Project management is a balancing act of assigning the right tasks to the right people as well as getting things done and meeting deadlines. Mobile projects can be even more difficult if not executed correctly and businesses, naturally, expect a return on all the investment and time put into new ventures. However, it’s very easy for things to derail.
Enterprise Mobility projects are a completely different ballgame. A mobile app project simply involves transforming an idea of an application into a tangible software development whereas an enterprise mobility project involves solving a particular business need or improving a specific business process to keep up with the latest in tech.
Even the most responsive and organized companies will see difficulties along the way on the road to mobile empowerment. You have determined your business goals that align with mobility, you have figured out a mobile strategy to get you going and you have decided what platform to work with to initiate mobile enablement. Now, it’s time to pool your resources, establish a budget and set up a comprehensive team to get things started.
The team needs to involve a certain number of professionals that will see the project through to completion and then keep on top of any updates, if need be. When getting your team together, keep in mind who is who and who does what. Clearly defined roles are key for your enterprise mobility project to complete without any hiccups:
1. Project Manager:
Of course, what is a project without its team lead? The project manager. You may not believe in keeping one, but a project manager is essential to oversee the mission and keep in check other team members and their individual tasks.
But that’s not all they do.
Project managers handle the communication between your business and the company you’re working with to manage the needs and expectations at both ends. They not only create an effective relationship with the team but are also responsible for devising, supervising and administrate the project’s progress.
Project managers also ensure that the mobile project remains within the constraints of the budget set by the company and that the project adheres to quality expectations. By acting as a negotiator and facilitator, the Project Lead will mitigate risks and tackle issues as they come.
2. Requirements / Business Analyst:
A requirements or a business analyst works with project stakeholders to elaborate on the project proposal and assure what is wanted by the organization is visibly documented and comprehended.
Analysts will effectively identify needs such as changes, measuring the influence of the changes made, and making sure that those requirements are carried out by the IT department. A business analyst will also reinforce the business throughout the implementation procedure and tackle challenges within a brief timescale in order to meet stakeholder needs.
3. Design Architect:
The Design Architect has quite a bit of responsibility. They are the impelling force that are behind the interpretation of the product or service. An Architect will take the notes and documents made by the analyst and convert the information into different forms of representations – from a graphic model to a presentation.
Sometimes, a Design Architect can also act as a project manager since they can advise the team with the designing and the development system, including assigning tasks such as artwork/graphics and the kind of coding needed. User experience, interface and aesthetics are the Design Architect’s forte. Ensuring the client’s vision is translated accurately is part of their job description.
4. Development Lead:
Of course, the real work doesn’t get started until the Development Lead is involved. Getting to the nitty gritty of coding and programming, the Development lead will ensure that what has been designed and planned is turned into a tangible product for the client.
The Dev. Lead provides the appropriate development tools and packages to the developers since he/she is in charge of the code being used. Controlling code quality, managing code reviews, creating the preliminary framework to develop the solution, and ensuring the developers receive mentorship if need be is all very much a part of being the Development Lead. Transforming your idea into a concrete product or service is the sole purpose of a Dev. Lead.
5. Quality Assurance Lead:
The Quality Assurance lead is responsible for the testing of the product and to see whether or not the product lives up to the standards and expectations of the client. From ensuring that what has been developed is effective and carries out the purpose it’s meant to, the QA Engineer will give the final green light for the product.
Test plans, reporting test cases, ensuring quality and improvements, and giving updates to the Project Manager in a timely manner are just some of the tasks involved in a QA’s day to day responsibilities. Along with having knowledge of the product being developed (since they work closely with the Development Lead), the QA Engineer ensures quality every step of the way.
6. Change Coordinator:
There is always a chance of having a change in the scope of work as the development project takes off. A Change Coordinator analyzes the impact of the suggested changes on the overall project and effectively communicates them to the client before the changes get incorporated. They review the changes and produce the essential change metrics.
The Change Coordinator is a monitor who regulates the work and ensures processes are recorded throughout in order to quickly resolve any conflicts and make the required adjustments. Controlling and managing change can get difficult, but a Change Coordinator can make the project a lot faster and smoother.
These are some of the roles we believe are essential to delivering a successful enterprise mobility project. Along with the team-leads is a group of hardworking individuals, be they developers, designers, QA testers or project coordinators. The combined effort of each one of these individuals gives you the final product – something that began as a small idea, or an outdated business process and is now a tangible, concrete service or application, offering a solution to one or more of your business’s needs.