Rapid application development (RAD) is a process which prioritizes a set delivery date over all other features. Saving time is the essential goal, which has led to the term, “timeboxing,” which means that any features that cannot be constructed within the rigidly paced time schedule, must be removed from the project guidelines. This process emphasizes a cyclical, iterative (repetitive) process of continual user feedback which results in increased usability and customer satisfaction.
One of the primary reasons for the growth of RAD has been the expensive “cost of change” – some projects had so many time-consuming requirements that the application became obsolete before completion. Entire projects became worthless because technology becomes outdated so quickly. RAD ensures that changes be made rapidly to ensure time-critical, immediately-usable applications.
Businesses of all sizes can benefit from the RAD model, which works the best with projects sharing the following characteristics: standalone apps, narrow customer usage, minimal scope and small size. RAD is best achieved with small teams, consisting of less than seven, experienced versatile, experienced and motivated developers working closely with management end users. Both parties must be empowered to make critical decisions to ensure the successful completion of the project on time.
RAD works best when there is already a close customer/developer relationship and the application is already assumed to be “bought” before it is even developed. Management must be willing to cut through red tape and bureaucracy to permit the rapid deployment of the application through each phase of the process. Developers allow for continual management input to increase the usability of the application. Management must also be willing to sacrifice higher costs and lower quality in order to achieve the firm time goals.
Prototypes, simulations and models are used by RAD for visualization of key concepts and unit testing. Focus groups then analyze the test cases, offering ways to improve the application. These additions can be added incrementally during assembly. This immediate feedback, early on in the development process, saves time in the long run. Important project specifications and benchmarks are analyzed to ensure that they are realistic and achievable within the allotted time frame.
The end users continue to cooperate in the design and assembly of the application. The test, review and feedback process is repeated until the project is finalized. These brainstorming workshops require application developers who are also good facilitators and managers. They must ensure that the focus groups provide detailed responses to specific components. Customer participation and satisfaction is essential.
Developers must then translate the customer comments into functionality. These developers must have strong time management skills and flexibility in rolling with the project as changes are enacted.
The normal application development cycle of design, assembly, testing and delivery is made circular with continually overlapping design, assembly and testing. Initiatlly, a rough outline is established to guide developers. Through testing, feedback is used to create more hands-on visualization of actual functionality. Code is written during stakeholder brainstorming sessions. This process creates more user-friendly applications that can better integrate into business structures.
Time can be saved with reusable code, ready-made templates and graphics repositories. Written documentation is minimized. Version control and drafts must be tracked carefully.
Timeboxing demands that secondary functions (which are too time-consuming to construct) be dropped and other characteristics (like cost and quality) are minimized for the sake of achieving pre-set delivery times. Developers and management must prioritize the essential minimal components which provide the greatest business value in order to construct a serviceable application.
RAD allows customers to see the progression of application development, which leads to greater satisfaction and usability rates. This process leads to less source code writing, greater flexibility, better user involvement and more usable apps.
Rapid application development is best for businesses with firm time deadlines, where prioritization is given to delivery over other secondary considerations. RAD provides a usable application with higher customer satisfaction.
Tags: crm, Custom Application Development, customer relationship management, management, RAD, Rapid Application Development, timeboxing
