Steps to success

Customers and suppliers need to adopt a consistent approach to software development and implementation. They need to be prepared to invest sufficient resources, optimise pre-existing modules and factor the necessary testing procedures into the development lifecycle.

Good project management, detailed specifications and good documentation must be provided upfront and should make allowance for the fact that things can take longer than expected.

Re-work can account for up to 40 per cent of the project cost, so the earlier that defects or potential problems are identified, recorded and rectified in the life-cycle, the less cost is consumed.

Pricing a project accurately cannot be a 'guesstimate', based on loose assumptions that any unforeseen cost overruns can just be passed onto the client. When estimating software development costs, accurate metrics are crucial.

These include quality assurance requirements, offshore sourcing variables, identifying reusable code components, factoring in the complexity of existing infrastructures and much more.

In cases where neither the client nor the vendor has the required level of expertise, a third-party specialist - - can help with cost projections, effort estimation, risk management advice and negotiations with providers.

Paul Michaels is Director of Consulting, Metri Measurement Consulting, UK