Methodology
Concensus Consulting follows a four step process for every engagement to ensure a successful project. Each phase is performed by a consultant(s) and are always monitored by an engagement manager. Every engagement is documented and a status report is provided to the customer each week. Concensus Consulting strives to be consistent in every phase of the delivery process.
The four phases are:
Requirements Assessment (RA)
During this phase the questions of what and how are answered. After talking with stakeholders we determine the specific goals and objectives necessary for the project. We also assess the readiness of the organization to define the gaps and define a plan of action to resolve any issues. A common deliverable during this phase is the RA report that contains findings, goals and objectives, proposed solution and recommendations.
Solution Design & Development
During this phase a detailed design is created based on the goals and objectives outlined in the RA phase. A typical deliverable will be a design document that contains exact specifications for the solution. During the design phase a test and implementation plan is also built that includes success and failure tests. After sign-off on the design the development is performed typically offsite to decrease the overall cost of the engagement. All written code is unit tested individually to ensure that all business rules have been coded properly.
Testing
The testing phase is a full system test of the developed solution. Unlike the development phase which performs unit testing on individual pieces the testing phase tests all components in a test environment. During this phase customer acceptance testing is also performed. This phase provides us with the opportunity to begin full knowledge transfer. If necessary any changes necessary are fully regression tested.
Solution Deployment
As the testing is completed the solution is placed into production. Once the implementation plan has been completed Concensus Consulting consultants will verify the solution is functioning as coded, complete knowledge transfer and complete any outstanding documentation.
Post Engagement Assistance
While Concensus Consulting guarantees the work that it performs there is always the "I wish we would have done this" saying at the completion of the engagement which is not covered. Concensus Consulting will at the customer request provide the option to purchase Remote Assistance Support. This assistance contract can cover the "I wish we could have done this." phrases. The hours can then be used to further enhance or change business rules implemented during the engagement. In addition the hours can be used to provide additional remote services.