Service Delivery

The Issue

Purpose Built Software is about delivering a software solution to a business problem. We cannot articulate our mission any clearer that that simple statement.

Traditionally custom software development has been:

Very costly.
Complex and time consuming to develop.
Generally fails to meet business requirements (due in part to inexperienced resources working on the project, the business not really understanding the actual problem being solved and lack of communication between interested parties).
Unable to grow with the business as additional demands are placed on the software.
Unable to be maintained effectively.

These issues prohibit businesses growing and adding value to their product or service offering. There is no doubt that I.T. is critical to the success of most businesses. However most businesses are reluctant to invest in I.T. So how do we alleviate these fears and deliver I.T. based solutions that work and solve a problem and are delivered on time and within the allocated budget.

The Solution

Our solution is simple - PBS offers efficient prototyping services (and includes the business in the building of the application). The benefits of this approach combined with the technology and tools used to perform the prototyping provide the following benefits:

Business gets FAST turnaround.
Business gets the chance to "change" its mind as the prototype evolves.
Business gets committed to the success of the project as there is very little downtime between concept and implementation. Ability to deliver and keep the debate clear and concise.
Business gets a WORKING solution that solves a real business issue and a platform and dedicated team of professionals to support the growth of that business

Prototyping allows us the ability to accurately SCOPE and COST($) and DELIVER the project. That's how we meet delivery time frames and budget expectations. We understand the problem and don't come back 6 weeks into the project and ask for additional funds to cover our mistakes. We are up front and thorough. I am sure you will agree this is a fresh approach to solution development.

Other benefits arising out of the prototyping process are as follows:

The Prototype leads to system specification and sign off.
Opportunity for assessing innovative ideas. I.e. Low cost / little resource / big impact
Prototype allows best use of idea to evolve. I.e. Stimulates thought processes and discussion
Shorter lead time to full working application. I.e. Prototype turns into the real working application. No need to redevelop and start again.

The Process

After disseminating many years observation of the software development cycle the PBS team has firmed to the concept of involving engineering staff much earlier in the pre-sales phase. Holding back many organizations from committing to software development was the difficulty they had in being certain that the project would be successful.

We have analyzed this reluctance to proceed in great detail and obtained the following:

Most software projects begin with a vision (a need) by someone in an operations role in the firm. This person we came to call the product champion.
The product champion has many hurdles to overcome; big among them is often not being technically literate and needing to sell the idea to business.
We need to help the product champion formulate his idea and empower him to readily involve others in his vision.
The business needed to visualize something which could enable them to discuss the project.
Cost to the business needed to be minimal (preferably nil) during this phase but also needed to be very visible and involving. People needed to see and touch before they could visualize and understand the proposed solution.
The written spec has a place but is too difficult a document to read and re-write. Evolution of the spec document is expensive and seldom read by the right people, especially when the product champion is attempting to get funding for the vision.
PBS offers a prototyping service that is a productive step to introduce ahead of the written specification / proposal.
PBS can make available engineering staff to work with the client to expand the client's idea.
The client has the business expertise within his market; we are facilitators.
The client often does not know what is possible with software; we get to communicate this expertise via the prototype.
Provided the client remains interactive, by providing prompt feedback, PBS will continue to evolve the prototype.
The prototype needs to be designed to evolve to become the finished application.
Involving direct communication with engineering early and continuously in a project builds better understanding and relationships.

The Payment

In the past the process was all sales talk and no action; this was expensive and produced no tangible result.
PBS replaces more of the sales talk with engineering input. This seems to provide more satisfaction all round.
We will continue the prototyping service till the client case is clear; but only if there is interactivity/interest from the client.
It is important that the client realise that PBS is an advanced software development organisation and aims to build partnerships.
On a case by case basis we need to work out with each client when it is appropriate for them to pay.
Often a payment, even a nominal one, is an important step within the organisation; it cements their common thinking.
Nominal payment for an advanced prototype together with formal spec may be an ideal low cost first payment for many.
The formal spec supported by an advanced prototype will greatly facilitate the business in the making of its decision.
PBS will provide a fixed price quote to finish the prototype to production quality.

Summary

In summary

The business gets a usable application is weeks NOT months
The business gets what they were expecting.
The business gets a solution that is delivered within budget expectations.
The business gets a fully supported quality application and the necessary tools and infrastructure to manage the application in house if that is required. More importantly the PBS team is available to grow with the business as requirements change.