All about Discovery phase of a software development project

It is common for Startups, influencers, or common people to plan about a software project. In such cases, it is highly critical to learn and know whether the project will live up to customers’ expectations and market standards. To avoid disappointment it is ideal to analyze the entire project domain and get a good vision of the same.

Causes for Business Setbacks in the Past

No business model

Absence of burning desire and creativity

Project lacking market viability

Not worthwhile for users

Huge budget

Communication fiasco

Lack of knowledge about pain points and user roles

No knowledge about the gaps in the segments

Several other factors

Reason to Begin your Project in the Discovery Phase

The Discovery phase happens to be a method of gathering and organizing project information aiding startups, influencers, or common people to give importance to features, find out their target audiences, get good understanding and direction to their full needs.

This phase is a link between the theory and actualization of the project.

As for fixed-cost projects, the discovery phase is ideal for launching the project.

As for agile, the discovery phase aids in setting up a wider vision, project scope, and an initial milestone-oriented plan for the delivery of the project.

Who is Involved in this Process?

Company’s Representative

Sales Head

Business Analysts

Estimation Team and Technical Heads

Project Coordinates

Main Elements and Flow in Discovery phase

Stages of Discovery Phase

Seven main stages of the discovery phase of a software development project happen to be:

1. First Touch

All begin from here. A prospective client, company, or agency approaches with their project ideas. We come to know their requirements and offer them an approximate figure.

If the same matches their budget, we organize the first communication with the company’s technical head and sales head to learn the essential features and make a full estimation of the project. If the client relents, then we suggest the discovery phase contract. After getting awareness of the need, an introductory feature list document detailing the man hours and cost values are given to the client. A rough estimation does not involve any cost. This is done to help the company to learn and take a call to proceed or cease the collaboration.

If the client agrees then:

Calculate the time and money involved in the planning phase.

Sign a contract.

Initiate the discovery phase.

2. Evaluating and Strategizing

This happens to be an important stage where business analysts and technical heads ensure the project offers what the business requires to evolve. To get more clarity, they gather the input data such as:

Problems presently confronting the project

Essential features

Similar projects existing as of now, and how the same differs from your project?

What technology and platform to assist?

What is your target audience?

Etc…

Here, the full participation of business analysts, technical heads, and the client are needed where they would deliberate upon the entire aim, advantages, and disadvantages, feasibility of the project. If the client is still unconvinced about the project, then the company’s team members aid them in understanding the futility. It could be between 1 to 3 meetings a week.

3. Project Details

Athis happens after the first step.

The specification is a document where every data regarding the project or service is stored.

It entails:

Detailed Feature List: This document has the requisite fields of each segment including technical and functional needs.

Flowcharts: These are the pictorial representation explaining all the execution sequence of the method and how users get redirected to the respective screens or website pages.

4. Wireframes

Wireframes happen to be the plan of the application or website where every component is kept in the respective app screens and website pages. It is basically the UI/UX design services we offer prior to development. This helps the client to know more regarding the elements and navigation flow of the project. Also, changes are always embraced. Clients can include comments or jot down their inputs. On this we make the adjustments.

Wireframes has to be approved prior to progressing further.

5. Full-fledged Estimation

Software Developers, UI/UX designers, and others involved in analyzing the specification and wireframes to ascertain the time required to implement every feature and develop the project.

In case the client agrees, then we take the step towards the design and development phase.

6. Design

Following this, the UI/UX of the concerned application or website is performed. The font, colors, typography, logo come into the equation and clients see the actualization of the project.

In line with industry standards and protocols an attractive and temporary design is made that offers a peek into all aspects, especially the user experience. Based on their complicated outlooks, designs erode 10% to 30% of your overall project budget.

7. Technical Documentation (SRS)

This is a critical document where every project feature gets dissected with the logic and their operations. It contains every information regarding the project including the purpose, target audience (user types), components usage, project ambit, navigation path, design screens, fields details, and proper confirmation messages, project glossary, references (if any), usage of diagrams to define the logic pictorially, other processing details such as API integration, third-party libraries usage, local server particulars and use cases.

Duration of the Discovery Phase Last

Usually, the discovery phase goes from three weeks — two months.

What do you possess by the Conclusion of the Discovery Phase?

Full-fledged Project Estimation

Technical Specifications

Wireframes

With needs threadbare, they can build a stepwise plan

Genuine estimates of time and budget

Constant interactions and detailed two-way communications create trust towards the company.

Identify the pain points and solutions from the domain chiefs

Discovery Phase Deliverables

Technical requirement specification document

UI/UX

Development Plan and detailed estimates

Conclusion

The discovery phase is a critical stage for developing the project as it has a direct bearing on the success of the project. It includes the work of domain chiefs, technical heads, business analysts, designers, project coordinators to be aware of the difficulties and obstacles. Evaluating every module and achieving the relevant objectives inspires confidence and trust to accomplish the desired outcome. It is essential to know what is needed within the specified budget and timeline. Eventually you’ll get a clear picture about your project: features, technologies, design and business objectives.