What's the best way to keep your system development standards up to date?

1 Review your standards regularly

One of the most important steps to keep your system development standards up to date is to review them regularly. This means that you should not treat your standards as static or fixed documents, but rather as dynamic and evolving ones. You should schedule periodic reviews of your standards, either at the end of each project, or at least once a year, to evaluate their effectiveness, relevance, and alignment with your goals and expectations. You should also solicit feedback from your stakeholders, such as your clients, users, team members, and managers, to identify any gaps, issues, or opportunities for improvement in your standards.

2 Benchmark your standards against industry best practices

Another way to keep your system development standards up to date is to benchmark them against industry best practices. This means that you should research and compare your standards with the ones used by other organizations, experts, or communities in your field or domain. You can use various sources of information, such as books, articles, blogs, podcasts, webinars, courses, or forums, to learn about the latest trends, innovations, and challenges in system development. You can also join or participate in professional networks, associations, or events, where you can exchange ideas, insights, and experiences with other system developers. By benchmarking your standards against industry best practices, you can gain a broader perspective, identify best practices gaps, and adopt or adapt the most suitable and effective ones for your context and needs.

3 Update your standards with new tools and technologies

A third way to keep your system development standards up to date is to update them with new tools and technologies. This means that you should stay updated and informed about the new tools and technologies that are available or emerging in system development. You should evaluate and test the new tools and technologies that can help you improve your system development process, quality, or outcomes. You should also consider the compatibility, integration, and migration issues that may arise from using new tools and technologies. You should then update your standards with the new tools and technologies that can enhance your system development capabilities, efficiency, or performance.

4 Train and communicate your standards to your team

A fourth way to keep your system development standards up to date is to train and communicate them to your team. This means that you should not only update your standards, but also ensure that your team members are aware of and follow them. You should provide adequate training and support to your team members on how to apply and adhere to your standards. You should also communicate your standards clearly and consistently to your team members, using various channels and formats, such as documents, presentations, videos, or demos . You should also encourage and facilitate feedback and collaboration among your team members on your standards, to foster a culture of learning and improvement.

5 Monitor and measure your standards' impact

A fifth way to keep your system development standards up to date is to monitor and measure their impact. This means that you should not only update and communicate your standards, but also evaluate and quantify their impact on your system development process, quality, or outcomes. You should define and track relevant metrics and indicators that can help you assess the effectiveness, efficiency, or satisfaction of your standards. You should also collect and analyze data and evidence that can help you demonstrate the value, benefits, or return on investment of your standards. By monitoring and measuring your standards' impact, you can identify and celebrate your achievements, as well as detect and address any problems or risks.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?