicly traded enterprise level companies, across multiple industries.
We work with entrepreneurs who are proud of their disruptive ideas, and corporations seeking bespoke digital products that will keep them competitive and set them apart.
At first, our clients tend to be united by a single characteristic – the lack of properly defined requirements for their digital product, an oversight that represents a major risk in terms of time, cost, and feasibility.
Great ideas and in-depth knowledge of a particular sector are helpful, but they are not enough to guarantee a successful digital product.
The creation of a market-leading product requires a clear insight into development, support, and the product’s ongoing evolution. This is the only way to ensure the product will meet a validated need, offer an optimal user experience, and operate in a cost-efficient way.
Inception is the magic ingredient in this process.
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Inception is more than just a project requirements document
At Ceiba, we are often asked: “How much will this cost?” and “How long will this take?” when there are other, more pertinent, questions to be asked.
We are committed to responsible sales processes and work hard to ensure our clients are not only aware of any risks involved in product development, but can rely on our extensive support, experience, and knowledge to evaluate and mitigate them.
Businesses must consider a product’s development, support, and ongoing evolution. They must also make the essential disclaimers, prioritizations and early-stage validations that determine the Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
All of this must occur before time and money is invested in physically creating the product.
How does Inception help define software engineer requirements?
We took the name Inception from ‘The Agile Samurai’ by Jonathan Rasmusson, and its methodology combines our vast experience and expertise with some of Rasmusson’s proposals.
Inception is essentially a co-creative process that uses a set of dynamics to ensure everyone involved in a product’s development is focused on the same objective.
Its methodology helps define important project requirements examples, such as identifying and aligning expectations, outlining a project’s scope and needs, reducing uncertainty, and identifying potential risks.
Ceiba’s experienced facilitators guide the process throughout, alleviating any communication challenges, tackling unexpected ambiguities, and encouraging consensus among all involved.
The outcome of Inception is a clear definition of the business’s objective, the product’s functional scope and general architecture, as well as priorities for approaching the project in accordance with value generation.
What is the Inception methodology and process?
Inception follows several clear steps in order to define a project’s requirements.
First, we consider the end user’s needs and align the project with business objectives, including identifying key indicators that will track the project’s success.
We construct user stories and build and validate wireframes or prototypes based on user needs and the product’s feasibility.
After this, we define the architectural drivers and guidelines that will govern the software’s construction, and generally identify the associated technologies.
Finally, we work with a set of end users, gleaning insights that will define the user experience. Only then do we outline costs and timeframes.
What questions must be answered before starting work?
Inception sets out to contextualize a project and draft its interface, user experience, functional definition and process, architecture, budget, and timeframe.
Whilst businesses don’t have to undertake every aspect of Inception, some questions are essential – namely the project’s why, how, what and who.
Specific project requirements examples companies must consider include: What is the project’s objective? What business process will the software digitize? Which technical solution will be used? What are the risks? What user experience will the target audience require? What can be delivered? What cannot?
And, finally, what is needed to develop the product, i.e. how much time and money?
Inception is the key to developing a successful digital product
Preparation before embarking on a digital product is not only essential but must be undertaken in the right way.
To find out how Ceiba can help your company construct a world-beating digital product, contact us today.
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