THE MDI WEB DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

MDI Business Solutions can handle every step of your web site design and development project.  Utilizing our proven development technique, we will map out your site from initial deployment to a fully featured realization of your Internet vision.  We will deliver more web site functionality than you can buy anywhere else for the money.  MDI Business Solutions will deliver a cost effective, highly useful site, which will delight both you and your customers.

Our goals are to ensure client needs are met, including: timeline, budget constraints, smooth integration with legacy systems and systems infrastructure, and most importantly, end-user satisfaction. We’re able to apply the foundation of our methodology in the development of each of our clients’ projects according to each client’s needs; therefore, we offer proven practices without imposing a “cookie cutter” approach. Your project—your way! 
   
Phase 1: Initial Assessment

Determine Goals and Objectives

 

During this phase the objectives for the site are determined.  The proposal request from the client will be researched by the Web Team and culminates in a Strategic Guide -- a document that outlines the objectives, requirements, and target audience of the project.  A preliminary evaluation of your current web site will be done that consists of the following:

 

Search Engine Friendliness Test

Link Popularity Check

HTML Validation

Web Site Performance Report

Meta Spider Recommendation

Search Engine Listing Simulation

Keyword Analysis

Whois Lookup

Alexa Rating Check

 

The Strategic Guide is the foundation document of the site and is used by the web team as a basis for their design and focus.

 

Phase 2: Investigation/Requirements

 

The requirements of the site are defined in order to meet the goals and objectives determined in the initial assessment. Options are researched and weighted against all factors: goal and objectives, timeline, budget, and hosting constraints. A Strategic Guide is developed based on these findings.  The Strategic Guide will be submitted to the client and will include the following:

 

Objectives of the project

Domain name registration details

Hosting plan recommendation

Commercial and pricing information

Content requirements

Technical specifications

Marketing Strategy

Timeline

 

After submission of the Strategic Guide to the client, a quotation will be submitted in accordance with the options indicated and/or accepted by the client.  After acceptance of this quotation by the client, a contract will be signed in accordance with the Strategic Guide and quotation.  The Web Team will then begin the Technical and Visual Design phase of the project based on the research findings presented in the Strategic Guide.

 

Phase 3: Technical and Visual Design

 

This is the crucial phase. Initial information architecture begun in the Strategic phase is further developed and defined. The visual concept will be defined in writing.  Page architecture is determined. Roles and responsibilities are assigned.

 

Requirements. Who is our audience and what do they require? Let's recognize any tradeoffs we need to make, not by chance but by design. A checklist is created for every screenshot. These checklists are used to test production results.

 

Feature Technical Specifications (FTS): all application modules for the site is developed by design to integrate with the site as a whole. Goals, requirements, content considerations etc. inherit from the site requirements or are overridden in each application's FTS.

 

Technical specifications, site architecture, schematics, maintenance plans are documented and must be approved by the client before progressing to the Production phase.

 

Phase 4: Development

 

It's time to BUILD.

 

Any changes in functionality and features are discouraged during this phase. It is best to put changes in the parking lot for site evolution, but if necessary, a change order is issued. Everyone involved in building the site will scrutinize the changes to determine the impact. The change will be entered into the design and the cost implications factored into the the original quotation.

 

Platform (Microsoft,Solaris,Linux,Freebsd, etc.), server, development environment, hardware requirements, and hosting issues will be addressed prior to production. Only rarely will the design phase require a particular tool.

 

The site is produced and readied for the Quality Assurance phase.

 

At this stage the complete marketing plan for the promotion of the web site will be submitted to the client for approval.

 

Phase 5: Quality Assurance

 

During this phase, the site is tested and prepared for publishing. Testing is performed in accordance with the test plan. Bugs are reported and fixed and additional testing is done. Any training of the client’s personnel (if requested and contracted) is addressed before site goes live.

 

The site is ready to go live at the end of this phase.

 

Phase 6: Production

 

The site is readied for launch. Files are uploaded to the server and accessibility (DNS) items are handled.

 

Phase 7: Post Production Services

 

A good website grows. Ideas from the parking lot, customer feedback, etc. should all be considered to determine the next step in organizing the orderly evolution of the website.

Marketing and promotion (if contracting) will be done on the basis as define in the contract.