6 Questions You Need to Clarify Before Starting a Software Project
Successful software projects take shape before any code is written. Six fundamental questions you need to answer before meeting with a software company.
Alp1 min readUpdated:
The most common cause of delays and budget overruns in software projects is not technical problems but expectations that were not clarified at the start. The answers you give to the questions below make the work easier both for you and for the team you will work with.
1. Which problem are we solving?
"We need an app" is a statement of a solution. Define the problem first: which task is slow, error-prone or invisible today?
2. How will we measure success?
Set a concrete goal, such as a shorter order processing time, a lower error rate or a new revenue channel.
3. Who will use the system?
List the user groups and what each of them will do in the system. This list forms the basis of the screens and permissions.
4. What has to be in the first version?
Split the wish list into two: "must-have" and "can be added later". A narrowly scoped first version enables you to get feedback earlier.
5. Which systems will it talk to?
State integration needs such as accounting, ERP, payment or shipping from the start. Integrations are among the items that affect the schedule the most.
6. Who will take ownership after launch?
Designate a person within the company to be responsible for content, user support and new requests after the software goes live.
When you can give clear answers to these six questions, the proposals you receive also become comparable with one another.