SIERRA with the perfect blend of technology expertise, mature process approaches, advanced tools, and effective knowledge management supports the entire cycle of software application development.

Technology Spectrum

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Process Approach

Step 1: Gather and Analyze the Business Requirements

SIERRA Project Managers / Business Analysts / Domain Experts will setup meetings with the functional users / IT executives of our clients for gathering and analyzing the business needs and objectives. They will define the project scope and create the complete system requirement specification document that is subject to approval by the client. The system requirement specification document (SRS) would cover the Project Scope , User / Functional Requirements, Interfaces, Reports, and Data Structures, and Detailed Functionalities of each proposed screen.

Step 2: Develop the Solution

SIERRA develops the application truly based on the System Requirement Specification Document by using the best and feasible technical architecture/methods ensuring the effective usability of the Application while adhering to the timeline. The project status is updated frequently and deliveries are made in phases and thereby making the development cycle very transparent.

Step 3: Test and Implement

The project is tested with live data in phases and the interfaces, validations, and data storage/retrieval are tested and certified. Load testing and fine-tuning are performed and then the system is made ready for launch. SIERRA’s Support Services Group supports the implementation process by supporting the Installation process and training the users.

Step 4: Enhance the Solution

Business needs change, user requirements change and the technologies also change and so SIERRA takes frequent feedbacks from the users/business representatives, updates the clients with the technological improvements, and suggests enhancements to the system. This ensures the competitive business advantage of the client and helps in evolving paradigm solutions.

Tools

  • Project Management

    SIERRA has built its own Project Management tool that is comprehensive in addressing the specific requirements to manage software projects more effectively and efficiently. This tool includes features for defining projects and users, tasks definition and allocations, timesheets management, project tracking, Gantt charts with MS Project interface, secured document management, backup management, bug–tracking, escalations and reminders on deviations and provides MIS reports and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for clients making the whole process very transparent and up–to–date.

  • Software Version Control

    Any organization today places a great deal of dependencies on its business software implemented by them since the applications may support their business end–to–end. SIERRA realizes the importance of software version control which will ensure that any changes executed periodically would seamlessly be implemented. The collaborative development and offshore/onsite models require the greatest attention to version control and the same is achieved in SIERRA using version control software like CVS and Microsoft Visual Source Safe.

  • Testing Tools

    SIERRA uses various third-party testing tools based on technology and project requirements.

  • Bug Tracking

    SIERRA uses Bugzilla, an open-source application for tracking bugs, and the same is exposed to customers for a transparent view. SIERRA’s custom-built Project Management tool also has a bug–tracking features and has more features like KPI reporting.

  • Change Request Management

    SIERRA has developed its own Change Request Management System (CRMS) which is made available online for customers to log in and post their change requests for their business applications. The CRMS software supports a workflow for approval of change requests at the client-side and the same is then passed on to the SIERRA support team for processing. This system covers the development, testing, and release of the changes at the SIERRA end also.

Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management (KM) at SIERRA is treated with utmost importance as KM caters to any organization’s competence in terms of technical and domain expertise that is quickly shared to all its employees with very little lead time and aids better performance and provides the best value for its clients.

The Knowledge is stored into the central repository that is accessible by the employees and is a tool for conducting training. The repository uses content management for posting and retrieval of searchable and sortable categorized content.

The following is stored in SIERRA’s knowledge repository,
  • Best Practices

  • Reusable Codes & Components

  • Write-ups and samples of third party tools and components

  • Technical articles written by employees

  • Technical Articles copied from online resources

  • Useful online links