APEX MANUAL Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd F3 _ Doc_ 0 0 1 - - PDF document

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APEX MANUAL

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

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Introduction

We are a global, technology solutions and services provider, developing and implementing high-end software applications and providing managed services. Focal3 is committed to provide innovative yet practical solutions that combine real- world business expertise with world-class e-business technologies designed to assist customers achieve and surpass their business objectives The mission of Focal3 is to provide top-class IT services with an emphasis on three core considerations:

• Financial Advantage
• Functional Efficiency
• Flexible Operation

Focal3 operates under the concept of business cells, and employs agile processes, which harness change for the customer's competitive advantage. As Focal3’s foundation is based on excellent technical skills, the most modern management thought and wide exposure in the global IT scenario, we are capable of delivering utmost value to each client.

Vision

• Clientele - Our Priority

Being in sync with our clients; Understanding their every need and meeting them beyond their expectations leading to "delight"

• Personnel - Our Strength

All employees are a reflection of the dedication, reliability and creativity that is Focal3

• I ntegrity - Our Com m itm ent

Focal3 pledges to hold itself to the highest standards of integrity and value system Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Allies - Our Potential

We will work hard to establish the most symbiotic relationships that will result in a win-win situation at all times

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• I nnovation & Com petition - Our Viable Advantage

We envision being on top of technological innovations that will keep our competitive edge sharpened and our skills honed to perfection To be the point of reference enterprise IT services company for customers' worldwide, setting the paradigm for customer satisfaction, technology, financial advantage and quality in everything we do.

Quality Policy

Focal3 is committed to utilizing proven processes and methods to assure maximum functional efficiency. The Company’s Quality Management has been entrusted with the responsibility of evolving and implementing practices leading to continuous improvement with employee involvement, commitment, and responsibility for quality at all levels. They will adhere to software development methodologies set by Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for its development centers and plan to secure its ISO and TickIT by 2006 and CMM-level3 certification by 2007.

Infrastructure

Focal3's state-of-the-art overseas development center is at Trivandrum, the capital city of southern Indian state of Kerala. This state boasts of 100% literacy and is rated best in overall composite ranking by the Confederation of Indian Industries. Its vast pool of skilled human resource readily meets the requirements of both public and private sector enterprises. The state with its impeccable track record in law and

• rder has a peaceful, progressive society with a unique work culture to successfully

promote the aspirations of investors in any sector. Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd Kerala has a cutting edge by location, technology, human resources availability and low operational cost among all the potential IT hubs in India. The three submarine cables landings and 'SAFE' submarine cable landings along with the primary international gateway of VSNL, offering 15 GBPS bandwidth backed by the digital backbone, provide Kerala with the best communication infrastructure to serve bandwidth-intensive IT industries.

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Organizational Structure (High level)

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

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Human Resources

We believe in using cutting edge technology and the latest in design tools to develop world-class quality solutions and products. The company has not only employed the best talents in the IT industry, but also has developed and nurtured a multitude of skill-sets encompassing a variety of platforms. We have evolved an effective system of selective and periodic training, in the latest technologies, concepts and design tools to improve and update the knowledge and skills of its consultants. The company has devised a well-planned methodology for technology change management to keep every worker technically agile. Roles and Responsibilities

• Sr. Managem ent
• Creates Policies to achieve organization vision.
• Sets new business objectives to provide new challenges for defining and

improving software processes.

• Set Business Goal in accordance of quality Goal and set a long-term plan of

maintaining quality norms.

• Reviews with SEPG status of achieving goals and problems encountered.
• Provides business concerns to address new areas of processes.
• Ensuring that all business risk is well addressed by organization processes.
• Encouraging and introducing new quality standards that make business sense.
• Resolve high-level project execution issues
• Resolve conflicts if any, in resource availability.

Chief Technical Officer

• Responsible for managing the project execution Department to guarantee the

smooth execution of projects.

• Establishes the staffing requirements and resource allocation across the firm.
• Establishes and focuses on the business strategy around technology and is

accountable for the performance of offshore projects.

• Defines and maintains effective and innovative software architecture.
• Helps in transforming itself from being a small company to a mid-size

company by embracing new and emerging technologies at early stages, and honing the existing technical expertise.

• Develops technical support plans & training programs.

Account Manager

• Plan business improvement strategies.
• Identifies Project Team Members.
• Handles various Projects/ Clients/ Accounts
• Conduct reviews on various important work products.

