System Development Life Cycle

TranTech uses a recursive, standards-based, documented and repeatable System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology, in which a change from one phase to the next requires achievement of specified milestones. The methodology comprises activities that are essential to any systems change process, whether the system in question is composed of hardware and software or inputs, outputs, and activities of a business process. The methodology is applied using a joint management approach—the project team comprises TranTech staff and customer representatives, and each process and decision is shared.

Implementation of the methodology uses online communications to create a shared information environment that contains all information as it is gathered or developed, including the project schedule and assignments. Each member of the project team is able to see documentation, post reports, ask and answer questions, update schedules, access related information resources, etc., all within the same environment. This approach is particularly useful in evaluation, decision making, documentation development, and other processes in which substantial information must be accessed and digested, multiple inputs are anticipated, reports must be made available, or use of time outside regular business hours would be advantageous. Additionally, in the production phase, this sort of information access can be useful in recording problems and user requests, keeping track of best practices, providing users with status updates, and other information recording or sharing activities.

TranTech's SDLC identifies milestones in the life-cycle process that require specific standards of performance, documentation and tracking within TranTech's corporate processes, but output may be tailored to a customer's preferred SDLC methodology. The methodology, as a process, is designed to facilitate efficiency and effectiveness by establishing standards for and guiding the process of decision-making. These standards are established through a formal documentation process and they are applied through a formal agreement process. The methodology may be used with any standard development model, but is particularly well suited to spiral development.