Methodology

At Qulix we know that it is impossible to have a unified approach to every outsourcing project. Large projects must have a higher level of processes maturity and internal complexity than small ones, which may require no formal processes at all and still be very successful. Although, to avoid fails both large and small projects must be thoroughly controlled during each project phase.

Since our establishment we have been using a wide set of well known software development methodologies such as RUP, MSF and others depending on customer requirements. We believe that Qulix is a truly customer oriented company, so the idea is to be as much flexible and transparent for our clients as possible. We understand that it is much easier for a client to work with a software development outsourcing vendor if it can tailor its processes to the form acceptable to a client, than to work with a company that calls for the adjustment of client's processes just to follow some internal standard.

We adapt our project methodologies to the needs of our clients making our processes compatible with the existing ones, thus assimilating into client's working environment. On the other hand, our clients can benefit from ISO compliant RUP-based mature processes organisation if they want to. We can share our expertise in process engineering with our clients to adjust their software development process to the most efficient variant.

Qulix has extensive expertise in the following methodologies:

• Rational Unified Process;
• Microsoft Solutions Framework.

We have defined and institutionalized the minimal set of practices that are used in every project in one form or another:

• Requirements Management;

Clear project requirements are the key point for success in an offshore software development project. An offshore team must know exactly what a client wants to have at the end of the project. In some cases it is very difficult for a client to provide an offshore team with specifications detailed enough. In Qulix we assign local Business Analysts to convert customer needs into software development specifications. The Analyst is a gate between the offshore software development team and the client.

• Project Management;

The offshore team should know the points of contact on each side – who is the local PM, who manages the project on the part of the customer, who is responsible for the requirements clarification, etc.

There should be an agreement on project milestones, deliverables and deadlines. Both sides must know when deliverables are to be expected. On the other hand, it is a good practice to split the project into several milestones for better transparency.

• Change Management;

An ideal project is the project where requirements are stabilized before its start. But in practice requirements are often changed during project execution, which leads to additional risks, for new changes will affect system quality if they are not thoroughly controlled. Each new change of requirements must be deeply analyzed by the offshore Architect/PM/Lead Developer before its implementation and integration into the system.

• Defects Management;

New defects must be first assigned to responsible developers and then fixed. It is a good practice to use some defects tracking system for that purpose. In Qulix we use Rational Clear Quest by default and provide web access to it for customers. However it is not an obstacle for us to use the customer's in-house tracking system.

• Configuration Management.

Version control is also a very important point in every project. It helps to avoid problems when it is required to support different product versions or in case of complex changes/migrations.

In each of the client relationships that Qulix has entered into, we have consistently contributed to the identification and implementation of IT solutions that have clear and sustainable business benefits.

Our abilities in dealing with complex problems in IT business, in structuring our thinking and in reaching reasonable conclusions with the available facts and effective work done are critical for our Company as a software development services provider. Our case studies provide evidence of what we think about the issues that arise and what kind of a business partner we can be.

We have vigorous practice to make sure that we are doing our job prosperously. Many of our partners say that dealing with us provides them with valuable experience in terms of helping them not only assess their business strengths and weaknesses but also define their professional goals.

We understand that in many aspects the offshore software development outsourcing model means a new business practice for the customer, full of both hidden and explicit risks. So, if you have any questions about how your project can be implemented by an offshore team, what challenges and opportunities it might bring for your business, please feel free to contact us.