Project Management: Software Development Tools and Techniques + 5 Steps to Implement the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)

By: Hajime Estanislao, PMP, CSM; Editor: Geram Lompon; Reviewed by: Dr. Michael J. Shick, MSPM, PMP, CSM

Whether you are a seasoned project manager or just starting, the dynamics of managing software development projects can be complex.

Picture this: having a structured approach that guides your team through the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and integrates seamlessly with project management tools and techniques. This blend can help you navigate changing requirements, tight deadlines, and resource constraints, ensuring your projects run smoothly and deliver the expected value.

What if you could transform your project management and software development process to anticipate risks, promote collaboration, and adapt to change? Integrating project management and software development will enhance efficiency, improve quality, and lead your team to success, even in the most challenging development projects.

It is time to take your PM and SDLC skills to the next level. Read this guide on software development & project management and learn how to implement various principles, tools, and techniques. Discover how to make your projects more flexible and adaptive!

What is Software Development?

Software Development is designing, creating, testing, and maintaining software applications or systems. It includes a series of carefully planned and organized activities that turn user needs and software requirements into a working product.

The software development life cycle typically includes phases such as planning, designing, coding, testing, and deployment. Whether developing custom applications, enhancing existing systems, or integrating new technologies, software development is essential for building solutions that meet specific user needs and drive business objectives.

Why Project Management is Important for Software Development Opportunities?

Managing software development projects involves using skills, knowledge, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, and oversee the development process. The goal is to ensure that software projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet quality standards.

Effective project management plays a role in risk management. Software development projects face challenges such as changing requirements, technology shifts, or resource constraints.

Project managers reduce the chances of project delays or failures by finding and dealing with risks early on. They also help stakeholders like developers, clients, and end-users communicate and work together. This is important for reaching the project’s goals and making sure the final product meets customer needs.

Furthermore, project management ensures that software development efforts are aligned with business objectives. Software project managers achieve this by closely managing the scope, timelines, and resources to ensure the final product meets the technical requirements and supports the broader strategic goals of the business.

Reasons You Need to Know the Relationship between Project Management and Software Development

Understanding the connection between software project management tools and software development is foundational for ensuring projects run smoothly, achieve their goals, and provide real value to the business.

By integrating project management with development practices, teams are better equipped to handle the demands of modern software projects, adapt to shifting requirements, and consistently deliver high-quality products on time and within budget.

Efficient Resource Management – Aligning project management with software development helps optimize resource use.
Improved Risk Mitigation – Understanding software development techniques allows project managers to anticipate issues and implement strategies to mitigate risks before they become critical.
Enhanced Communication – Knowledge of software development practices improves communication between project managers and technical teams, promoting better collaboration and problem-solving.
Better Quality Control – Integrating software development methodologies with project management ensures that quality checks are consistently applied throughout the development process, which leads to a more reliable final product.

The Software Development Lifecycle

It is a framework for developing software, with steps ranging from planning to deployment, continuous monitoring, and product refinement. These steps mirror project management and ensure the product meets the definition of done (DoD) and contributes to the business objectives after the launch.

1. Planning and Requirements Gathering

The first step in project management and the SDLC is planning and gathering requirements. This phase involves defining the scope, objectives, and deliverables. Project managers work closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and document detailed software requirements.

This step can be executed using tools like Microsoft Project or JIRA for task management and requirements documentation. Effective stakeholder communication ensures the software project manager starts on a solid foundation.

Tools and Techniques:

JIRA/Confluence: Tool for gathering requirements, creating user stories, and tracking tasks.
Microsoft Project/Asana: For project planning, task management, and scheduling.
Lucidchart/Miro: For visual workflows, diagrams, and mind maps to outline project scope and objectives.
Stakeholder Analysis: Identifying and understanding the needs of all stakeholders.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Breaking the project into smaller, manageable tasks.
Risk Assessment: Identifying potential risks and developing mitigation strategies.

2. System Design

After the requirements are defined, the next activity is system design. This phase creates the software architecture, databases, user interfaces, and system structure. Project managers collaborate with the design and development teams to ensure alignment with the project goals.

Tools like UML diagrams or Figma can be used to visualize and plan the system’s architecture. Before moving forward to the implementation phase, reviewing and approving the design as a team is essential.

Tools and Techniques:

UML (Unified Modeling Language) Tools for creating system design diagrams (e.g., Lucidchart, Draw.io).
Figma: For UI/UX design and wireframing.
Trello: For managing design tasks and collaborating with the development team.
Prototyping: Developing early models of the software to visualize design and gather feedback.
Architecture Review: Regular reviews of the system design to ensure alignment with requirements and goals.
Design Thinking: Focusing on user-centric design to meet end-user needs effectively.

3. Implementation (Coding)

The implementation phase involves the actual coding of the software. Developers start building the software based on the design specifications. Project managers should monitor progress closely to ensure the coding adheres to the planned timeline and budget.

It’s important to leverage version control systems and continuous integration tools, which support making your development process more efficient and effective. Systems such as Git and Jenkins. Additionally, regular check-ins with project management and the development team are relevant to address any issues promptly.

Tools and Techniques:

Git: For version control and collaborative coding.
Jenkins: For continuous integration and automated builds.
Visual Studio Code: For coding and development in integrated development environments (IDEs).
Agile/Scrum: Using sprints, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives to manage the development process.
Code Reviews/Pair Programming: Ensuring code quality through peer review and collaborative coding sessions.
Continuous Integration: Frequently integrating code changes into a shared repository to detect and fix issues early.

