{"id":12887,"date":"2020-12-24T13:59:47","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T12:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/?p=12887"},"modified":"2022-01-05T20:03:26","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T19:03:26","slug":"optimize-software-workflow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.codemotion.com\/magazine\/devops\/optimize-software-workflow\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Drastically Optimize Your Software Team\u2019s Workflow"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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  1. What is meant by \u201cWorkflow\u201d?<\/a>
  2. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)<\/a>
  3. Software development workflow requires a solid toolkit<\/a>
  4. Analyze Your Existing Workflows and Processes<\/a>
  5. Create an agile approach to software development workflow<\/a>
  6. Keep projects fresh with continuous integration and deployment<\/a>
  7. Software Team's Workflow: conclusion<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

    A streamlined workflow<\/span> is an essential component<\/span> that enables software teams to operate at their peak, while staying focused on end goals. It ensures that the entire team<\/span> is onboard with their core role: building software<\/strong> and developing solutions<\/strong>. It keeps everyone on track with meeting proposed productivity metrics<\/a> and ticking off items from their to-do lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are a number of tools<\/span> that support this function, enabling better communication<\/span> between teams<\/span>, while holding everyone accountable for their responsibilities. When workflows<\/span> are implemented properly<\/strong>, tasks can be assigned via a smooth onboarding process<\/a>, resources can also be maximized, costs can be properly maintained and managed, team<\/span> members are aware of their roles and responsibilities, and there is a reduction on time spent unnecessarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, what exactly is a workflow<\/span> where software teams<\/a> are concerned, and how do you optimize it? Let\u2019s start with an understanding of what we mean by workflow<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"software<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    What is meant by \u201cWorkflow\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s not simply an outline of processes<\/span>, but rather an amalgamation of protocols, opportunities for collaboration<\/span>, and work ideas<\/a> for optimization that can combine to form a firm<\/span> and reliable guideline. Essentially, it\u2019s a team<\/span>\u2019s step by step guide as to the proper sequence of events that need to take place to reach a certain outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Specific elements will build on one another, and certain team<\/span> members might be responsible for disparate parts. This makes it essential for the entire team<\/span> to be onboard with the workflow<\/span>. Being aware of all the moving parts helps team<\/span> members execute on their portion effectively, for the sake of the bigger picture. It gives everyone direction, allows them to take ownership, and challenges the team<\/span> as a whole to save time and resources while getting the job done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, now that we understand workflow<\/span>, how do we optimize it?<\/strong> There are no hard and fast rules, specifically since each software team<\/span>, their product – whether it is an online ebook maker<\/a> or a fitness application<\/span> – and goals will be completely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The most important element to a productive and optimal workflow<\/span> is to let it do just that\u2026 flow. An agile<\/a> work environment gives rise to opportunities to refresh and reconsider your workflows<\/span> during each agile retrospective. Having this organic and free-thinking approach to workflow<\/span> is the right space to open up the possibilities for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In each team<\/span> environment, there will be a variable degree of uniqueness, but ultimately all software development follows a very similar life cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"software<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Having a broad, bird\u2019s eye view of the life cycle of product development might give you some cues as to where focus is lacking or where bolts need to get tightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Planning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The planning stage is where requirement<\/span> analysis comes into play. A request is put in by senior members, product owners, scrum masters, or anyone within the business<\/span>. This information is used to define the project<\/span> plan. Requirements<\/span> are identified in this phase, as well as any potential pitfalls or risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Defining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The product or project<\/span> requirements<\/span> are then clearly documented in the defining phase. Product owners, business<\/span> analysts, management, and other senior software team members come together. Sometimes  from all over the world via video conferencing, or other similar communication channels, to identify exactly how the product or project<\/span> should be defined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is done in the product or project<\/span> spec<\/span> document, formally known as the Software<\/span> Requirement<\/span> Specification<\/span> document. This is where the benefits of VoIP<\/a> or video conferencing become crystal clear, as it can be a very lengthy process<\/span> that requires much debate. Once complete, the requirement<\/span> spec<\/span> will then be signed off by the relevant product owner or business<\/span> analyst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Designing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The design phase involves the finalization of the product design and architecture<\/a>. The most optimal routes to success are pitched, and one final design approach for the architecture<\/span> is decided upon. The design approach needs to meet a full array of requirements<\/span> including outcomes of the risk assessment<\/span>, feasibility studies<\/span>, budget, time constraints, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Building<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    This is the development phase of the software development life cycle<\/span>. The product is built or the project<\/span> is undertaken. This phase is heavily reliant on the design phase and the efficiencies of the design. For seamless flow between the design and building phases, there needs to be collaboration<\/span> between the teams<\/span> involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Testing can be carried out in a phased approach once certain aspects of the build have been completed. Testing can also be ongoing and iterative. Where this final stage of testing is concerned, it\u2019s related to the final product and identifying any bugs or defects in the code<\/span>. These will be placed into the workflow<\/span> by being identified, documented, issued, fixed, and then tested again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6. Deployment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Once the product has been properly tested multiple times and a full QA<\/span> has been completed, the product can be deployed<\/span>. This can be a soft launch where only internal team<\/span> members have access to the live version<\/span>. In these circumstances, it can then be tested again in a full live environment, or it can be formally released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Understanding the software development life cycle<\/span> will help determine where you\u2019re falling short in your workflow<\/span>. The success of the software team<\/span> is reliant on each step in the process<\/span> being carefully and meticulously plotted. That\u2019s even though their actual work only begins in the build phase, or potentially via collaboration<\/span> with design teams in the design phase.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Software development workflow requires a solid toolkit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Collaboration<\/span> is a primary cog in the successful turning of the workflow<\/span> wheel. Often, this needs to be carried out across continents and time zones, without losing out on time or efficiencies. Making use of the right tools<\/span> to connect and engage teams<\/span> is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Software<\/span> teams can also be working on multiple projects<\/span> at once. A properly optimized workflow<\/span> that captures all of this detail ensures that everyone is clear on what they need to do, when it needs to be done by, and who plays a supporting or management role in what they\u2019re doing. There are a number of communication<\/span>, task management, and collaboration<\/span> tools<\/span> that make this aspect of work easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of the more widely used tools<\/span> in a software developer<\/span>\u2019s application<\/span> folder revolve around the following functions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n