Development Methodology

The key to a successful development methodology is simplicity and effectiveness. Our software development models offer the following benefits:

• Reduced lifecycle and cost versus traditional employee/contracting models.
• Increased return on investment, visible within weeks.
• No requirement to purchase expensive software licences or other capital outlay items.
• Expert in-house knowledge and understanding of Microsoft products.

Eirtight uses a combination of both Agile or Iterative and Waterfall development methodologies for software development projects. The Microsoft Solutions Framework is employed for developing and managing software projects from conception through to implementation. This is the same methodology as used by Microsoft. Usually, this means that we break a software project down into manageable pieces which are allocated 3-4 week long "sprints". At the end of each sprint we present the completed software requirements to the customer for review. At this point the customer gives us feedback on areas to improve and change based on their growing understanding of how their business solution is becoming a reality.

We also work with detailed specifications that have been developed prior to project commencement, as we find this delivers a cost-effective solution while allowing for changes to be made during the development process.

We find most experienced business managers need to be able to visualise a software solution before their real intellect and experience is drawn out to improve the solution. Therefore we repeat the cycle of Define, Create, Review until such time as the software solution is what the customer needs. Often, the finished product is different from what the client thought they needed initially. It is this process of allowing the software developers and business managers to get together in a structured and regular fashion which delivers the key benefit in an Eirtight software project. This process is always facilitated by an experienced project manager who is skilled in getting the best out of this opportunity.

We use Microsoft Project and our own internal project management and customer support tools for managing projects.

Eirtight can offer a fixed-price or time & materials-based quotations for software development work, depending on client requirements.