System Development Life Cycle

System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) refers to the structured, iterative, and multi-step process are done using a methodical way. This is used and serves as the foundation or framework of non-technical, and technical processes to provide a high-quality system that will satisfy or more the expectations and decision-making strategy of a particular business.

The SDLC consisted of five stages or phases traditionally, but now, the number of phases increased to seven. The new and additional phases of SDLC will help the analysts of a system for them to have a clear vision to achieve a particular goal.

Every step does its own unique process and highlights their differences. It all have contributions in their own specific ways to clearly and properly develop and improve a system. The approach of the system development life cycle provides and serves as a guide for the analysts in every step that they take. In this way, they can know about the time on when to rework or repeat a particular step to properly improve and develop a system.



What are the seven phases of SDLC?

The seven phases of SDLC are:

Planning

In every process to take, planning is a vital component of it. The planning process illustrates and decides if there is a need or not of a new system in order to achieve the goal of a specific business. This is the starting plan for any specific business for them to know the reason behind their inquiring to resources, in order to build new infrastructures or improvement of their business’ process. The company seeks to achieve the expectations needed. This stage has the purpose of finding the problem’s scope and eventually possible solutions. Some terms that must be considered in this stage are the time, resources, benefits, costs, and so many more.


System Requirements and Analysis

After the process of planning, the next stages is the requirements and analysis of the system. The next stage involves the problem source and the actor solution they need to overcome this. Various ways and solutions are given and eventually undergoes analyzation to gather some ideas for the possible and final solution in order to achieve the goal of a business. The analysis of a system is important in order to provide possible solutions, what tactics needed to achieve the expectations, and the people responsible for doing this.


System’s Design

This stage involves consideration of every part of the system such as the (software, hardware, and structure) for its function properly for the process of achieving improvement and the goal.


Development

This stage involves the real work needed in order to achieve the goal. Network engineers, programmers and other else works together to do the project. This is also considered as the start of production which is vital to finish the project on time. A flowchart is used as a guide for the smooth flow of every process being taken.


Integration and Testing

The fifth stage involves the testing and integration of the project. Quality Analysts do their job to test and check the finished project. Repetition is possible if errors and bugs are seen in it. Validation of the project is also involved in this stage to ensure the capability of the project to help a business in achieving its goals.


Implementation

This stage involves the implementation of the newly developed system into the old system through a cut-over. This stage is considered as the riskiest one especially in time of instalment and implementation.


Operations and Maintenance

The final phase of SDLC is involved in regular updates and maintenance. In this stage, the final user will use and boost the system. Additional features and capabilities can also be done by the end user.

All of these seven phases plays their own unique ways in order to meet the expectations of a business, enabling it to achieve its goals. All of these must be considered and proper application should be done for an excellent outcome. The SDLC give sway to an effective and functional new system that can bring change and development in a particular business and its processes. It is worth to use and provides a quality outcome.

Author Bio: Umar Bajwa is a young business enthusiast and content coordinator at AppModo loves to write about Mobile Apps, Technology, Health, and Life Style & Digital Marketing