An Entrepreneur Guide to Creating Apps

An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating Apps

Presented by

www.spotlightppm.com

Vincent Serpico Founder / CEO, Spotlight Software 15+ years building software from developer to VP Product Development to entrepreneur

Seth Weedin Director of Marketing, Spotlight Software Start-up and small business marketing professional


FACT!

50% -90% of software development projects FAIL!


FACT!

Your project can succeed with a bit of planning

and an organized process of communication and accountability


Who’s going to develop your software?

• Make sure to get this right. • Developers are NOT commodities. • Build a team that will last. • It can take a new developer 3 – 9 months to ramp up on an existing app. • Choose wisely.


Hire a Virtual Developer Online

• Thousands of developers online at Elance, oDesk, much more

• Much better chance to find the right talent you need

• May locate developers at a very

favorable rate


How to Hire a Developer

• Communicate your goals • Describe what, not how

• Require a programming test

• Write and deliver an actual short program

• Will demonstrate his ambition, talent and communication skills


Planning: It’s just common sense

• Would you build a house without a blueprint?

• Would you drive in a new city without directions or a map?

• Then WHY would you build software without a clear plan??


Planning: Wire-Frames & Use Cases

• Thinking your software through will save time and money

• Provides everyone a clear vision

• Wire-frames graphically depict each and every screen of your software, including the flow (UI)

• Use cases textually describe the human interaction (UX)


Planning: Sprints, Stories and Tasks

Sprints are predetermined timeframes to accomplish 1 or more “Stories”

Stories describe a feature of your software, like ‘User Registration’

Tasks are the actual programming tasks assigned to developers to complete a story

Plan your Sprints and Stories in advance so that you have a good idea of the

length of your project, and every knows what coming down the pike


Executing

Keep everyone on the team communicating and accountable

1. Daily meetings (“scrums” or “stand-ups”)

2. Regular status updates

3. Daily progress reports


Executing: Daily 15-Minute Meetings

Each team members answers 3 questions:

1. What did I accomplish yesterday? 2. What will I accomplish today? 3. Are there any obstacles blocking my goals?

• Daily team meeting (“scrum” / “stand-up”) (Everyone on the team)

• 15-minutes (no longer)

• High-Level (detailed meetings should be another time)


Executing: Regular Status Updates

Status Updates should include:

1. What are you working on? 2. How’s your progress, and are there any issues? 3. Your availability (when you are online, offline, away, etc.)

• Email (or other means of communication) sent to all 3-5 times per day

• Keeps everyone up-to-date on what everyone else is doing

• Most importantly, keeps everyone talking to each other!


Executing: Daily Progress Reports

Daily Progress Report should include:

1. What did you accomplish today? 2. What will you accomplish tomorrow? 3. Any issues?

• Sent by every team member at end of each day to team member’s direct superior

• Great way to prepare for

the next day!


The Lean + Agile Cycle

Execute planned sprint using daily meetings, status updates, and daily progress reports

Review the results of the sprint

Plan the next sprint, and adjust course if necessary

Deliver your software!


An Entrepreneur Guide to Creating Apps

Technology

Transcript of An Entrepreneur Guide to Creating Apps