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Oversees the implementation of the projects on a weekly with regard to time,

budget, quality and scope

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• Top level monitoring of the projects
• Handles the major client issues and mange to resolve those issues

Process Manager

• Direct the SEPG
• Manage the activities of SEPG as per SEI CMM requirements
• Define the processes
• Set the processes in line with the business goals of the organization
• Resolve the implementation issues
• Decide the waiver in discussion with SEPG Members
• Facilitate process improvement / assessment activities

SEPG

• Define the processes
• Review the process for implementation
• Decide on the approval of the process changes
• Resolve implementation issues
• Facilitate the process improvement / assessment activities
• Continuously optimize the process so that the problems are prevented

Training coordinator

• To create the organization wide Training Plan
• To create the monthly Training Calendar
• Facilitate smooth execution of training sessions by sending a training

invitation mail to all concerned mentioning the details of training

• Circulating attendance sheet during the training session
• Circulating training feedback forms at the closure of the training session
• Perform the analysis of the training feedback collected during the training
• Communicate the training feedback analysis result to the trainer

Softw are Quality Assurance

• Facilitate in process implementation on the projects
• Facilitate and participate in project planning activities
• Review the work products and project processes
• Conduct various audits on the projects as defined in various project plans and

'SQA and Internal Audit Process'.

• Planning SQA activities.
• Identify best practices in projects.
• Facilitate the sharing of trainings and best practices among project through

periodic SQA meetings with Process Manager.

• Orient project teams when new release of QMS is rolled out.

Chief Architect / Sr. Architect

• To define and provide a shape of requirement
• To be able to adept and use the technology to the business work.

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Should be in position to recommend the right technology fit for requirement.

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• Should be a mentor. Someone needs to help the lesser-experienced folk find

a direction in which to grow that's relevant to the business.

• Should have knowledge of multiple language and tools. Should be in position

to guide the team with pro and cons of different tools and languages.

• Should have knowledge of different design paradigm.
• Should be able to convert requirement to design.
• All round technical skills to drive the team.
• Knowledge of different design methodology.

Project Manager

• Oversee the implementation of the project on a daily basis (may include

multiple projects) with regard to time, budget, quality and scope.

• Guide and assess the performance of the development team.
• Allocate time in the project plan for the project team to attend all

recommended training.

• Use project schedule and work breakdown structure produced from the

methodology tool to guide team in the implementation of the project.

• Manage project scope.
• Select, develop and oversee an effective team and allocate team members to

project tasks.

• Coordinate activities of sub-teams.
• Ensure that the Documentation Specialist is provided clear and correct

information about the system.

• Ensure adherence to the project plan by all project participants.
• Report project progress to senior management.
• Mediate problems encountered by team members.
• Identify tools, technologies required for the project
• Facilitate peer reviews and external reviews
• Decide on coding standards to be followed for the project and communicate

the same.

• Identify need of project specific processes and ensure they are put in place

and communicated to team and client Softw are Engineer/ Sr. Softw are Engineer

• Complete assigned tasks within given time duration.
• Adhere to coding standards and engineering practices laid out by the Project

Leader and Project Manager

• Perform unit testing and integration testing
• Ensure assigned task in understood clearly and interfacing details are

communicated to team

• Fix bugs as allocated by the Project Leader
• Follow the SCM process for check ins/ checkouts for source code and project

documents produced by self

• Participate in peer reviews, test case review of modules.
• Participate in weekly meetings, conference calls if desired.
• Prepare project documents as required, for ex: UTCL, Deployment document
• r any such as per QMS

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Update Project Manager / Project Leader for any slippages or issues faced in

completing the assigned tasks.

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• Managing the Quality Dept
• Resource allocation to projects
• Escalating QA issues to the Sr. Management
• Identifying training areas for the team
• Estimation of testing projects
• Enforce the adherence to the company's Quality processes and procedures
• Managing internal systems
• Decision of procurement of Software tools for the organization
• Inter group co-ordination between various departments

Associate QA Manager

• Get timely Updates on progress of the project
• Attend weekly meeting of projects and provide inputs from the QA

perspective Pressure check of the QA team

• Immediate notification/ escalation of problems to the QA Manager
• Timesheet Review of QAs
• Ensure processes are followed as laid down
• Being the part of the Project_DL, project_QA DL and identifying areas which

need attention

• Continuous monitoring and mentoring of team members
• Providing technical support
• High-level understanding of the projects and providing inputs
• Review of test plans
• Participate in the development of the QA team

