| How we do |
Overview
The 5th Dimension is American Unit’s engagement
management and product development framework to ensure
project fruition. The purpose of the 5th Dimension framework
is to define and cover a series of activities and considerations
that assist in completing Development Lifecycle, from
Problem Recognition through Solution Deployment. This
framework is designed to fully utilize the available resources
of American Unit to produce a system that is fundamentally
sound and technologically appropriate resulting in predictable
outputs. |
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We have developed a methodology, which provides the structure
and flexibility needed to successfully manage projects to assure engagements are completed on-time, on-budget
and to the client’s complete satisfaction
The first Dimension of the methodology is our Discover phase.
Project goals and objectives are defined and requirements are
gathered and clarified. Design, our second phase, allows us
to analyze the requirements and begin to design the solution
to a business problem. In our third phase, Develop, application
or infrastructure development occurs and testing takes place.
At the conclusion of testing, we Deploy our solution and begin
to transfer knowledge to the support resources as required.
Lastly, Debrief provides us the ability to measure our performance
and determine if we have achieved all of the stated goals and
objectives. |
| DIMENSION 1: - Discover Phase |
The fact finding and scope-defining
phase
The Discover phase sets the framework for the remainder of the
project and helps clients examine how their business could change
through the use of technology. It performs a rapid, yet comprehensive,
Inquiry to document all the changes, issues, processes and stakeholders
involved with to the client’s process, organization and
marketing.
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| American Unit spends time focusing on things such as your
brand strategy, understanding business processes, surveying
your various application platforms, and many, many other areas.
This phase aids us in developing sound strategies and tactics
to take into the design phase. |
| DIMENSION 2: - Design Phase |
The product conceptualization
phase
The Design phase ensures that no surprise occur and a thorough
understanding of the initial requirements and what needs to
be done to meet the customer’s needs (business and technical)
and creating a set of deliverables that help stakeholder's experience
the proposed solution |
| This affords American Unit a thorough understanding of the
client's objectives, project parameters (creative, marketing
and technological considerations) and success criteria. |
| In this stage, the logical design of the system is converted
into a physical design. The requirements for what the system
will do are transformed into a system architecture and detailed
design which stipulates how the system will deliver client’s
requirements. |
| Once we have approved the elements in the design phase, we
proceed to develop our plans. |
| DIMENSION 3: - Develop Phase |
The build phase
The Develop phase builds on both the Discover and Design phases. |
| The develop phase is where we begin to see the fruits of our
labors. Once the designs have been approved, all elements must
proceed though the steps to get them to a point where we can
execute our plans. |
The Develop phase is where we actually write and test the
software code
During the Develop phase the system architecture, programs,
and databases are designed, constructed and tested. These specifications
are used as blueprints for the development team to produce project
deliverables. Completing the process is a full end-to-end system
test that helps ensure zero defects throughout.
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| DIMENSION 4: - Deploy Phase |
User activation phase
The Deploy phase is critical to the success of a project. The
Deploy phase actually delivers, and rolls out the implementation
of the complete application. |
| DIMENSION 5: - Debrief Phase |
Measuring success
The Debrief phase ascertains that the necessary deliverables
and milestones have been met and that our client has the resources
needed to support the system we have built. We evaluate and
measure functionality and performance identified in the original
solution proposal. Key measurement criteria and user surveys
may be used to evaluate the project success and identify additional
functionality required. |
