Software development project planning is a crucial requirement for the smooth execution of a project. Planning provides structure to the project tasks, objectives, schedules, costs, deliverables, and resources. So, if you are looking for an effective strategy to plan your projects then this blog is for you.
In this blog, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to project planning for software development. So, let’s begin!
What is project planning?
Project planning is the process of estimating resources or costs, and defining project tasks, deliverables, work breakdown structure, and schedule to ensure the successful completion of the project within budget and on said time.
Good project management depends on good planning. Following are 10 easy steps you can take for your software development project plans.
10 Steps to Successful Project Planning
The following 10 steps are key to creating an excellent foundation for a software development project.
1. Define project objectives
The foremost requirement of a project plan for software development is to have clear objectives and success criteria. It helps determine what needs to change, when, how many people need to be involved, who is responsible for the change, and other milestones of success.
2. Break the project into a list of deliverables and milestone
Breaking down a project into deliverables is critical. The breakdown should consider;
- Functionality
- System
- Deliverables
- Outputs
And the documentation needed to support the system once it’s implemented.
3. Define tasks for each milestone & deliverable
A list of deliverables is not sufficient to provide a detailed plan. You have to define the tasks needed to complete each milestone or deliverable. Create a work breakdown structure to break down all the tasks into manageable pieces and identify dependencies between tasks to schedule them accordingly.
4. Estimate the resources & time for the project
Handling a project without sufficient information can cost overruns later in the project life cycle. Estimating the number of resources and time required for the completion of the project is a significant part of the planning process.
Estimates should include costs for design, management, development, and time for quality assurance and testing.
5. Identify risks
Identify risks associated with the project and develop plans to handle the unexpected. For instance, consider what you’ll do if the actual project cost exceeds the estimated cost or how you would manage delays in the project.
6. Identify stakeholders and obtain their input
Identify key stakeholders and ensure you involve all key stakeholders in the process of project planning.
7. Identify requirements
Point out the specific features that a system must include to provide business value, deliver solutions to existing problems, and support organizational goals.
8. Establish a budget
Define a budget for your project depending on the requirements to avoid unexpected costs or project delays.
9. Adhere to the initial plan
It can be tempting to ask the team to make changes amidst project implementation, but it is better to resist the urge. You may want to add new functionality or features, but doing so late in the project can dramatically increase your costs and delay the completion of the project.
10. Evaluate the results
Once you’re done making a plan, check to see whether the implementation is according to the plan, or not. If necessary, adjust tasks as needed. Also, try solving any outstanding problems immediately, don’t wait until a deadline is looming.
Conclusion
In conclusion, project planning is an integral part of the software development process. We hope that this guide will help you to define all the essential elements that are needed to develop a project plan.
However, you can hire an outsourcing or offshore company to get the job done for you. At Hireadev, we provide excellent project management services to our clients with a dedicated team of software development planners who are trained to handle your projects most efficiently.
But it is equally critical for you, as the client, to have a clear approach for your project. You can even appoint a project lead to ensure smooth execution. To learn more about how our team can assist you in implementing a new business management system without stress, contact us now!