4. Testing

After coding, the software will undergo testing to identify and fix bugs or issues. This phase ensures that the software functions as intended and meets the quality standards and user needs defined before the start of the sprint.

Project managers oversee the testing process in collaboration with stakeholders and coordinate with quality assurance teams to execute unit, integration, and user acceptance tests (UAT). Tools like Selenium or TestRail automate and manage testing activities. Thorough testing before deployment prevents costly errors post-launch.

Tools and Techniques:

Selenium: a tool for automated testing of web and mobile applications.
TestRail is used to manage test cases, track defects, and report.
Postman is for API testing and validation.
Test-Driven Development (TDD): Write tests before coding to ensure each function meets the required specifications.
Automated Testing: Using scripts to automate repetitive test cases, ensuring faster and more reliable testing.
Regression Testing: Continuous testing to ensure that new changes do not introduce new bugs.

5. Deployment and Maintenance

The final step involves deploying the software to the production environment and providing ongoing maintenance. Deployment includes setting up the necessary infrastructure, releasing the software, and ensuring it is fully operational.

However, software development management does not end. Maintenance is an ongoing activity where the software is updated, enhanced, and supported to meet evolving user needs.

Project managers should implement monitoring tools to track software performance and manage any issues that arise after deployment. This phase ensures the software continues to deliver value over time.

Tools and Techniques:

Docker is for containerization and managing deployment environments.
Jenkins is used to automate deployment processes and configuration management.
AWS/GCP/Azure is for cloud deployment and infrastructure management.
New Relic is used to monitor the application’s performance and production health.
JIRA is used to track bugs, issues, and requests for enhancements.
Slack is for team communication and collaboration on ongoing support and maintenance tasks.
Continuous Deployment: Automating the release process to push updates to production constantly.
Blue-Green Deployment: Running two production environments to ensure zero downtime during deployment.
Rollback Planning: Preparing for and executing a rollback if the deployment causes issues.
Incident Management: A structured approach to identifying, analyzing, and resolving production issues.
Change Management: Managing changes to the system in a controlled manner to minimize disruption.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing processes and performance to implement incremental improvements.

Considerations For Successfully Integrating Project Management and Software Development Concepts

Integrating project management and software development concepts requires an understanding of both disciplines and the ability to align them effectively. One insight is the importance of flexibility.

While the SDLC provides a structured approach, project managers must remain adaptable to changing requirements and unforeseen challenges. Agile project management methodologies offer a way to incorporate flexibility into the SDLC so teams can iterate quickly and respond to new information.

Another consideration is the continuous involvement of stakeholders throughout the SDLC. Regular communication and feedback loops ensure the project remains aligned with business goals and user needs.

Tools and techniques that facilitate collaboration and stakeholder management, such as regular stand-ups, sprint reviews, and stakeholder meetings, are essential for maintaining this alignment.

Remember to focus on continuous improvement when integrating project management and software development concepts. After deployment, it’s crucial to analyze successes and failures in order to learn from them. These insights can then be used to improve future projects, promoting continuous learning and refinement that benefits the software development lifecycle and project management practices.

Taking it to the Next Level: Lean-Agile

Taking project management and your software development team to the next level involves embracing Lean-Agile principles. These principles combine the efficiency of Lean with the flexibility of Agile. Lean-Agile approaches emphasize delivering value to customers quickly by eliminating waste, optimizing processes, and continuous improvement.

By integrating Lean-Agile concepts, teams can enhance their ability to respond to change, streamline workflows, and maximize efficiency throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

In Lean Agile, the focus is on creating a smooth flow of work to reduce delays and bottlenecks. Techniques like Kanban boards help teams see the workflow so they can find and fix problems in real-time. This speeds up development and improves quality by completing tasks thoroughly before moving on to the next stage.

Additionally, Lean Agile encourages a focus on customer feedback and iterative development. By frequently delivering small, incremental improvements, software development teams can gather insights directly from users and make necessary adjustments quickly.

This feedback loop helps make sure the final product closely meets customer needs and provides the most value possible. Adopting Lean-Agile principles is a powerful way to improve project management and software development practices, going beyond traditional methods to achieve greater agility, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Final Thoughts & Project Flexibility

Remember: Successfully blending project management and software development is crucial for delivering top-quality software that meets business goals and user needs. Following a structured approach like the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and using best practices from agile and traditional project management disciplines, project managers and teams can effectively manage resources, reduce risks, and ensure timely delivery.

Being adaptable is essential for project success and innovation. Embracing methodologies like Lean-Agile, which prioritizes flexibility, continuous improvement, and a customer-centric approach, allows teams to address challenges and deliver valuable solutions. Adaptability enhances project outcomes and positions your team to flourish in different project and business scenarios.

References

Blake, J. (2004). Project managing the SDLC: using milestones to align project management and system development lifecycles and report project success. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2004 – North America, Anaheim, CA. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

Karunaratne, C. (2018). Hands-On: What IT Project Managers Need To Know about the Software Development Life Cycle. PM Network, 32(11), 26.

Landau, P. (2022, March). SDLC – The software development life cycle. ProjectManager. https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/sdlc-the-software-development-life-cycle