1. Introduction

This is the first article about our method to design and build Oracle Applications Customizations. We found we should customize Oracle’s Build and Design Method because, as a software factory, we are focus on productivity and quality. We are not an Oracle E-Business Implementation Project, so a method is crucial and very important to us and our customers.

Based on Oracle’s Design and Build Method as well as on already proofed software engineering techniques, we customized our self method to have simplicity and productivity. It will be innovative because use a different approach to the market, based on open and clear rules.

There will never be the last version of this: each customer and project improves this method to reach better results. We work on a real partnership with customer, based on the knowledge that every entity knows about the activity of building custom software.

This method was built for companies who know already their business desires and the information needed to improve its Oracle Applications instance. During implementations phases will be useful if you know already what should be built, this is not supposed to support the implementation as a whole.

2. Objectives

The objectives of ADBM (Alba Design and Build Method) are:

· Establish clear rules, so everybody can know how much it would cost, what and when would receive the requests;

· Build reports customizations to satisfy business needs and;

· Focus on the design and development of reports for the Oracle E-Business Suite product.

3. Approach

This method will be useful for those who have already the Oracle Applications in production and need to develop a new report. It is also handful for those, during the implementation phase, who already know the gaps that cannot be satisfied trough the Oracle Applications features, and want another kind of report that can be taken from the database.

This is not useful for those who intend to make any changes to the base of the Oracle Applications code, neither for those who want to make an addition of functionality though flexfields, alerts, and other configuration options provided by the Oracle Applications.

4. Success Factors

Although this a method which is made to minimize risks, improve predictability over time and issues, the activity of building software is not simple and is full of novelties.

We have already experienced a process with only 3% of error; this was possible because we could repeat it a lot of times, what give us a huge feedback to improve, over and over again.

It is very important to establish an open partnership, so the issues should be fast declared and fairly resolved. For those who know about building systems, this is the true and can not be hidden only for marketing purposes.

The critical success factors of this method to design and build are as follows:

Full understanding of the functional requirements;
Accurate estimating and planning and;
Restriction and control of changes;

5. Process Overview

As we said, the ADBM is a customization of the Oracle’s Method for Design and Build. We simplify it based on our experience and to focus on our business strategy. We keep the same name for the documents and templates keeping them “upgradeable” and useful for those already familiar with Oracle’s Method.

Next article we will describe each phase and talk a bit about scope definition. We strongly recommend you to have your own method or to check if you are related with companies and people who use one.

1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com

Riccardo is technical consultant at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.

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