QA Lead

• Prepare Software Test Plan
• Review of Test Cases - System, Integration & User Acceptance
• Ensure the documents are updated with the evolution of the design phase,

and with Review comments

• Perform validity of build notification
• Send out Build Acceptance Report or Build Rejection report
• Send out Test results and Defect Summary Report after testing of a build
• Gives a feedback on the Test Coverage and the status of the build.
• Modify the CIs
• Review Build Deliverables
• Arrange for a Bug Bash (if applicable)

QA Engineer

• Prepare the User Acceptance, System and Integration Test Cases based on

the SRS

• Set up the test environment as per the requirements mentioned in the

Software Test Plan

• Perform smoke testing
• Perform defect verification
• Execute test cases against builds and generate Test Results

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Update Test Cases

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• Update know issues list
• Carryout post deployment testing
• Verify the correctness in case of roll back

Configuration Control Board

• Participate in the analysis of the change request received from customer.
• Approve OR Reject the change Request received from the customer based on

the Impact Analysis Report

• Conduct Configuration Audit
• Communicate the closure of the change request if changes are updated or

changes are not feasible to update Configuration Controller

• To verify whether all the CIs are properly comments when checking-in and

checking-out

• To check-in all the necessary CI as and when they get changed/ originated

For ex: Chat with client

• Maintain VSS (Backups, check-in new docs received)
• VSS audits
• Help in Preparing Software Configuration Management Plan. (SCMP)
• Conduct Baseline audit

Expertise

Our expertise spans a variety of technologies as indicated below. Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

W eb/ Application Server Internet Information Server (IIS), Apache, Tomcat, Weblogic, Websphere, Oracle AS, Iplanet Fram ew ork Microsoft .NET, J2EE W eb Technologies ASP, JSP, XML, JavaScript EAI Technologies XML, IBM's MQ Series, MSMQ, Forte Fusion Middle W are Component Object Modeling (COM), Java Beans, Enterprise Java Beans (EJB), Web Services Design Tools Rational Suite, Oracle Designer, Erwin Developm ent Tools C, C+ + , VC+ + , C# , Visual Basic, Power Builder, Oracle Developer Suite, MS Visual Studio.NET, JBuilder W ireless Core and End User Technologies (CDMA, GSM, UMTS, WML)

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ERP/ CRM Solutions Oracle, SAP, Siebel, Peoplesoft Business I ntelligence Tools MicroStrategy, Business Objects, Cognos, Oracle Extraction Transform ation Cleansing and Loading ( ETCL) Tools Informatica, SAS Warehouse Administrator, Oracle Database Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, Sybase, Postgres, MySQL Data Mining Tools SAS Miner, Oracle Data Warehousing Suite Platform s Windows, Linux, HP-UX, SunOS, AIX

Engagement Models

Focal3 offers flexible business models based on successful methodologies to suit the client's requirements. Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

Offshore developm ent/ Dedicated developm ent Center Services Offered

• Preliminary Requirement Study
• Project Estimation
• Technical and Commercial Feasibility Analysis
• Software Requirement Specification
• System Designing
• Coding
• Testing and Debugging
• Commissioning
• Support & Maintenance (Conditions Apply)

Offshore Managed Services ( Targeted at - End users, Onshore IT Services companies, Technical consultant placement firms) Services Offered

• Data entry, processing with client

process/ industry functional knowledge

• Documentation
• Technical consultancy
• Network administration
• Database administration
• Application administration
• OS administration
• Security
• End-to-end systems monitoring

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Collaborative Product Developm ent ( Targeted at - End users with existing products or new product ideas) Services Offered

• Product development (Same as offshore

development model)

Softw are Solutions

Application Developm ent and Maintenance Java and .Net Solutions Business I ntelligence, Planning, Managem ent Data warehousing and BI tools, CRM, ERP– Development, Customization, Implementation) Telecom Solutions Wireless Technologies, Voice Over IP Technologies, Mobile subscriber/ End User Technologies ( Content Re purposing, WAP Enabling and M-Commerce Solution). E- business I ntegration Data Integration, Component Integration, Application Integration and Process Integration. Database Solutions Architecture and Design, Availability & Scalability, Performance & Application tuning.

Managed Services

Data Center Adm inistration- Netw ork, OS, Application Routers, Firewall, Load balancers, Internet connectivity, Applications, OS, Database, Log monitoring Database Adm inistration ( Rem ote DBA)

24/ 7 Support of database environments Proactive database tuning Daily database monitoring using client specified

monitoring tools

Emergency alerts Weekly status updates, and monthly reports of

all work

Backup/ recovery planning Disaster recovery planning Upgrade consulting and implementation

Data Managem ent Services

Data Procurement Extract, Transform, Load Quality Check Warehouse Management Mining Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

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Project Classifications

Project Types based on Size Sm all Medium Large < = $100K > $100K and < $250K > $250K Project Types based on developm ent Category

• Development Projects

New Projects

• Enhancement Projects

Major Modification or enhancements to existing Project

• Maintenance Projects

Minor modification or Bug Fixing of existing projects

• Testing Projects

Only Testing

Software Development Life Cycle

Phases The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in Focal 3 comprises of the following phases

• Project planning: Establishes a high-level view of the intended project and

determines its goals.

