Software Development
Octavia specialises in delivering cost effective bespoke business software across a broad range of industry sectors. Our portfolio of work includes enterprise level workflow systems, aircraft maintenance systems and shrink-wrapped learning software.
Our team
Octavia have a software development team comprising of analysts, project managers and developers. Our team are chosen not only for their technical expertise, but also their history in solving business problems.
We believe our team should have a breadth of skills as well as their own specialist areas. We encourage our team to gain vendor certification where appropriate.
The Tools
Our team has a wealth of experience with a broad range of databases, development tools/technologies and platforms. Our main areas of expertise are with Microsoft platforms and tools. Please see our Technical Skills section for further details.
Methodologies
We can use a variety of methodologies (including RAD and SSADM) but our preferred methodology is Rational Unified Process (RUP) combined with Scrum.
Rational Unified Process (RUP)
RUP is a fully fledged software project management methodology and is deemed as one of the best and most agile within the industry. RUP is configurable for the size and complexity of the project and complements the other methodologies described here.
RUP provides us with a solid framework for ensuring:
- On-time/budget delivery
- Delivery to expected quality standards
- Efficient communication both internally and with customers/partners
Scrum
Scrum is an agile, lightweight process that can be used to manage and control software and product development using iterative, incremental practices. Wrapping existing engineering practices, Scrum generates the benefits of agile development with the advantages of a simple implementation. Scrum significantly increases productivity and reduces time to benefits while facilitating adaptive, empirical systems development.
How Scrum & RUP Combine
Scrum provides a wrapper for RUP by bringing leadership and guidance to the development team and in helping them stay focused on their objectives.
Unified Modelling Language (UML)
Unified Modelling Language is the industry-standard language for the specification, visualization, construction, and documentation of the components of software systems. UML helps to simplify the process of software design, making a model for construction with a number of different views. One of the great merits of UML is the way it helps open up the development process with what are called use cases. These serve to identify principal roles (actors) in the system, boundaries, actions, and so on.
Software Development Lifecycle (Construction Phase)
We utilise an approach called Feature Driven Development (FDD) which splits the product into a series of features (or groups of features) which can then be prioritised, then an iterative development cycle is used to construct each feature as shown below:
The benefit of taking this approach is that we can release working functionality to the stakeholder and get feedback sooner, which can then be incorporated into the next release.
Development and testing environment
At Octavia we employ a sophisticated architecture that consists of separate environments for development, integration and testing. We utilise the latest Integrated Development Environment’s (IDE’s), project management/tracking and testing tools. We also (where possible) automate a lot of traditionally manual processes such as testing, which removes human error and also speeds up the process.
We utilise the latest “Virtual Machine” technology to allow us to test software across a vast range of operating systems, platforms and configurations.
Training
Where necessary Octavia will implement a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and design suitable courses for your users as an integral part of any software solution that is deployed.
Post Delivery
- Warranty
All solutions receive a 60 day warranty period which covers the fixing of any application errors that have not been discovered during the development/testing phases of the project.
- Ongoing support
Octavia offer a choice of post implmentation support options. Please see our IT Support Services section for more detail
Our sales and Contractual approach
Pre Sales
1. Initial Fact finding meeting(s)
We will meet with project sponsors to help us understand the requirements from a high level perspective and establish whether the project is a good fit with our skills and experience.
2. Project Proposal
A sales proposal will be created for you, outlining our understanding of your requirements, an outline of our proposed solution, and budgetary cost/time estimates for the project. Case studies and references can also be provided at this stage if working with you for the first time.
Elaboration
1. Scoping exercise to produce Software Requirements Specification
This process involves fully understanding your requirements usually through a series of workshops and analysing existing systems and business processes. This allows the creation of a detailed Software Requirements Specification (SRS). This specification allows us to provide a firm price and payment schedule for the following project phases.
We usually charge for this phase under a discrete consultancy contract according to our Terms and Conditions for Consultancy.
Implementation
This is usually the main project phase involving design, build, testing, rollout and migration.
This (and all sucessive phases) are charged under our Terms and Conditions for the Design and Development of Software (for small projects this can also be performed under our Terms and Conditions for Consultancy.
Acceptance
We usually achieve formal acceptance of the software through joint Acceptance Testing with the cusotmer.
