The last two phases of the software deployment life cycle

¶ … software deployment life cycle after discussing the first of the phases of this important life cycle. Phase IV is seen as a crucial phase wherein is dealt with the actual performance of the newly installed software. Phase V concludes the life cycle and provides impetus for any new deployment plan in future.

The Last Two Phases of the Software Deployment Life Cycle

Software deployment is a complex endeavor, most fittingly used as early as possible in the organizational cycle. All software deployment life cycles must consider three basic tasks: preparing for release of the software, releasing the software application to operations and support, and releasing the software application to the organization's user community. These are the end goals of this endeavor. On a phase-by-phase basis as well, the software deployment life cycle is multifaceted, taking into account many details without which the work of software deployment is incomplete.

The first part of the software deployment life cycle deals with the tackling of key management documents. Again, there is a focus on the release of the software in this first phase of the life cycle. There is an initial release plan and a general deployment strategy. The deployment audience is identified at this stage. There are three distinct groups considered in this phase: the users, the operations staff, and the support staff. Furthermore, if an approval of certain organization's representatives is required before the deployment of new software, this should be obtained.

In the second phase of software deployment, an architectural foundation of the project is laid. The deployment configurations for the system are defined. This part of the life cycle could be named Analysis and Design also. In this, data conversion is known to be the key to deployment of a new software system. The new system thus installed must be compatible with the new software deployed. This process has the deployment plan evolve significantly as this is where the installation strategies are created and the plan is ready to take many leaps forward.

In the third phase that we may name the Construction Phase, a detailed design and source code are developed for the software application. Legacy data conversion modeling and planning may have to be performed, or the desktops and internal application servers may have to be upgraded to run the new system. The earlier is equipment conversion performed, the smoother is the eventual deployment.

It is important at this stage to develop operations, support and user documentation, the possible artifacts of which are summarized below.

Table 1. Documentation Needs for Each Customer Group

OPERATIONS

SUPPORT

USERS

Backup procedures

Batch job and printing requirements

Data extractions/sharing requirements

Installation procedures

Resource requirements

Configuration definition

Release notes

Contact points within development and operations

Escalation procedures

Support call recording process

User documentation (all versions)

List of new features

Reference manual

Support user's guide

Tutorial manual

User manual

List of new features

In this phase, the organization may have to negotiate its deployment plan with the operations and support departments, as well as other projects that are planning to deploy the system, in order to see that the plan overall meets the requirements of the corporate deployment system. Since the new software brings change into the organization, tools of change management could be discussed and implemented in order to make the whole process relatively easy for the entire community involved in this change. (For instance, once in production, the new software system must have its installation and deinstallation procedures since there could be many changes also in the structure of the organization with people transferring, being hired, fired, etc.) At the end of this phase is the deployment plan considered fully accepted and to be launched to its completion at the date decided upon.

We now turn our attention to the last two phases of the software deployment life cycle and describe these in depth:

Phase IV - Perform/Deploy

1. Performance/Plan a. Track progress against the plan

2. Information Distribution a. How people will be kept informed about the project

3. Environmental factors a. Other factors to consider

Phase V - Closure

1. System/Application testing results approval

2. Account closure a. Close all project related accounts including expenditures

3. Post Project Evaluation a. Achievements and lessons learned

Phase V - Closure

Regardless of the software deployment life cycle model used for deployment, software has to be tested. Efficiency and quality are best served by testing software as early in the life cycle as possible. Whenever changes are made, full regression testing must be performed. Through the life cycle, the software might be tested and retested when problems occur, there are modifications, and new ideas emerge to be incorporated into the deployment of the software. Once all the testing is complete and the new software is efficiently put to use, the testing phase is concluded, and the testing results must be met with approval, or software deployment would be incomplete. It must be established that the software deployed and tested is what the organization needs. This is part 1 of this phase.

Phase V of the software deployment life cycle is about formalizing the acceptance of the project and bringing the project to an orderly end. In the second essential part of this phase, all project related accounts, including expenditures, are closed. If for instance, in future, the organization may require the services of outside contractors that may bring in expertise to resolve matters related to the newly deployed software, a budget may be kept for such unforeseen expenses. In general, however, the current expenses of the project are closed, and necessary arrangements are made for future developments or deployments connected with this project. It may even be sufficient at this point for the organization to realize important sources of credit for further developments, if needed, in the program.

The last part of this ending phase is concerned with post project evaluation. The organization at this point scrutinizes whether it achieved its objectives, if it requires developments in the near-future related to the project just concluded, what the organization learned through this software deployment life cycle, how the organization might be able to manage change better in future, and a variety of other issues that must be touched upon before a complete successful completion of the life cycle occurs. At this part of the phase, a written document may be prepared to outline the areas mentioned above. This conclusive part of the life cycle can be considered as important as the first part because it is through this that further growth in the organization may be easily made. The organization will be required to learn from its lessons, and be expected to do a better job of software deployment in future.