Aren't All Methodologies the Same?

The word methodology does not make most people smile - but what we deliver for clients using OptAM often does. Here are the highlights of what we consistently hear from our clients:

• See, touch, react - Nearly all IT consulting methodologies start with requirements definition captured in text documents. This is a painful process for everyone and it is extremely hard for busy business folks to perfectly articulate requirements in terms a software developer requires. Even then, there are numerous ways to implement a requirement and the visual aspect is ignored. Alternatively, interactive agencies focus solely on design and show design mock-ups but do not show how the system will actually function and many key elements fall through the cracks.
  We take a unique approach that jointly optimizes user experience and architectural decisions by capturing requirements in an interactive manner and rapidly creating wireframes and prototypes that show the actual application. Clients can then react to visual representations or even working software to fully experience the system and provide meaningful feedback. It is a much more robust way to create new solutions and results in better solutions done more quickly with less risk.
• No surprises - Because we start with a highly visual approach, frame the complete solution from the beginning and iterate by filling in the visual designs, our clients know exactly what they are getting at every step of the way. This is the best way to ensure alignment during the project and allows for thinking and requirements to evolve as the solution takes shape. This is a natural process that most clients go through but that nearly all methodologies explicitly try to eliminate from the beginning to reduce scope creep and risk.
  In contrast, other approaches leave a large gap between requirements definition and deliver of the actual software. This all but guarantees surprises - the only question is how big they will be.
• Late Changes - Because our approach is iterative, our deisgns are flexible and are architecture is services-based, we are able to accomodate meaningful changes to the requirements much later in the process that alternative methodologies. This enables clients to change their minds and still get their solutions delivered on plan.