1. Planning Phase in SDLC
The Planning phase is the first and crucial step in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). This phase involves defining the project’s scope, objectives, and feasibility. Proper planning ensures that the project starts on the right track and sets the foundation for the subsequent phases.
1.1. Key Activities:
- Requirement Gathering: Collecting and documenting user requirements and expectations.
- Feasibility Study: Analyzing the technical, financial, and operational feasibility of the project.
- Project Scheduling: Creating a timeline for project milestones and deliverables.
- Resource Allocation: Identifying and assigning necessary resources, including team members, tools, and technologies.
- Risk Management: Identifying potential risks and developing mitigation strategies.
1.2. Best Practices:
- Involve Stakeholders: Engage all relevant stakeholders early to ensure their requirements are captured.
- Clear Objectives: Define clear and measurable project objectives to guide the development process.
- Realistic Scheduling: Set achievable deadlines to avoid project delays and ensure timely delivery.
1.3. Benefits:
- Provides a clear roadmap for the project.
- Helps in resource management and allocation.
- Reduces the risk of project failure by identifying potential issues early.
1.4. Limitations:
- Time-consuming process requiring thorough analysis.
- Can be challenging to get accurate requirements from stakeholders.
1.5. Example Scenario: For the “JUST-Learning” platform, the planning phase involves defining the features needed for the web and mobile app development courses. The team gathers requirements from instructors and students, conducts a feasibility study to ensure the project is viable, creates a project timeline, allocates resources, and identifies potential risks.