Last updated on Jul 12, 2024

Here's how you can successfully deliver a mobile application under tight deadlines.

Delivering a mobile application within a tight deadline can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it's entirely possible. Tight deadlines often come with a high-pressure environment, which can lead to mistakes or oversights. To avoid these pitfalls and ensure the success of your project, you need to strategize effectively, prioritize features, and maintain clear communication throughout the development process. By understanding the essential steps and focusing on what truly matters, you can create a roadmap that leads to the timely release of a quality mobile application.

1 Plan Ahead

When faced with a tight deadline, thorough planning becomes your lifeline. Begin by defining the scope of your mobile application clearly. Understand the essential features that need to be included for the app to function and fulfill user needs. Next, create a detailed project timeline with specific milestones. This will help you keep track of progress and identify potential bottlenecks early on. Remember to allocate time for unexpected challenges, as they are almost certain to arise. A well-structured plan serves as a guide and helps maintain focus on the end goal.

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Damian Ferrada

Gestor Pais & BI Training Area Samsung Mobile IM (GrupoFides)
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La planificacion si o si debe tener un proceso de Gantt, Star Up, Kick OFF. esto para poder identificar los tiempos y formas como tambien los responsables de cada tarea e ir identificando todos los avances posibles como tambien lo que va retrasado. la planificacion es vital para los tiempos entregados como para el desarrollo de todo lo que deba crear.

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2 Agile Method

Embracing an Agile methodology can be a game-changer when developing mobile applications under tight deadlines. Agile focuses on iterative development, where you build your application in small increments, allowing for frequent reassessment and adaptation. This approach ensures that the most crucial features are developed first and provides the flexibility to make changes as needed without derailing the entire project. Regular stand-up meetings will keep the team aligned and focused on the current sprint's objectives, enhancing productivity and collaboration.

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3 MVP Focus

Concentrating on a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is crucial when time is of the essence. An MVP is the most basic version of your application that still delivers value to the users. Identify the core functionalities that are absolutely necessary for launch and focus on perfecting those. This strategy not only accelerates development time but also allows you to gather user feedback quickly. Based on this feedback, you can iteratively improve and add more features post-launch, ensuring that resources are invested wisely.

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Bryan Hanks

Project Manager/Scrum Master/Agile Evangelist - PMP, CSP-SM, CSPO
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DVF (desirable, viable, feasible) is often a better approach than MVP. Desirability is building a mobile app the end users will want to use over other tools (e.g., paper). Viability, or "can it do the thing I need it to do?", keeps the team focused on delivering something that does the job. Feasibility is if the app can be built with the required functionality, given the constraints. MVP doesn't always produce something better than the alternative within time/budget constraints. This term is also misleading, as most (all?) MVP products are extended, thus no longer minimum.

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4 Streamline Tasks

Efficiency is key when working against the clock. Streamlining tasks involves breaking down the development process into smaller, manageable units and delegating them to team members based on their expertise. Utilize tools that facilitate task management and communication, such as Kanban boards or collaborative software. This will help you monitor progress and ensure everyone is on the same page. Remember to limit distractions and maintain a laser focus on the tasks that directly contribute to the progress of your mobile application.

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Damian Ferrada

Gestor Pais & BI Training Area Samsung Mobile IM (GrupoFides)
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Para esto, en lo que he trabajado debemos contar siempre con una gantt de proyecto o entrega de lo que estemos realizando, esto para tener claro nuestros tiempos (dead Line) y asi poder ir midiendo una avances en % por semana o cual sea el tiempo necesario junto con los responsables de cada tarea.

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5 Quality Assurance

Never compromise on quality, even when deadlines are tight. Quality Assurance (QA) should be integrated into every stage of the development process. Implement continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices to automate testing and deployment, which saves time and reduces the risk of human error. Encourage developers to write unit tests for their code to catch issues early. Regularly scheduled code reviews can also help maintain high standards and catch potential bugs before they become bigger problems.

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6 Communicate Clearly

Clear communication is paramount in a time-sensitive project. Ensure that all stakeholders, including developers, designers, and clients, are informed about the project's progress and any changes to the timeline or scope. Use communication tools that allow for real-time updates and discussions. Hold brief daily meetings to address any concerns or roadblocks that team members may face. By maintaining transparency and open lines of communication, you can foster a collaborative environment where everyone works together to meet the deadline.

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Damian Ferrada

Gestor Pais & BI Training Area Samsung Mobile IM (GrupoFides)
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según mi experiencia, la comunicacion clara, osea aseritiva y efectiva es clave en todo proceso que realicemos tanto profecionalmente como personal. es importarte poder contar con la escucha activa, preguntas potentes y sobre todo comunicacion fluida para esto necesitamos capacitar a toda nuestro staff y entregar herramientas claves.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can successfully deliver a mobile application under tight deadlines.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Plan Ahead

2 Agile Method

3 MVP Focus

4 Streamline Tasks

5 Quality Assurance

6 Communicate Clearly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

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Here's how you can successfully deliver a mobile application under tight deadlines.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Plan Ahead

2 Agile Method

3 MVP Focus

4 Streamline Tasks

5 Quality Assurance

6 Communicate Clearly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

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