Episode 9: How involved should clients be

15 Oct 2014

In this episode, we discuss how involved clients should be in their software development projects as they go through the phases. We introduce the terms �project owner� and �stakeholder�, talk a little bit about their roles throughout the project, and explore how these roles change as a project progresses. This episode is brought to you by the letter "A", with the corresponding buzzword "Agile".

Agile

Agile is not just a single process, but a way of managing projects and processes. Often, it needs to be tailored to the specific project and client, as some prefer more frequent communication or want to be more involved, while some prefer simple status updates.

Project Owner

The "project owner" or "product owner" is the person within the client's organization who is responsible for the overall success of the project. This person has both the authority/influence and the contacts necessary to facilitate all necessary communication between vendor and client.

Stakeholder

The "stakeholders" include anyone who has a vested interest in the success of the project. Examples include users, maintainers, developers, and anyone for whom the success or failure of the project may have an economic impact. The stakeholders do not have final say, but should be used as resources in gathering requirements and in gauging usability.

Main Project Phases

Sales
Discovery
Development
Acceptance testing (commonly just called �testing�)
Deployment
Maintenance/Support