Managing application development

09.30 Project Risk Management

Managing the risks to a project is increasingly recognised as basic practice by methods such as PRINCE. However, these methods are typically sketchy on the detail. Just how do you keep the various stakeholders engaged, their interests suitably balanced to achieve both business benefit and delivery, in the optimum timescale? This presentation will look at some proven techniques to manage project risk and will identify some other sources of support for project risk managers.

10.00 Defining Business Requirements and Functional Specifications

This session looks at how to plan and manage a programme which has no time for a testing phase; a frequent, if not usually planned, scenario. Starting with the early lifecycle activities of business requirement and functional specification, we will present a framework for effective testing which, once established, will benefit all stages of the programme.

11.00 Why Does Information Security Matter in the Application Development Process?

It is essential to have information security involved at the initial design process in order to guarantee the availability of the application. Peter Harris will take you through the benefits of embedding security in the design process instead of bolting it on at the end.

11.30 Case Study: Issues in Application Development Avoiding the Common Pitfalls

Post Office Limited has, working with its suppliers, introduced a succession of new applications to time, cost and quality. Not all has been “plain sailing” along the way and a number of lessons have been learned. This session explores a number of practices that are believed to give projects involving new application development the maximum chance of success.

13.00 Legal & Compliance Requirements in Software Development

Accurate, up-to-date information is every organisation’s greatest asset. Applications are the principal method that organisations choose to manage their employee, customer and supplier information. This presentation will give you an insight in to the typical controls that must be considered and embedded into the application at the outset, as well as the change control processes required to ensure a cost-effective, legally compliant application reducing the hundreds, if not thousands of management hours spent later to resolve compliance issues with employees, customers, suppliers and the courts.

13.30 Development Lifecycle: Risk Based Test Management

There is a choice between planning to test everything (and let your project down because you surely will not test every permutation and combination) or test everything that matters. Risk based testing is about choosing what to test and deciding how thoroughly to test it. We’ll demonstrate how to implement quick and simple techniques that help you select what to test and manage your testing activities, prioritising by risk.

14.30 Application Availability Testing

In a competitive environment, availability and security are core business issues. Typically, within businesses going through change, there is little understanding of the risk they are taking with the availability of their services. Often the obvious aspects are considered, but few evaluate or even test the full spectrum of availability and security risks, which could affect uninterrupted continuation of their services.

15.00 Post Development: End of the Beginning

The solution has been developed, put through testing and the development team are off to the pub for a celebration. But this is just the end of the beginning. Operational testing is often seen as another team’s problem, or just chucking it over the fence and making sure it installs on to the server. We will show how to reduce the risk of failure in operation and how to make sure that operational issues do not negate the benefits of your expensive development.

15.30 Panel: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Application Development, But Were Afraid to Ask

An opportunity for you to ask the panel of experts any questions you wish about application development and security.

Seminar: Application development management