What sets Software Development Lifecycle Management apart from Product Development Lifecycle Management? Differences show that they differ from their initial planning stages to the finished product. As tech advances, it's key to manage both processes. It's time to learn more about Development Lifecycle Management!
Software Development Lifecycle Management
Software Development Lifecycle Management (SDLCM) aims to develop software with the highest quality and shortest time. It also includes detailed documentation about developing, extending, and maintaining the software system. So the goal is to cut risks and ensure the software meets customer expectations.
Stages of Software Development Lifecycle Management
SDLCM usually revolves around six main stages.
1. Analysis. Gather stakeholder requirements to analyze the feasibility of creating the product.
2. Design. Elaborate on a plan to take your vision to life, adapting it to the software's structure.
3. Development. Turn specifications and requirements into code to create the product.
4. Testing. Make sure all software functions work correctly.
5. Deployment. Release the software to different niches and audiences.
6. Maintenance. Keeping the software up-to-date and fixing any issues.
Product Development Lifecycle Management
Product Development Lifecycle Management involves managing a product’s entire lifecycle. Its involvement includes product planning, design, development, and more from conception to retirement. To succeed in PDLCM, balancing quality with cost and time constraints is vital. Having a structure when developing products makes them practical and avoids outdating.
Stages of Product Development Lifecycle Management
PDLCM breaks down into four stages: Introduction, Growth, Maturity, and Decline. Yet, the whole process can also fall into the following stages.
1. Ideation. Here, the ideas flow and aim to create a myriad of solutions for a user's problem.
2. Conceptualization. After ideating, you must make your ideas tangible. Of course, this step comes once the team confirms which concepts are worth developing and likely to produce value to the user requirements.
3. Prototyping. With a defined concept, the team prototypes to test design and functions. To meet the user requirements, ensure you have tested and analyzed the product correctly. After this, the team explores the results to make any required changes.
4. Design. The product' design always relies on the previous tests and analyses made by the team. Before starting to mature the final design, dedicate some time to planning how your product development and delivery will happen!
5. Iterate. This process covers making changes to the product based on user feedback gathered in different ways. Although you've made some changes, you must stick to the plan. As a result, development processes must continue as established.
6. The final stage is the Delivery. Now, the product is ready to go public!
Software Lifecycle vs Product Lifecycle
Conclusion
SDLCM and PDLM are vital methods for the quality of software and products. SDLCM focuses on the software development process. Yet, PDLM is for developing physical or digital products. Both approaches have stages to deliver what the customer wants on time and within budget. Choosing between them depends on the product type and the company's vision.
