A software development team is a group of people who contribute to the creation, design and implementation of the finished development project. The main types of roles within a software development team are programmer, software tester, business analyst and project manager. The roles and responsibilities of each member of the software development team vary with their experience, education, aptitude and career aspirations. Many of the roles and responsibilities are shared by all members of a software development team.
The main aim of a software development team is to produce high quality, robust software in a timely manner. The role of each member of the software development team changes depending on the project requirements and stage of the project. The software development team may be composed of members located in one place or separate members located throughout the world.
Responsibilities:
The responsibilities of a Software Development Team include planning and executing development projects. The planning stage includes organizing the project, defining required specifications, deciding upon development tools and resources, estimating project time and budget, obtaining management approval and assigning specific roles to team members. The execution of the project includes gathering user requirements, writing codes, designing programs and testing the developed software.
1. Project Manager
The project manager is responsible for planning the development project from its initiation to its conclusion. The project manager must also ensure that the development team sticks to the budget and schedule. The project manager directs the actions of other development team members and delegates specific tasks as necessary. It is the responsibility of the project manager to coordinate meetings and resolve conflicts concerning problems or delays within the development team.
2. Software Tester
The software tester is responsible for testing and validating the software which the development team has created. The software tester ensures that developers have included all features and functions that are required by the client in the final product. The software tester plays an important role in the software development and testing process. The software testing process begins by identifying the requirements of the software by gathering user requirements, specifications and specification documents.
3. Programmer
A programmer is responsible for writing the codes that are required by the project. The programmer must keep in mind the requirements of the client. The programmer must also think creatively and solve numerous problems which arise during the process of software development. The programmer is required to keep track of the project milestones, deadlines, and budgets. They must also manage the progress of different tasks based on the schedules and deadlines.
4. Business Analyst
The business analyst is responsible for analyzing the requirements of the client and also making suggestions on how to create a viable software product which will satisfy specific business requirements. The business analyst is required to understand the processes of the client organization by identifying their current problems or issues. The business analyst is also required to study market trends and analyze where improvements can be made to existing processes or products to meet customer requirements. The main responsibilities of a software development team are planning, designing, developing, testing and validating a software program or application.
5. Software Developer
The software developer builds modules, creates algorithms and writes codes to develop the final product. Most development projects have a number of developers in order to complete the project within a specified time period. Developers must write clear, error-free codes and follow standard programming practices when developing a software product. The developer will also perform testing and debugging to ensure that no major errors exist in the program.
6. Programmer Analyst
The programmer analyst is responsible for planning, analyzing, writing and debugging codes. The main objective of the programmer analyst is to improve software products in a manner which will make better use of hardware. The programmer analyst is also responsible for keeping track of the project deadlines and milestones. The programmer analyst is required to carry out complex calculations and prepare technical reports on a regular basis.
7. Database Administrator
The database administrator is responsible for creating and maintaining databases for use in business applications. The database administrator is required to organize, maintain and update the data structure. The database administrator must also make all necessary changes related to system security and performance of the databases. Database administrators are required to ensure that data integrity is maintained in the databases at all times.
Roles:
Each member of the software development team plays an important role in the development of high quality, robust software in a timely manner. The roles include project manager, software tester, programmer, programmer analyst, database administrator and software developer. Project managers are responsible for starting the development process and creating an effective development schedule for the entire group. Software testers play an important role in validating the final product and ensuring that no errors exist in the final product.
Programmers are responsible for writing high quality codes and documenting ideas and procedures. Programmer analysts assess the quality of programs and suggest improvements to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of software applications. Database administrators are responsible for designing and implementing databases which can be used to improve business operations. Software developers build applications, modules and write codes for a variety of business systems.
1. Planning
The planning phase of software development starts with project managers initiating the project and gathering specifications from the client organization. The planning phase also includes the requirement gathering, design, coding and testing of a software application before it is ready to be presented to the client for approval or testing.
2. Design
The design phase involves identifying the functions that need to be implemented in a program, determining how these functions should be incorporated into a system and identifying what data to include in each module. The design phase also involves designing error-free programs which meet established standards and specifications.
3. Testing
The testing phase involves comparing the software against the specifications and ensuring that all functions of the program work as intended. Software developers must test functions, which are not covered by testers to ensure that no major errors exist. Programmers are also responsible for performing debugging to ensure that no major defects exist in a program.
4. Delivery
During the delivery phase, software developers prepare their programs for delivery to clients or users in order to provide it with specific functionality required by a client. This is also referred to as integration testing or delivery, which occurs after all required functionality has been implemented in all modules of the application.
5. Skills
A software development team is composed of skilled individuals with specific skills who work on different aspects of projects from beginning to end. The skills include communication, problem solving, creative thinking, leadership, brainstorming and analytical thinking. Members must have strong communication skills in order to work together as a team and make decisions. Problem solving is another important skill which must be possessed by all members of the team in order to complete each project successfully.
6. Tools
Software development is also dependent on the tools used to support the team. The right set of tools will enable software development teams to work more efficiently and effectively. All members of the team must have access to the tools needed in order to work as efficiently as possible without compromising the quality of the final product.
7. Proficiency
Proficiency is another important aspect of a software development team. All members of the team must be familiar with the latest technology and techniques to ensure that they can meet the demands of clients effectively. Software development experts must also have excellent analytical thinking skills and creative problem-solving skills in order to assess business needs and come up with solutions.
8. Reviews
The review phase is a continuous process which occurs after each development stage. All members of the team are required to send their code and documents to a reviewer who will evaluate each element of the program thoroughly before it is accepted for release. The reviewer must also ensure that all specifications have been met prior to signing off any part of the program. The reviewer can make recommendations for improvements based on his or her experience and knowledge gained during previous projects.
9. Scheduling
An effective and efficient software development schedule is critical to ensuring that all members of the project team have a clear idea of what they should be working on at any given point in time. The schedule is also used to record progress and determine whether the project is on schedule or if any delays are being caused by external factors.
10. Documentation
Software developers are required to document the code and ideas presented in their programs in order to improve the readability of their codes. Any errors or issues with their programs should also be documented in order to help them identify areas where they can improve on their future projects.
The documentation should provide explanations of how a particular program works and provide an overview of how it integrates with other modules of the system. Documentation is also required to ensure that all users understand how a program must be used and what data must be included in each module prior to implementation.
Conclusion:
Planning, designing, testing and delivering software is an important step which every programmer must master at a professional level. Each programmer must have a thorough knowledge of each stage of the process in order to ensure that the quality of their outputs are consistent with industry standards. Software development is a growing industry and programmers who have strong analytical thinking and problem solving skills will always be in demand.
