{"id":7609,"date":"2022-09-22T13:28:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T13:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/devlight.io\/?p=7609"},"modified":"2023-05-17T15:01:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T13:01:26","slug":"discovery-phase-in-software-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devlight.io\/blog\/discovery-phase-in-software-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Discovery Phase in Software Development"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Table of content
\n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n What Is a Project Discovery Phase?<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n The Purposes of Discovery Phase of a Project<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n Will Skipping Project Discovery Save You Time and Money?<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n When Should You Start the Discovery Project Management?<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n Software Discovery Phase Team: Its Roles and Responsibilities<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n How We Conduct the Project Discovery Phase at Devlight<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n Tips For Conducting Project Discovery Stage from Devlight Team<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n How to Start the Discovery Phase of a Project in Software Development?<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n Final Thoughts<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most software development companies will insist on a product discovery phase before launching a development. This solution is natural since the discovery phase increases the chances of a project being successful. Building an app or website without an opening discovery process is just as risky as building a house without an architectural plan. This step shows how the project will function, look, involve the target audience, and help your business achieve its goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will take a detailed look at what the product discovery process is, what gives it a competitive edge, and how to get started in software development. So buckle up, we’re about to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is a Project Discovery Phase<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The discovery phase in software development is a stage of collecting information that gives an understanding of the industry for which the product is being developed, the business of your client, and the target audience. It is important to gain a deep understanding of the expectations of the client, the user feedback of decision-makers, and the pain points of end users regarding the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A preliminary analysis of the needs of the client, the market, competitors, target audience, the upcoming scope of work, and resources is carried out in any area where the contractor wants to fulfill their obligations to the client in a quality manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product discovery means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • discussion of the project’s existing business processes or the concept of a future project, expectations, and wishes regarding the deadlines;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • definition of the target audience;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • competitive market analysis (direct and indirect competitors);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • formulating solutions to business problems;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • determination of the scope of work;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • setting deadlines and priorities based on the project complexity and market trends;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • schematic distribution of roles and appointment of specialists who should be involved in the process (cross-functional teams are often created).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In the discovery phase, depending on the resources of the executor, the following team members can be involved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • the project\/product manager (communicates with the client at all stages of the product development process, structures the actual team effort, and is responsible for reporting on the implementation of tasks);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • business analyst or consultant\/expert in a certain area (studies the market, target audience, client’s business processes, offers solution ideas for business goals and problems);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • UI\/UX specialist (creates an interactive prototype and a design of a future project);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • solution architect or engineer evaluating the technical component of creating a product (defines and offers tools, platforms, and other solutions determining the feasibility risk of the product).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The Purposes of Discovery Phase of a Project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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      The main purpose the product discovery phase can bring to your company is that it helps you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • Make a development roadmap<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        In the final result, we will deal with a cleardeal a clear technical task with a description of the key functionality of the future product, which makes planning the development phase itself easier and clearer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        You will receive a complete project schedule with milestones, deliverables, and deadlines. The Software Requirements Specification (SRS) and mockups developed during the product discovery process can be used to find additional investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        • Improve communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Even a good presentation cannot guarantee that you have chosen the right company. Regular communication at this stage allows you to evaluate the real team effort, your experience, and approach to the project, and establish two-way trust. You can use the results of the discovery process with other IT vendors before starting development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          • Save resources such as time and money<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            The main value is the expertise and experience shared by the development company since they allow it to make the job faster. For instance, Devlight has been working in this field for years and knows how to help you perform a discovery. We are capable of conducting a product discovery process resulting in valuable insights that you will not find with a simple search on the Internet. These are live examples and real-life experiences. We share them so that you don\u2019t have to dedicate years to learning everything from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            • Idea validation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              You will have an opportunity to check your actions with the guide and apply different product discovery techniques to implement changes at an early stage in case anything needs improvement. Thus, through discovery, you can validate your product ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              • Complex analysis and data gathering<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                The discovery phase helps both the development team and the client find an answer to the principal question: which problems of future users can our solution address? Modern product discovery is about gathering and analyzing requirements, systematizing all the input information, and lots of planning that eventually clarifies the big picture of the whole project and eliminates any early-stage uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Finally, the discovery phase is fundamental for the future success of your product development. Devlight will teach you how to conduct the product discovery phase in such a way as to avoid typical mistakes that often occur at the initial stage (we provide smart methodology\/guidelines). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Our team believes in a properly conducted discovery process as a way to save your resources such as time and money with “tips and hacks” content-type: we always provide a separate block with the solution space clarifying the main points of what you will have to do. With no lengthy instructions or unclear directions, we get down to business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Will Skipping Project Discovery Save You Time and Money?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Even if you have a great idea but don’t have a target audience or don’t meet their needs, you won’t have a successful business. To avoid this, you need to study the market, find out who your competitors are, analyze their products and determine your target user identity before hopping into development. For a small project, this might take approximately one to two weeks, for a larger one it will take about two months of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The discovery phase and customer research can seem overwhelming in terms of time and resources. Still, they allow the team to determine project timelines and budgets, specify end product requirements, identify end-user needs, and get feedback from them about the product. The more preliminary preparation is carried out before the start of product development, the more understandable and predictable will be the product strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                For the client, product discovery plays the role of preliminary preparation for the implementation of the project. This phase allows the client to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                • more accurately determine the essence of an idea or project based on a real analysis of the market and the pain points of the target audience;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • identify some aspects of the project that were not taken into account initially;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • establish the basis for cross-functional collaboration and clarify the requirements for the future team members;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • understand target customer expectations and concerns based on competitor product research and user stories;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • get an expert assessment of the project and information on how to properly implement it;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • consider alternative solutions and technologies that will help make the project a reality;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • minimize and optimize costs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • draw up clear terms of reference with the definition of the exact deadlines and budget for the project;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • understand how the performer meets the expectations, and make the final decision on the entire process of further cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  As you can see, all of these benefits are worth investing more money and time into the product discovery process. Prepare and study the market instead of mapping your road out straight in practice. This approach will save you time in the next stages and prevent the product from failures or unnecessary touch-ups.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  When Should You Start the Discovery Project Management?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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                  Having a detailed \u201cestimate\u201d of the product idea, it will be easier for you to take the next steps \u2014 for example, find an investor or defend the project in front of the manager, select the necessary specialists, etc. In addition, without an assessment, it is difficult to determine both the development timeline and the required team composition. Thus, product discovery is a valuable preparatory step before launching any new app, service, or additional features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  New Product Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                  The product development process is not something that can go naturally. Stated workflows and scenarios have been already invented. If you want to choose the best development scenario and properly assess the possible risks, you need to carry out the preparation stage before launching any product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  It starts with the team deciding on the format and duration of sprints (meetings) and selecting tools for structuring and reporting on the work done. For example, tasks can be distributed and stored in a cloud-based Trello project management software. Diagrams, graphs, maps, and diagrams can be created in Microsoft Visio Drawing or draw.io. Prototypes and mockups are easy to create in Sketch, NinjaMock, or Axure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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