2009/08 Busy summer
It has been a summer of achievement for Beler Soft with the obtaining of 6 new Microsoft Professional certifications on .Net
Offshore programming operating modeLimited time-based contract
This system combines the flexibility of a time-based software development with the security of a fixed rate contract.
Drawing up the tender:
On the basis of a list of specifications that does not necessarily have to be exhaustive, we draw up a framework, as detailed as possible, delimiting the project that is to be developed. We provide you with a detailed assessment of charges and prices in the form of a range of charges:
Target charge: this is the probable charge in relation to our understanding of the project. It serves as a basis for Agile monitoring of the project.
Maximum charge: the price associated with this charge is an upper limit to which we commit ourselves. In the event of this charge being exceeded, the project will be completed without any additional billing. Of course, this will take place within the limits of the framework defined in the contract. We can draw up a realistic limited time-based contract much more quickly than a contract based on a fixed rate. Monitoring of project by the Client:
The monitoring process is identical to the one used in the traditional system of offshore programming management:
Operational details and minimal changes are immediately incorporated in the original Step. Requests for changes and modifications outside the existing framework are also incorporated as additional items and assessed in the week. As long as these requests do not impact on the Maximum charge, they are naturally taken into consideration within the project. The capacity for change in the specifications, and the level of reactivity, are thus preserved. Agile project management with Scrum:
For a number of years, we have been developing policies in accordance with the four principles of the Agile approach:
Recently, we have redeveloped our Step management tool so that it supports the Agile Scrum approach. Without going into a lengthy description of Scrum, let us just say that it is a well formalised approach, adopted by hundreds of organisations, the purpose of which is to accelerate the development of projects by making the software being developed meet the client's actual requirements as closely as possible. Some of the principles of Scrum:
The limited time-based management system is a contractual framework well suited to Scrum, since it preserves reactivity while promoting accurate daily reports. Why adopt the limited time-based management system?
In the traditional flat-rate system, a team of programmers will always have a tendency to concentrate on the technical objective of the contract, fixed at the start of the project. This leads to the avoidance of changes to specifications or environment (analytical method, tools, etc...) so as not to interfere with the original assessments. In the event of a problem, people think about making up for delays later, while new demands from the client have to take the form of codicils.
With an experienced and pragmatic project manager, this all-too-human behaviour will result in the minimal performance of the contractual functions. With an enthusiastic perfectionist as project manager, the result in 70% of cases is a more or less colossal budget overrun, an explosion in the schedule and a stiffening of the relationship with the client.
In both cases, the flat-rate system leads to frustration on the part of either the client, or the supplier, or both. On the other hand, in limited time-based management, the offshore programming Romanian team and our client will tend to work together to incorporate within the budget the maximum amount of satisfaction as a basic requirement (the project's "vision"), while seeking efficiency through realistic adaptations to specifications and pragmatic choices of architecture.
The limited time-based projects are monitored through our WebStep reporting site, which makes it possible to visualise, in short-term cycles:
A few explanations:
Do you skip parts of the documentation?
