Our Process for Developing Customized Business Software


The Initial Discussion

Identifying the Data Entities

Identifying the Relationships

Creating the Entity-Relationship Model

Identifying the Screens and Reports

Estimating the Time and Cost

Building the Software

Installing the Software





The Initial Discussion


Before you commission us to develop your new computer system we'd like to meet with you and discuss the information you'd like to see in your new system. This gives us the opportunity to become acquainted and allows you to decide whether or not to engage us as your software professionals.




Identifying the Data Entities


From our initial discussion we'll create a list of the basic data entities in your business that you want to record information about. Once we've compiled this list we'll meet with you again to go over it together. The purpose of this second meeting is to ensure we've covered everything and that we're using terminology we both understand.




Identifying the Relationships


Once we've agreed on the terminology the next step is to identify the relationships that exist between the various data entities in your business. This part of the process consists of a series of detailed questions designed to ensure we've correctly understood your business processes. In particular we need to be confident we've fully grasped the complexity of these relationships.




Creating the Entity-Relationship Model


Having identified the data entities and the various relationships between them we'll create an entity-relationship model for your business. This model is expressed in the form of an entity-relationship diagram. This diagram becomes the fundamental blueprint on which your computer system will be built.




Identifying the Screens and Reports


Only when the entity-relationship model has been completed are we in a position to identify the data entry screens and reports needed by your system.




Estimating the Time and Cost


This list of screens and reports combined with our significant development experience allow us to accurately estimate the total work required. The cost of developing your new system is based on the total time at our standard hourly rate.




Building the Software


We prefer to build and implement software in small steps rather than as one large project. At each step you get to use the software and provide us with the feedback we need to stay on target. This approach eliminates the risk of an expensive failure and guarantees an end result that provides you with complete satisfaction.


Our role is to help you build your own software with the benefit of our experience to ensure your success!




Installing the Software


The software we build can be installed from either a CD or a website.