Managing the mobile app development process

If you have an idea for a mobile app and are serious enough about it to speak to a developer and bring it to the marketplace, the first thing you’re going to need is a project management plan.  Since you’ll probably be working with a small team towards a straightforward goal, we’ll dispense with a labored explanation of shop-talk terminology like “probabilistic moments of risk” or “event chain visualization.”  There are nevertheless a few elements you’ll need to consider and implement for the development process to go smoothly.

• Make sure you know what you need.  The first conversation with your chosen developer should include a discussion of all the resources you’ll need (content writers, graphic designers, etc.) for your app to appear at launch as you conceived it at your moment of inspiration.  Identifying on the front end all the skill sets needed to develop your app will streamline the development process and help to keep the project on track.
• Assemble your team.  If your app is simple, there’s a fair chance your “team” will consist solely of you and your developer.  You may add more people to that list depending on what your app is designed to do, but whatever the number, you’ll need to get everyone together to make sure you’re all on the same page.
• Budget your time.  The importance of composing a schedule and respecting it cannot be overstated.  This won’t be as simple as telling your developer what you envision and then waiting for the launch date. You’ll want to plan ahead for regular communication with your developer.  The more attention you pay to scheduling, the less likely you are to happen across any nasty surprises during the development process.
• Budget your resources.  If you use services like ours – and you should – you should be able to find a developer who will work for a flat rate.  If possible, try to do the same for any other team members you need to employ.  This way you will be able to have an excellent idea as to how much the entire project will cost before you even open your checkbook.  Surprises are nice on your birthday, but substantially less so during the development of a mobile app.  Of course, things happen during the development process and you should have a plan for dealing with additional expenses that arise during the project.

Mobile app development doesn’t have to be chaotic – the process can be managed with good planning at the start of the project.  This is not to say everything will go according to plan, but you’ll be much better prepared to deal with any deviations if you have a plan in place.  For more detailed information on the planning process, check out this white paper from TechRepublic about Project Management Best Practices For The Application Development Process or shoot me an e-mail.