Nowadays, numerous companies rely on project-oriented work. Good project management is the basis for a successful project execution and provides structure. And structure – i.e. clear planning, management and control of all project activities, resources, and results – is in turn an important component for the successful completion of projects. But every company organizes their project management differently. So, how do we at Fabrik19 organize our projects?
The initial idea turns into mobile innovation
1. Consulting & requirements analysis
At the beginning of each project, our experts sit down with the customer for an initial consultation. In this meeting, we discuss motivation, goals, and implementation options and conduct an initial requirements and needs analysis. Both a new product development and the further development of an existing product are possible. The result of this first step is a first, rough project plan that clearly defines the expectations of everyone involved in the project. To illustrate the following steps, we assume a customer wants us to develop a native app for them.
2. Concept & design
The next step is to refine and concretize this plan. For this purpose, we put together an individually adapted project team consisting of those of our experts whose expertise is best suited for the project. Once the project team is put together, they create a concept for the realization of the project that assigns clearly defined roles to each team member. Among other things, priorities are set, user stories formed and solution approaches formulated – always keeping an eye on the target group and in close consultation with the customer.
3. Development
As soon as a concept has been worked out, we start developing the product. We usually divide this phase into several consecutive sprints, in which sub-goals of the application, e.g. a specific function, are implemeted and then discussed with the customer and the project team in a feedback session. If the developed function meets all requirements, we move to the next sub-goal. If changes are still necessary, these are adjusted in a so-called refinement and then reviewed again. An initial, executable product (MVP) can then be used to assess which additional functions may need to be implemented. If necessary, the concept is adapted accordingly. During this phase, our agile way of working enables us to react to changes in customers’ requirements and the market even late in the implementation.
4. Testing
Once the defined goals have been implemented and a detailed application with all required functions is available, the test phase begins. The developers thoroughly examine the functionality of the app and run different test scenarios. We also make the application available to other employees of the F19 team and the customer for intensive testing. This way, we cover various perspectives and different user types. If we find a function that shows potential to be optimized, the project team works out a solution and implements it. This process is repeated until the app runs smoothly and is as user-friendly as possible.
5. Launch
When the app is ready for its publication, it goes live. We always ensure that the customer can easily maintain the app in every version and add content. To this end, we may conduct training courses with the respective people in charge on how to use and maintain the application. As our customer’s technology partner, we are always available if any questions arise.
6. Maintenance & Optimization
After release, a support team often continues to maintain and update the app to ensure it stays up to date and works flawlessly. If, after some time, the customer wants their app to be further optimized – for example with new functions or a new layout – we are happy to implement their ideas into the existing product.
Why the waterfall principle leaves us dry
In a fast-paced world like today’s, successful project work requires the ability to plan and implement possible changes quickly and efficiently. Agile project management and our team’s expertise enable us to adapt our project management individually to the requirements and needs of our customers. It also makes immediate reactions to changes in the market or our customer’s ideas possible. This is so important because very few projects end up being implemented exactly as they were initially planned. Regular meetings and feedback loops provide us with the necessary overview throughout the project. According to our experience, a well-planned and successful project thrives on transparency, communication, and teamwork.
Scrum – an agile approach
As a technology company, we have been gaining experience in planning, implementing and successfully completing projects for quite some time – mostly in an agile way. “But only since Konstantin Schulz joined us as an ‘Advanced-Certified-Scrum-Master’, we carry out Scrum to rule,” explains CEO Mark Pralle. Scrum is an agile approach that attaches great importance to adaptability and customer focus, among other things. Konstantin Schulz and Scrum help many of our product development teams to position themselves in a market-oriented and customer-centric manner in the face of contemporary challenges. This allows us to complete projects in short iteration cycles and ensure that both we and the customer are always up-to-date. Regular reflection within the team and more direct coordination processes make it possible to offer transparency about the progress of the project at any given time and react to changes in requirements even late in the development phase.
Overall, in our experience, agile project management leads to higher customer and employee satisfaction, faster time-to-market and an overall higher project success in the long runtOur team consists of experienced project managers and developers who have specialized in the application of agile methods and Scrum. Thanks to our many years of experience in project management and our technical expertise, we are able to offer you real added value. Here, you will find an overview of some of our previous projects. Feel free to contact us with your project idea!