• System s analysis, requirem ents definition: Refines project goals into

defined functions and operation of the intended application. Analyzes end- user information needs.

• System s design: Describes desired features and operations in detail,

including screen layouts, business rules, process diagrams, pseudocode and

• ther documentation.
• Construction: Coding and Unit Testing
• I ntegration and testing: Brings all the pieces together into a special testing

environment, then checks for errors, bugs and interoperability.

• Acceptance,

installation, deploym ent: The final stage

• f

initial development, where the software is put into production and runs actual business. Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Maintenance: What happens during the rest of the software's life: changes,

correction, additions, moves to a different computing platform and more. This, the least glamorous and perhaps most important step of all, goes on seemingly forever.

F3 _ Doc_ 0 0 1 _ Ver4 .0 Page 1 3 of 1 6 Developm ent Models Depending upon the type of project, Focal3 selects and uses an appropriate development model. The models that are used in Focal3 are Modified Waterfall Model, Spiral Model, Incremental Model and Agile Methodology. Modified W aterfall Model The waterfall model is a popular version of the Systems Development Life Cycle Model for software engineering. Often considered the classic approach to the systems development life cycle, the waterfall model describes a development method that is linear and sequential. Waterfall development has distinct goals for each phase of

• development. Once a phase of development is completed, the development proceeds

to the next phase and there is no turning back. This development model allows for departmentalization and managerial control.

Waterfall Model for Interactive Software

Focal3 slightly modifies this model in the sense that a preceeding phase in development need not be completed before the next phase to begin. This is because the user requirements grow and change throughout the process and beyond, calling for considerable feedback and iterative consultation. Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

What do users need? What shall we build? How shall we do it? How well does it work?

Requirem ents Design Construction Testing Delivery Maintenance

F3 _ Doc_ 0 0 1 _ Ver4 .0 Page 1 4 of 1 6 Spiral Model The spiral lifecycle model is the combination of the classic waterfall model and an element called risk analysis. This model is very appropriate for large software

• projects. The model consists of four main parts, or blocks, and the process is shown

by a continuous loop going from the outside towards the inside. This shows the progress of the project.

• Planning

This phase is where the objectives, alternatives, and constraints are determined.

• Risk Analysis

What happens here is that alternative solutions and constraints are defined, and risks are identified and analyzed. If risk analysis indicates uncertainty in the requirements, the prototyping model might be used to assist the situation.

• Engineering

Here the customer decides when the next phase of planning and risk analysis

• ccur. If it is determined that the risks are to high, the project can be

terminated. Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Custom er Evaluation

In this phase, the customer will assess the engineering results and make changes if necessary.

F3 _ Doc_ 0 0 1 _ Ver4 .0 Page 1 5 of 1 6 I ncrem ental Model The incremental model divides the product into builds, where sections of the project are created and tested separately. This approach will likely find errors in user requirements quickly, since user feedback is solicited for each stage and because code is tested sooner after it's written. Agile Methodology The following are the characteristics to agile software processes from the fast delivery point of view, which allow shortening the life cycle of projects:

• Modularity on development process level
• Iterative with short cycles enabling fast verifications and corrections
• Time-bound with iteration cycles from one to six –weeks.
• Prudence in development process removes all unnecessary activities.
• Convergent (and incremental) approach minimizes the risks
• People oriented

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

• Collaborative and communicative working style.

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Development Work Flow and Artifacts in Project Development

Confidential Focal3 Softw are Pvt Ltd

Project Initiation Project Planning

S

• ftware Proj ect Management Plan

Risk Management Resource Allocation Proj ect S chedule Configuration Management Plan Change Control Board Initial Estimation Requirement Analysis Proj ect Proposal (Technical & Commercial)

Requirement Phase

S RS Preparation S RS Review and Rework Matrix Collection

Design Phase

High Level Design Low Level Design Design Review and Rework Matrix Collection

Construction

Coding Unit Testing Code Review and Rework Matrix Collection

Testing

Integration Testing S ystem Testing Bug Fixing

Product Release

Release Document Post Implementation Review