What is the system development process? Explain types such as flow and waterfall models

"I'm considering system development and would like to know the basic process."
“I want to know the tips for successful system development.”

Many people who are considering system development may have the same concerns as mentioned above. First, I would like to introduce the general flow of system development as follows.

1. Requirement definition
2. design
3. programming
4. test
5. Operation/maintenance

All are important parts of system development. By understanding the role of each part and what each part should do, you will be able to increase the probability of success in system development.

In this article, we will explain in detail the basic flow, methods, and tips for success in system development. At the end, we will also answer some frequently asked questions about system development, so please refer to it if you want to check the basics.

What is the system development process? Explaining the flow

Here, we will explain the flow of system development from the following two aspects.

• Basic flow of system development (flow schedule)
• Specific details of each process

Basic flow of system development (flow schedule)

The basic flow of system development is divided into five stages as follows:

1. Requirement definition
2. design
3. programming
4. test
5. Operation/maintenance

By following a set process, you can expect to be able to proceed with the work in a planned manner and prevent omissions. Each process is further divided into smaller parts. For example, there are two types of design: internal design and external design, and three types of testing: unit, combination, and system. It is important to understand the roles of each and proceed with development work appropriately.

Also, even though it is called system development, there are only a handful of people involved in all stages of the process. Programming and testing, in particular, are often handled by specialists in each field.

Please refer to the article below for details on the system development schedule.
What is the system development schedule? Explaining how to create WBS etc. and tips for managing it well

Specific details of each process

Let's take a look at the specific details of each process.

By frequently repeating "design, develop, test, and release," new requirements and changes can be easily incorporated as the project progresses. In doing so, we incorporate the customer's needs, so in the end we will be able to create a system that is more efficient and has the desired functionality.

On the other hand, while this flexibility allows for flexible responses, it also has the disadvantage that the direction of development is easily affected. Because needs are incorporated on an ongoing basis, project requirements and priorities are likely to change frequently. This can lead to deviations from the original purpose and vision.

Another disadvantage is that it is difficult to check the overall budget and resources because each function is developed separately. For example, if the specifications of a certain feature are updated rapidly without your knowledge, the costs will increase. If multiple such cases occur, the scope, duration, and cost of the project may deviate significantly from the original plan.

This method is suitable for projects where requirements are uncertain or change easily.

Spiral Model System Development Model

The spiral model system development model is a development method that emphasizes risk management and quality improvement.The specific steps are as follows.

The progression process of the spiral model is characterized by multiple repeated phases. At the end of each spiral, a portion or prototype of the system is completed and improved based on feedback.

The advantages and disadvantages of such a spiral model system development model are as follows.

The spiral model system development model identifies potential risks in the system by actually operating and verifying the prototype. It will be possible to detect and deal with risks early. Another benefit is the ability to continuously incorporate customer feedback during the development process. You can expect high quality system development that will satisfy your customers.

However, the prototype created at each iteration of the spiral model system development model is used only to utilize client/user feedback in the next process and reduce system risks. Please note that this method is intended to more accurately reflect system requirements during development.

On the other hand, one disadvantage to keep in mind is that development costs can easily become high. Repeating risk analysis and other processes will increase quality but will also inevitably increase costs. Also, because each spiral involves many steps such as risk analysis, creating prototypes, and incorporating feedback, it will be difficult to keep scheduling these accurately. Compared to waterfall, which makes it easier to manage progress, it can be said to be more difficult to manage.

Based on the above, the spiral model system development model can be said to be a suitable method for high-risk projects and projects based on customer opinions.

V-shaped system development model

The V-system development model is a method that closely links development and verification.The corresponding development and testing processes are as follows:

The V-shaped system development model uses unit tests and integration tests to check and verify whether the contents of each design are implemented correctly. Then, we conduct a final system test to confirm that the requirements definition has been implemented correctly.

The advantages and disadvantages of utilizing the V-system development model are as follows:

In the V-system development model, tests that correspond to each development phase are clearly defined. This allows you to efficiently and thoroughly verify that each component of your system meets your requirements. A clear development process also helps project teams focus on quality. Having clear quality standards at each stage will help you plan and implement your quality assurance activities more efficiently.

On the other hand, in the V-system development model, it is difficult to go back and make changes to a completed phase. This makes it difficult to change requirements while the project is in progress. Additionally, since it is not possible to see or touch the actual operation of the product until the final stages of development, it is difficult to proactively incorporate user feedback. As a result, the final product may not meet user expectations.

The V-system development model is suitable for projects where requirements are clear and stable, and where quality assurance is emphasized.

Please refer to the article below for details on the V-shaped system development model.
What is the V-shaped model for system development? Explaining the process, benefits, and differences from the W-shaped model

W-shaped system development model

The W-shaped system development model refers to a system development management model in which the development process and testing process are carried out at the same time.The corresponding development and testing processes are as follows:

The basic flow is the same as the V-shaped system development model. The difference is that feedback from the person in charge and system design are performed in the upstream process.

The advantages and disadvantages of such a W-shaped system development model are as follows:

In the W-shaped model, tests are checked by testers from the upstream stage. Therefore, a big advantage is that you can quickly discover problems and mistakes that you can notice from the perspective of the field. Also, like the V-shaped model, we place emphasis on testing at each stage of development, so we can expect overall quality improvements.

However, the disadvantage of the W-shaped model is that it is difficult to manage because it requires parallel work. Additionally, because testing and each design are tightly coupled, it can be difficult to incorporate changes in requirements if they change during the development process.

