After the deal is made it is no secret as to what a customer wants: a custom solution that meets the demands of their business and is delivered on time and on budget. There is also no secret on how to build a successful custom software application. It requires a simple process:

• establish a business case - Asking the right questions, listening to the answers and setting clear goals.
  
• design the system - Establishing the requirements, building a prototype and designing a flexible architecture.
  
• develop the system - Building software with reusable components that are easy to maintain.
  
• test the system - Going back to the business case and the requirements to develop and then execute a test plan.
  
• deploy the system - Moving the system to a stable production environment and then monitoring the results.

Where most companies get into trouble, is that they either skip one of these steps all together or they do not employ the detail necessary to ensure success. Leaving out a step is like leaving out a brick. The results can be devastating. The size and scope of a project will often determine the amount of rigor and detail involved in this process.

To determine the size and scope it is important to establish a business case for the project. There are several factors that must be discussed between the customer and the solution provider when setting the case. These factors include the business problem that must be solved, budgets, the potential audience, software performance, and overall desired functionality.

At f2 we like to listen, we pay attention to detail and we like simplicity. There is no doubt that sometimes software development requires some very complex work. However, there is no need to over engineer projects simply because you are not listening to what the customer wants.