Phases Of Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model
The reason enterprises are resorting to the RAD model are diverse. Accelerated delivery and higher quality of apps are the obvious benefits of integrating the RAD model into a company’s software development strategy. Not least among them is the ability to modify and upgrade apps in days or weeks and to approach software development general with more clarity, security, and simplicity.
The RAD model owes it success to compartmentalizing the app development process into a number of steps. Each rapid application development phase focuses on a singular aspect of the app and then repeats it as often as necessary to meet deadlines and standards.
A diagram of the HokuApps’ RAD model:
Requirements Planning
The first phase of the RAD model requires developers to get a sense of the following things: the overall business strategy of the organization, issues or shortfalls (technology and business), that may arise on account of the existing infrastructure and business processes that the app intends to execute and support.
This rapid application development phase usually consists of extended meetings between business leaders and IT executives to get a sense of the business logic and technologies being used. The intent is to decide upon the eventual objectives of the development project in general. This helps to define the particulars of the app and the strategy itself.
This is followed by Joint Requirements Planning (JRP) workshops with business executives, potential end users and IT teams in order to outline a schedule and frame a decisive strategy. This begins with researching the state of the industry and the software environment the company is able to use to build the app. Those operating the RAD model become familiar with existing systems, studying data available in any CASE repositories and exploring similar but alternate systems for any reusable components or structures that contribute to Rapid Application Development.
The scope of the project and how integrating with a mobile app will progress, are also charted. The business processes and data that the RAD model can support is finalized, and management issues that may arise after deployment are also conceptualized. This rapid application development phase ends with documenting the scope of the project, the cost, and duration of operations. Once approved, the RAD model can proceed to the next phase.
User Design
The second rapid application development phase focuses on related business activities. This also means analyzing data related to the project, developing a structure that combines automated and manual functionalities, creating screen layouts for the automated side of things, and choosing a developmental procedure that makes sense for the particular scenario. A work plan to implement the above is also formulated at this stage.
The RAD model uses Joint Application Design workshops for analysis and design related tasks. It begins by analyzing business processes and data related to the project in detail, to create a comprehensive system area model. This adjusts timelines and responsibilities.
This is followed by the development of an outline system design which establishes interactions between procedures and data. It essentially determines the required functions, reusable software components that can be incorporated, design layouts, and reporting capabilities that can be supported by the system.
This phase also requires the RAD model to refine the system design previously conceptualized. Interaction analysis and prototyping help to test and confirm the integrity of processes, and adjustments to the plan is made in accordance with test results.
The second rapid application development phase ends with drawing an implementation plan of processes previously contrived. Often parallel development and time box development approaches are adopted to accelerate delivery. The designs are finalized and approval is gained to put operations in motion.
Rapid Prototype Development
The third phase of the RAD model involves development and testing of software, to begin with, the actual app development. It is aimed at spawning a system that delivers optimal performance. The intent is also to create documentation that enables access to and operation of the proposed application.
This rapid application development phase finished the system design that was initiated in the previous phase. It finalizes the necessary environment for executions, including the placement and creation of workspaces and stations with CASE software for the use of developers. Each rapid application model function is described in detail in accordance with the need of potential users. That software needed to automate certain functions is also fashioned and tested.
The relevant test data verifying the functional capabilities of the system is generated for use during integration, system, and acceptance tests. In addition, the documentation guiding the usage of the system is also produced during this stage.
This rapid application development stage encompasses activities necessary for transition of the application to the production status. A work plan for the transition must be constructed along with necessary software to initiate and complete it. Transition methodology is decided, user planning, and training materials are generated. Organizational issues that may emerge from launching the new application are predicted and studied for resolution.
Transition
The final phase of the RAD model is concerned with the following: installing the aforementioned system in the production mechanism with minimal disruption and zero downtime of daily business activities, working to magnify system effectiveness in augmenting the mentioned business activities, and determining possible improvements for future.
This rapid application development phase puts into action the methods and systems configured in the previous stages. At this point, developers modify existing data to align with the new system and offer necessary training for relevant personnel who intend to work on it. Users must be trained to operate the system before the application goes into production.
The data necessary for running the new system is converted into an acceptable format, and the technology necessary for forwarding it into a production environment is initiated. This stage may require changes to hardware and software configurations as well the instructions for working the production element of things.
Finally, this rapid application development phase ends if the new system is successfully installed and operated, which is judged by the quality of its performance within the previously agreed deadline. To determine the success of the rapid application model, feedback must be received from users, production and operational staff and the information management authorities.
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