4 PROTOTYPING PROCESS MODELS TO STREAMLINE SOFTWARE

DEVELOPMENT

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• What is the prototyping process model?

• How does the prototyping process fit into software development?

• The 6 basic steps of the prototyping process

• 4 prototyping process models you can use to design and build software

This Slide Show in bullet points

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WHAT IS IT?• A way to develop software centered around prototyping. Not a stand-alone

methodology in and of itself; it can be built into a wider methodology such as RAD or Agile.

WHY SHOULD SOFTWARE DEV TEAMS APPLY IT?• Reduces project risk by:

- breaking the project cycle into manageable chunks- getting the user involved from the beginning- increasing the chance of user adoption- providing the opportunity to try out, test and evaluate ideas

The Prototyping Process Model

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1. Requirements gathering and analysis

2. Quick design: quick and dirty wireframes or paper prototypes

3. Low to high fidelity prototyping, based on basic wireframes

4. User evaluation: usability testing to reveal strengths & weaknesses of the prototype

5. Refinement: iterations with new requirements based on user feedback

6. Product development

The basic 6 step model

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1. Rough prototype built with initial requirements definition 2. Detailed requirements presented in rough prototype3. Prototype discarded and developers work on the actual software

PROs: 4. More freedom for designers5. Greater focus on features and functions6. Cost-effective 7. Low effort and quick

CONs:8. Developers are distracted from fully analyzing requirements

Rapid/throwaway prototyping

TIP: Do throwaway prototyping with known and trusted teams!

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● Well defined requirements used to build an initial functional prototype● New prototypes built around the original, with feedback and new requirements● The resulting prototypes are strong enough to stand in for the final system

PROs:● Refinement is a constant● Changes are allowed to develop organically ● Deeper understanding of requirements

CONs:● Time-consuming● Confusion between prototype/final product

Evolutionary prototyping

TIP: Make it clear that this is a prototype, albeit an awesome evolutionary one!

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● Multiple, independent, small-scale prototyping cycles in place simultaneously

● All prototypes are merged into one over-arching design concept

PROs:● Time between project kick-off and final delivery is significantly reduced

CONs: ● The pieces might not fit together

Incremental prototyping

TIP: Carefully plan the entire system before prototyping starts!

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● Static prototype built out of HTML pages ● Functional screens are created with a simulated services layer● All the services are activated

PROs:● Fast project cycles and delivery● Whole team focused on deliverables rather than requirements

CONs: ● Teams have to work on top of each other● ‘Extras’ such as QA can be left behind when rushing towards product launch

Extreme prototyping

TIP: Ideal for web prototyping, design and development!

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These 4 process models show that a prototyping approach can be used within

practically any software development project, regardless of the resources or scope.

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