Is Your Software Project Stuck At 80%?
This last year I took over more software projects from other development firms and consultants than ever before. Almost universally the business stakeholder tells me something like this: "Such and such firm agreed to build XYZ for $XX,XXX. Things started well and we have completed and paid for 80% of it and now they are stuck."
Software development is hard and full of risks and challenges. I have learned two helpful tips to being successful in challenging software projects:
- Partner with the right software developer or development firm.
It is vital that you find someone you can trust and communicates well. Many software developers/engineers have a reputation for being “introverted”. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that but the point person on your project needs to be someone whom communicates well with and engages your business goals and objectives.
It is OKAY to be a talented and gifted engineer and not know everything. Most important: Are they willing to set ego aside and do some old-fashioned learning? Do they get excited about learning your business and processes and want to help you succeed by being more efficient or reaching more customers? Are they honest about pros and cons to different approaches to the problem at hand?
2. Fail first and succeed second.
It can be tempting for software developers to begin your project by doing the easy work first. They start to earn some revenue right away and show early results which look promising.
Assuming they were honest about the most challenging tasks and greatest risks to your project why not start there? Ask the software team to work on or at least prototype the riskiest aspects of your solution first. Verify they have the technical chops and business acumen to solve the real problem at hand. After a workable solution has been demonstrated you can move on to the glue code or easy parts that bring the project full circle and integrate it with the rest of your business processes and systems.
Worst case scenario you discover they do not have skillset to deliver the most challenging aspect of your project. The upside is you learned a great deal about their character and can rely on them in the future for less challenging projects.
When I engage a potential customer, I make sure I am partnered with the right leader at the organization who can optimize for success. I then identify the most challenging portions of the project and I tackle those first. I always tell my customers: "If this project is going to fail it will be with this feature or deliverable. If we can't succeed at that then I don't want your money because the rest of the project will be moot."
Every software or IT project has critical deliverable(s) that must be accomplished. All the planning, pre-requisites, third party integrations, temporary staffing, and accessory attributes are null and void if the critical deliverable is not met. Unlike building projects or science experiments; Software development generally will allow you to produce the most challenging aspects first (even if in purely prototype form). This builds great confidence in both your team and customers that you will succeed and deliver the expected result.
If you find your software team whether in-house or outsourced is stuck at 80% then give us a call. Free estimates are available on our website and I am always happy to point you in the right direction if we are not a good fit for your project.