Software development is a risky business.
Many software developers are barely skilled at their trade, much less at business. They can't understand how your business operates - and their code isn't unreliable.
It crashes constantly.
It isn't professional.
It hurts your business.
If you want software developed for your business, what can you do?
You need a software development professional - a consumate bussinessman, and you need to deal with him on your terms. How can you do that?
First, you need to make sure that you find a professional who understands business - your business. He has to listen, and be cautious before giving advice. If he tries to drop a pre-packaged solution on you, drop him. Make sure he charges by the project, not by the hour - hourly rates are great for developers, but not for clients. Hourly rates mean they get paid *more* for every bug they create - so they create as many as they can.
Once you have chosen a developer, the next step is to come to an agreement on what needs to be done. Don't worry about the particular technology used - the developer should worry about that. Worry about what you need on your end - and stick to your guns! You know your business best, and your developer should respect that.
After you have an agreement, you get a contract signed, and then the real fun begins. Insist that your developer give you regular progress updates - including early versions of the software (called 'builds'). That way, bugs can be detected early, and there will not be any surprises when the project is over. Depending on the project, you may be able to get a build every few days, or every week. The more frequent, the better.
When the project is finally over, you get to take a deep breath. Relax. Sip champagne - or Heineken, if that's your thing. Don't get too relaxed, though, because you will have to start the process over again soon. Business is constantly changing, and your software has to evolve with your business. That's good, though, because every project makes your business more profitable, and more profit in less time is always a good deal.
About The Author
David Berube is a software developer and IT consultant solving business problems. He's also a prolific writer and speaker. If you'd like a powerful, innovative developer, check out http://www.berubeconsulting.com.
http://www.berubeconsulting.com
ohare limo service Grand Rapids ..In the previous ISDN article, we looked at how and... Read More
Make-or-Break Factors in Success and ProfitabilityFor quick printers, estimating can... Read More
If you are in the market for new staffing software,... Read More
Did you ever give a thought to the number of... Read More
Microsoft Retail Management System serves retail single store as well... Read More
The purpose of Project Management Software is to provide an... Read More
It won't matter how effective your WinRunner Team is if... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is main accounting / ERP application... Read More
MicroWorld Technologies, Inc. the leading solutions provider in the area... Read More
To all web designers out there, this article is for... Read More
Microsoft bought Navision, Denmark based software development company, along with... Read More
All your software is stored on a hard-drive. But how... Read More
This article is the fourth of a series of articles... Read More
Linux essentials:It's free for download but you have to pay... Read More
One day, you suddenly realize that your computer started to... Read More
First we had the original Google search that evolved into... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains fits to majority of horizontal... Read More
Remember back in the days where screensavers were the coolest... Read More
Let's first look at your ERP system selection (without Retail... Read More
There are two major WYSIWYG(What You See Is What You... Read More
SOFTWARE PIRACY We regularly hear reports... Read More
Looking at all the ads which promise to get rid... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very good fit for... Read More
If you have Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise (version 6.0 or earlier)... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains may be recommended for international freight forwarding... Read More
executive chauffeured services Barrington Hills ..Should one use Windows Update?This topic has good and valid... Read More
Are you one of those people that keeps track of... Read More
With the advent of 'Service Pack 2' for Windows XP... Read More
Java has come along a long way. Many would agree... Read More
How do you run a program on a remote server... Read More
The US House of Representatives has recently passed the "Spy... Read More
I have recently created my first Php program. I wanted... Read More
Fundraising software lets you connect with donors in a way... Read More
In the case when you represent mid-size or mid-size-to-large business,... Read More
For a long time now Microsoft's Internet Explorer has ruled... Read More
Adobe Photoshop is one of the world's leading graphics editing... Read More
Vince Lombardi once said that, "The achievements of an organization... Read More
It is really interesting that a bug can create problem... Read More
In this small article we will be looking at the... Read More
While Adobe is the most known maker of PDF tools,... Read More
Traditionally we were considering functionally rich systems, such as SAP,... Read More
For those who still don't know, Microsoft Publisher helps computer... Read More
Microsoft CRM ? Client Relationship Management package from Microsoft Business... Read More
One of the main reasons business owners and entrepreneurs use... Read More
While paper labeling CDs and DVDs may appear to be... Read More
Once upon a time not so long ago, there was... Read More
Is Photoshop CS2 worth the upgrade? You bet it is!... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is mid and even corporate... Read More
Just when you thought you were Web savvy, one more... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has substantial market share and... Read More
Software |