The W-system development model places a high emphasis on quality, and is suitable for projects where you want to find bugs and errors at a relatively early stage.

Explaining tips for successful system development

The following four points are considered important for successful system development.

• Clarify the purpose of system development
• Choose the best development method for your company
• Frequent communication between stakeholders
• Specifications are finalized as early as possible in the process

Clarify the purpose of system development

For the success of system development, it is important to clarify the development purpose.This is because if the development purpose is clear, it becomes easier to define specific requirements.

Even if you say, ``I just want a system that improves productivity,'' if the purpose remains vague, system developers will remain unclear about what they should develop. And with only ambiguous information, system developers will have no choice but to proceed with development by groping their way through the process. As a result, you may end up with a system that is different from what you expected. If this happens, not only will the system become unusable, but the development costs and time will be wasted.

Therefore, it is necessary to present a specific purpose, such as ``I want to automatically transfer the contents of invoices sent by email to accounting software, I want to automatically transfer the cost and product name of materials ordered by the site to accounting.'' is.

To clarify the purpose, it is important to verbalize what you want to improve or enhance in the target business. If you cannot clarify the purpose by yourself, it is a good idea to interview the people on-site and clarify their needs.

Choose the best development method for your company

Choosing the most suitable development method for your company is also a key to successful system development.This is because choosing an inappropriate method may increase costs and result in unsatisfactory results.

For example, if you are thinking, ``I want to decide on strict requirement definitions and functions while watching the situation,'' you will find that Agile is suitable because it is relatively easy to change specifications and add functions during the process. Inflexible waterfalls should be avoided. By choosing the most suitable development method for your company, you can increase the probability of success in system development.

If you are unable to make a decision on your own, one option is to request a consultation.

Frequent communication between stakeholders

It can also be said that frequent communication between the parties involved is important.This is because system development is a team project, not an individual project.

Everyone should work as professionals. If a project progresses with this kind of thinking, it will be difficult to communicate within the team. As a result, you may end up with a system full of defects.

To avoid such situations, we recommend that you create an environment where you can mutually confirm any doubts or incomprehensible points, such as holding regular meetings and using chat.

Specifications are finalized as early as possible in the process

It is also important to finalize specifications as early as possible in the upstream process.Depending on the methodology used, late-stage changes can often be costly in terms of both cost and time.

For example, suppose you are developing an online shopping system and the requirements for the cart functionality change during the process. This change may also impact other features that have already been developed. Specifically, you will need to change the product details screen, order confirmation screen, payment screen, related programs, etc.

In short, one change is likely to lead to many other changes. This is likely to increase as the timing of the change is in the downstream process. This is because the further downstream you go, the more features are already implemented. It is clear that the more changes there are, the higher the cost and response time will be. This situation is not desirable. We recommend finalizing specifications as early as possible in the upstream process.

In order to finalize specifications at an early stage, it is best to strictly define requirements. Conduct workshops, etc., and define requirements based on feedback.

Explaining frequently asked questions about system development

Here we will explain frequently asked questions regarding system development.

• What is the difference between system development and system construction?
• How much does it cost to develop the system?
• Please tell me the terms frequently used in system development.

What is the difference between system development and system construction?

Although system development and system construction are sometimes used interchangeably, they have different meanings.

The purpose of system development is to materialize ideas for new systems and software and make them implementable. Basically, you can think of "development" as creating something new from scratch. Examples include the development of new systems and tools for your own company.

On the other hand, system construction refers to the process of deploying and operating a developed system in an actual operational environment. In other words, it's like building a system by combining existing things. Examples include hardware installation, software installation, network configuration, etc.

How much does it cost to develop the system?

The cost of system development varies greatly depending on the system being developed.In some cases, the scale may vary. The cost will vary depending on whether or not the system is linked and whether it is created from scratch.

One way to reduce the cost of system development is to get competitive bids from multiple vendors. By carefully selecting your business partners, you can also reduce costs. Depending on the system you want to develop, it may be better to introduce an existing system and develop only the missing parts rather than developing it from scratch.

Please refer to the article below for details on system development costs.
What is the average system development cost? Explaining how to reduce costs, success points, subsidies, etc.

Please tell me the terms frequently used in system development.

Terms that are frequently used in system development include open systems, general-purpose systems, and web systems.

An open system is a system that runs on a variety of hardware and operating systems and is built based on standardized technology and open standards. It is characterized by high compatibility and extensibility.

A general-purpose system is a system that is suitable for building large-scale or high-performance systems. Additionally, general-purpose systems are characterized by high stability and reliability.

Finally, web systems are systems that are used via a web browser. Web-based systems can be used from any location or device as long as there is an Internet connection.

Please refer to the articles below for details on each system.
There are mainly three types of system development methods: open system, web system, and general-purpose system! Features also explained

Other terms may also be used, such as:

In systems development, technical terms that you don't normally hear are used. Using the terms in the table above as a starting point, you can learn them little by little.

summary

This time, we have explained the basic flow, development methods, and key points for success regarding system development. Even though it is simply called system development, you may have learned that it is created through various processes.

There are several points to keep in mind in order to proceed with system development smoothly, such as clarifying the purpose of system development and selecting an appropriate development method.These methods are effective not only when developing a system in-house, but also when outsourcing system development to other companies. Please try.

If you would like to develop a system but do not have the resources within your company, please feel free to contact us.