Software releases are some of the most stressful dates on any calendar. New and existing customers alike can be severely affected by delays, or worse yet, bugs upon release. Software developers find themselves under immense pressure as deadlines loom large. Although there are unique aspects to software development, projects of all kinds are similar in nature. With proper technical project management, release days can be a cause for celebration rather than a source of stress.
4 Tips for Improving Your Release Process
1. Adopt an Agile Development Methodology
Agile development isn’t just the buzzword of the day: it’s the real deal. Agile software development makes it easier to implement changes into software and respond to sudden modifications. Through frequent communication and concurrent processes, an Agile approach gets work done faster and minimizes bureaucratic bottlenecks in your company.
However, Agile is such a different methodology that the learning curve can scare companies off. The prospect of switching systems terrifies many managers. It’s important to bring in experienced Agile coaches who can teach your staff by letting them live the Agile experience.
2. Keep Documents Updated
Documentation is vital for technical projects. Change logs, test results, feature requests, and the company budget all pull projects in different directions. If you don’t keep track of these details throughout the project, redundancies and mistakes are more likely to occur. Fixing these problems later slows down releases.
A technical project manager needs to keep documentation up to date and make sure that employees have access to the latest information. Consider assigning the job to someone who can oversee documents across departments, unify the writing style and format, and push notifications out to workers.
3. Consider Technical Project Management Software
Software can help create software. Project management software can make managing technical projects much easier. Switching to software-based project management can cut down on unnecessary meetings that sap valuable time that could be spent developing. Software also helps you keep track of who is responsible for various tasks within a given project. Tracking that data can help you find roadblocks such as underperforming departments or excessive back and forth between departments.
Cloud-based project management tools will also make it easier to manage projects remotely. Since you can access everything from any device, work-from-home situations and hybrid offices can seamlessly handle projects despite the distance. If you’re not sure what kind of software is best suited for your technical projects, reach out to Project Genetics to learn more about your options.
4. Don’t Rely on Crunch Time
Crunch time has become so commonplace in software development that many companies just assume that if a deadline gets too close for comfort, they can crunch their way out of it. While that might work, it’s not a sustainable solution. Crunch time costs more, burns out workers, and produces more errors.
A smoother approach to technical projects is best. If you want to reach your release dates and put out the best product possible, contact Project Genetics. We can help you optimize your project management and have the latest version out right on time.
