Webdevelopment Process Lifecycle – Waterfall Model
Our Web Development Process
Web development is the broad term given to the process that involves developing a website to be placed on the World Wide Web. Our company follows a similar approach to the “waterfall” model of system development. The waterfall model is a sequential design process in which progress is seen as flowing steadily downwards (like a waterfall) through the various phases of the website development. Each phase must be completed before a subsequent phase can commence. We follow an 8-phase process and each phase will be discussed in detail below.
The first phase is Website Requirements and Analysis. This phase is the foundation of the website. Before anything is done with a website, preliminary requirements analysis is conducted by discussing details with the client. Once the client has put forward his ideas, the analysis may begin. This analysis is very important because it gives the scope of the project such as the time frame, and discusses what benefits the website can bring to the client’s company. The main goal of this phase is to determine what the client wants to achieve with the website/ what the website’s function is.
Once the first phase is completed, we move onto phase two- the Requirement Specifications. At this point, documentation is drawn up by covering each and every aspect of the requirement specifications. Once the specifications are identified, a document is then prepared. This document consists of all the requirements for the Web Project along with future requirements and costing details, creating a much better understanding of the system to be developed. Larger projects will require further levels of consultation to determine other business and technical requirements. After this preliminary document has been reviewed and approved, a written proposal outlining responsibilities and costs is prepared.
The third phase of the web development process is that of Site Structure and Design. The end result of this phase gives particular attention to the design of the site, combined with system walkthroughs to allow the client to understand how the website functions from both a user and manager’s point-of-view. This phase also includes determining a new look and feel for the website, designing a web layout and then building a prototype from said layout. It encompasses all activities heading towards the architecture of the site including the function flow of the website. Once the client has been able to look over the design, he is given the opportunity to give feedback and request any changes. The ideal time to get back to the company is 1-2 business days, but some clients take longer. Therefore, how long the phase takes to complete is really up to the client. Once the client does get back to the company with any revisions, it takes about 2-3 business days to complete simple changes, and about a week for major changes. This process continues until the client approves of the design.
The next phase of the web development process is the Website Construction and Testing. Construction and testing cannot be separated into two different phases, since testing should begin as soon as the first few lines of code are written. Here the complete prototype is set into the coding frame structure. All the functionality and specifications from earlier are now passed to the programmer. The programmer, with the help of the designer, gains some understanding of how the website works and now integrates the design with his code without disturbing the look and the feel of the website. Constant client interaction takes place, even in this phase. Live testing for example, allows the client to bring in final comments or just lets them have a preview of their new product. All the client’s suggestions are taken into consideration and notes are taken as well.
The fifth phase of the web development process is the Content Entry phase. At this point the company works with the client and the designed template to create a message that brings the website to life and get it noticed by the target audience. The content is written professionally, that is, after this phase there should be no grammatical and spelling errors.
Phase six of the process is the Launch. A joyous event for everyone, in this phase the site can finally go live. If everything goes according to plan with the testing and the client gives the go ahead, then it can take a couple of commands (about an hour) for the site to go live. This isn’t the final step in the process however.
In the seventh phase of the development process, that is, the Analysis of Statistics and Maintenance, the website should be continually updated to keep it looking fresh. Constant updating of the website also helps to remove bugs form the site. Once the site begins operating, technical maintenance, ongoing promotion, content management and updating, site visit activity reports, staff training and mentoring is necessary depending on the size and complexity of the website and the needs of the organization.
The eighth and final stage in our web development process is Marketing. This phase ensures your website reaches the targeted audience with the use of efficient Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Website marketing includes creating meta tags, meta description, constant analysis and submission of the URL in various search engines and other directories. Promoting a website is not a one day process, but a continuous process. Also frequent updating of the contents on the website help in promoting and bring rank to the website. It also keeps the website fresh with new contents to read, every time the search engine crawls your website.
In conclusion, it can be seen that website development is a simple process divided into efficient phases and each phase is finished completely before moving to the next. At our company, we ensure a great working relationship with our clients, including an open line of communication and ensure that we are creating a successful web site that will help your business grow.
