How do you customize software development lifecycles?

In my experience, something that needs to be taken into account when choosing the right SDLC model is how set in stone requirements and expectations are and how fast the reaction time for changes is. Also, will the deliverable need feature work once developed? Only well defined and researched products lend themselves to waterfall, generally.

As a first step to customize SDLC, I would identify my team's strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. I would take into consideration the project's scope, goals, and constraints. I would also consider the organization's culture, industry standards, and compliance requirements.

An example for which I would choose waterfall is short lived microsite development. It's short project, small effort, zero risk of tech debt introduction etc.

Also you can think phases as they do in RUP - forming phase's borders in terms of corresponding risks. It makes goals and borders much more clear. For example, Inception phase is for addressing business model risks, at the Elaboration phase we're addressing architecture risks, Construction – Implementation risks, and finally Transition phase targets deployment and operational risks. Understanding corresponding risks at your business domain gives you ability not only to follow formal process but be really agile and adequate to build effective development process.

Story # 1: We quoted for software development lifecycle activities, which begins with Software Requirement Specification. When it kicked off, we ended up in doing the system requirements and Hardware Interface specifications as well. Hence, the best practice shall be to ensure the availability of systems requirements prior to PHASE finalization. Story # 2: In general, we plan the SDLC assuming it would be a nice journey. We all know it wouldn't be. Adding adequate peer review process and allocate ballpark defect fixing planning would add real value to the SDLC phase planning. In my experience, predictability & collaboration with the all-stake holders plays a major role here.

Don't underestimate the importance of picturing / diagramming out your SDLC process including roles and responsibilities. There is many persons (like me) that are very visual and will need pictures to understand what they are contributing to each of the phases in the SDLC.

Every workplace is unique, featuring its own culture and approach to project management. With this in mind, it's often advisable to survey the most widely-used Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies and select one that aligns closely with the existing practices and knowledge within your organization. For instance, Company A might find that the Scrum methodology is the best fit, while Company B might prefer Waterfall, and Company C might opt for something completely different. Since popular SDLC methodologies are generally easy to adopt, it could be beneficial to start with one of them as a foundation and later customize it to better suit the specific needs of your company.

Maintaining the standardization of the SDLC is one of the fact which has to be kept in mind while using it for a project where every stage of SDLC should follow standards in order to mitigate the issues that might occur.

One of effective way to establish process practices and standards are well-known checklists. For example, SEMAT Essence process framework use checklists as main tool to establish all development activities. Checklists are declarative not imperative so it gives much more agility for team to choose optimal problem solution and timing. You can describe all you activities from analysis to acceptance in form of DoR/DoD checklists. And it gives team freedom of choice they need but without lost of control that management needs.

Standards are the backbone of a successful SDLC. They provide the necessary structure and discipline to create software that's not only functional but also maintainable in the long run. The inclusion of metrics and indicators is a game-changer for measuring progress and making data-driven improvements. It's all about delivering software that not only meets expectations but also evolves to meet changing user needs.

1. Educating the players who are on the battlefield (e.g. Leaders, engineers) is Very Important. 2. I always train my engineers about the real intention of the process and every template in a detailed manner (with examples, scenarios etc.). 3. Encourage them to raise questions/comments/feelings about the process during the execution. This would help us to understand the real pain points which might ended up in fine-tuning the SDLC/templates. I observed the software quality goes higher, when we focused on these points.

I think , ideally while selecting a SDLC model , we should look at starting with Agile model and then try to fit in with portions of other SDLC models into that per need. I feel Agile is the most effective SDLC model , but as we know customization is always a need.

1. I would identify opportunities in SDLC and fill gaps with right tools, technologies, processes and practices to optimize development lifecycle. 2. Continuously seek excellence in bridging gaps between business and technical oriented teams by translating requirements into context diagrams and workflows to build the right product. 3. Using collaboration tools for end to end development and iterations, create solid communication plan and handle each phase of SDLC with interpersonal skills to remove communication barriers and foster collaboration with continuous, cross-functional engagements and empowerment!

Your experience as a beneficiary during our college days has profoundly influenced my approach to mentoring and leadership. It's essential to educate and train individuals on the "battlefield" of professional life, such as leaders and engineers. Providing detailed training and grasping the genuine intentions behind processes can be transformative. Additionally, fostering open communication with friends, colleagues, or students about the process during its execution can yield valuable insights and improvements, ultimately elevating their professional quality. Your dedication to these principles undoubtedly enhances not only your success as a mentor but also strengthens our bond as trusted friends in personal &professional scenarios.