PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
WORLD IS IN CONSTANT CHANGE
We are witnessing the early, turbulent days of revolution as significant as any
other in human history. A new medium of human communication is emerging -- one that
may surpass the printing press, telephone and television in its impact on our economic
and social lives. Interactive multimedia and the information highway are creating
a new economy based on the networking of human intelligence, modernization and evolution
of products and services.
Global Markets & Trends:
- Intercultural Management
- Smart Consuming & Discount Lifestyle
- Individualization of Products and Prices
- Speed Economy Flexibility (Organization, Pricing, etc.)
- Support-Economy (Total Care & Convenience)
- Digital Shopping Rituals - Softening Borders between Consumer and Provider
Digital Economy Opportunities:
New Revenue Streams
- Distribution Models (Peer to Peer)
- Rights Management
- License Management (Open Source)
- Payment Mechanisms ( E-Cash, Micropayments)
- eTraining & eEducation
- Digital Articles & eBooks
- Files, Music, Movies
- Digital Art & Podcasts
- Software & Encryption Schemes
Cost Reduction
- Cost Savings/ Cost Avoidance
- Customer Service – Moving the Point of Service
- Rationalizing value chains via company cooperation
Whether your Product Development consists of a new product initiative, feature upgrade,
or quick site update, Xenatus undergoes a four phase approach of product development:
plan, build, stabilize, and maintain. Of course, each product initiative is different
and the phase details are quite intricate as defined in the Xenatus Approach.
Plan
The plan phase ends with the complete development of the product specification,
along with the comprehensive project schedule. The plan phase also includes the
development of the vision statement – which is a concise definition of the product’s
overall goals. It also includes the business plan, which includes estimations of
costs, timelines, projected revenue, and project resources. The plan phase also
includes a full technical assessment and evaluation, in which major technical issues
are addressed.
Build
The build phase ends with a product ready for integration testing. This phase includes
all project development and individual unit testing, along with infrastructure buildout.
Stabilize
The stabilize phase ends with the product deployed to the full customer
base. The stabilize phase consists of all product testing (functionality, performance,
usability) and all bugs addressed to the satisfaction of the Quality team. The stabilize
phase also includes ensuring that the product meets approval of business planning
and compliance groups. Third, the stabilize phase includes proper training of customer
service personnel. Fourth, the stabilize phase includes the development and test
of all systems management operations, including monitoring mechanisms and the training
of all technical support personnel.
Maintain
The maintain phase represents the ongoing enhancement of the site. This includes
the planning and development of new features and quick-hit updates. It also includes
incorporating feedback from production operations and customer service groups to
ensure proper site maintenance and support.
At every stage of the Product Development lifecycle there are checkpoints and criteria
to measure progress.