Absolutely not! Scrum explicitly brings about periodic operational documentation, the project's backlogs. And our inclusive management contract includes time for editing: the drawing up of maintenance documentation, at the end of certain cycles, is indispensable for the transmission of software to the client's team. Are the limited time-based management system and Agile development easy to adapt to the creation of software that is not clearly defined at the beginning, without any documented operational specifications? Unfortunately not! We are sometimes confronted with this type of request: the client has a vague vision of the product to be created, essentially based on general concepts taken from competitors’ software. Another fairly common scenario in recent times is a request to "copy" a successful e-commerce site. No approach on the part of the service provider can compensate for a lack of involvement or operational competence on the part of the client. In this situation, we propose a prior operational study under a pure time-based contract . Is 3-tier development compatible with Scrum? At Beler, we have a lot of experience with 3-tier development, in Java, .Net and Visual C++, on projects involving a number of man-years, with the construction of major libraries in the MMI and data manipulation classes... In our opinion, this 3-tier development approach, which involves the designing of cumbersome architecture and special libraries before obtaining a visible result for users, is not compatible with an Agile development. It involves another strategic approach to software development, which may lead to good results in the long term, but is nothing like Agile. We would rather recommend a simplified design of architecture from the outset, or more exactly "incomplete", and the adoption of commercial libraries, even if it means enriching them when they are supplied with sources. In any case, the majority of current SDK, and in particular .Net, lead naturally to 3-tier architecture. In the majority of cases, the ergonomic highlights that will differentiate one site or software package from its competitors may be implemented using commercial tools on condition that these are well chosen. Our recommendation is to concentrate on the Business Layer and the "user-oriented" vision of the product rather than on the creation of a pseudo-SDK or yet another components library. The idea, sold by numerous software companies, that these developments will go on to save lots of time thanks to the re-use of tools that are specifically oriented towards client functionality, is a misrepresentation. |
In the realization of this project, we particularly appreciated the professional competence of the project leader and his perfect comprehension of requests of the customer Françoise SCARBONCHI - Clients Service manager JURIS DATA The development team demonstrated great technical skill in the realization of this software. Michel MERCIER - General Manager INTCOM The engineers with whom we worked six months showed autonomy, methodology, creativity and effectiveness.. Nicolas THAREAU - Technical manager ALEX TELEX MULTIMEDIA The deadlines were respected, the required corrections taken well into account, in particular the problems of response times were quickly solved. Good appreciation of the whole work. Jérome de MONTEIL - GENERAL MANAGER LOAN SYSTEM The good integration of the teams over a long period, the high degree of technicality and professionalism of the team allowed a fast star-up, in comparison with the complexity of the project. Patrick RAIMBAULT - Manager Mutuelle Médicale et Chirurgicale de l'Eure The work carried out is a work of quality. The project leader was qualified and the fact of speaking French facilitated the exchanges. Alain RIES - Technical Manager ARCHE COMMUNICATIONS An effective efficient collaboration and sympathetic nerve. Michel BRUN - General manager BRUN INFORMATIQUE The software migration of the application under Delphi 4 was carried out with brilliance. Among other things we particularly appreciated the quality/price ratio of the works, the competence of the team leader, the dialog with the Olivier PHILIPP - Team leader SIDEXA Within the framework of this project, we met speakers having a perfect command of the development tools of ORACLE. The allowed time was rigorously held. Serge HESSEMANS - Manager GENERALE DE MAINTENANCE Application development has been completed according to business requirements without exceeding the estimated time. During project implementation, the Beler Soft programmer noted by the high level of technical competence, ability to quickly find solutions to problems Doru CAZAN - MIS IT Supervisor AIG Life Asigurari Romania The developments carried out by team CRINSOFT gave all satisfactions. The developers have a very good competence and the work with the team occurred very well Jorge DE AZEVEDO - General manager CS3I We assessed the quality of work, the respect of the deadlines, the fast comprehension of awaited specificities; at the human level, we found a team reactive, with whom we always worked under easy and pleasant conditions Valérie OUDET - Manager of the software division SERVANT SOFT Work requiring great technical expertise. Competent team, professional and friendly. Budget and deadlines met. Valery FRONTERE - Manager AMABIS GTI software has been in operation for over an year and gives full satisfaction. Interventions maintenance performed very quickly. Great responsiveness and technical expertise to the development team that make an effective collaboration.
Myriam AIGUESPARSES - Director AGEDI ASP.NET 2009/08 Madonna live in Bucharest Amazing performance by Madonna on August, the 26th at the Izvor Park of Bucharest in front of 60 thousand people! 2009/06 Birthday party There was a lively atmosphere at Daniel’s birthday party on June, the 26th. And thank you to all former colleagues who have joined us. 2009/06 Mobile Telephony Beler Soft has opened a new department dedicated to the development of mobile phone applications. Skills are available on Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPhone OS. 2009/03 Microsoft Gold Partner
Beler Soft’s Microsoft Gold Partner label has been extended to Web Developments, SOA and Business Process besides the Mobility Solutions |
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