Project: “I Want an App” Part 4 – Gap Analysis and Conclusion

Project: “I Want an App” Part 4 – Gap Analysis and Conclusion

Welcome to Part 4 of Project: “I Want an App”!  This is the conclusion of this project summary.  It is common knowledge that if proper authorization and sign-off is not received on the proper documents the project cannot continue.  Upon seeing the Scope Statement the owner saw how big of a project the company was undertaking and decided not to move forward for the time being.  More leverage needed to be acquired.  I moved forward with gathering information!

Apps are a driving force for companies.  I knew that gathering resources would only enhance my understanding of the deliverable per stakeholder standards; namely the project sponsor.  There are quite a few companies that aid in app projects.  Guess what else?  They all have a project manager for each individual project.

Many companies dive headfirst into new or innovative ideas.  I applaud that!  Companies need to make sure they have all the components of project management to achieve a comprehensive analysis of all the tasks for the project on a “Goal-Getter Task Roadmap”.  

Questions You Will Want To Address during Gap Analysis

Section 3.5.3 in Requirements Management Practice Guide (PMI, 2015) states,

“Gap analysis is a technique used to compare the current assessment of organizational capability against a future desired state. The result is normally referred to as the “to be state” of a solution” (PMI, p.17).

Here are the questions you will need to ask on the lowest level before deciding if an app is for your business.  

• How are your current marketing strategies working now?
  • *Reporting on prior sales
  • How much of an increase do you desire to see?
    • *trend analysis
  • *Predictive Reporting for future sales
  • What is the gap between what you want and what you have?
  • Is there a bridge that can be bought that can fill needs

*Best practice for gap analysis

*Spoiler Alert*: You will need to use a social media platform to leverage the app.  The majority of consumers will be less likely to purchase when there is an absence of social media presence.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading all four parts of this blog.  I will be very clear: these are not all the steps a business needs to consider when executing a make-or-buy decision in regard to an app; however, the steps I provided are key pieces to initiate an app project (on the buyer’s side).  Using the technique of expert knowledge from my colleague and favorite Developer, “The Code Monkey”, provided high level questions that any company would want to ask themselves before a make-or-buy for an app.  If you are interested in the other questions you need to address to acquire an app for your business email me here: services@goalgetterpm.com.  

There are many processes in acquiring an app.  I have been using this project as one example of the many “I Want an App” projects in which I have been involved; and I have documented everything I learned.  I spend 8 hours of my work week at a small business currently that created an app that is doing very well, and is widely used in REITS.  I am on a project to improve their support strategy.  The risk report I developed for one company that had already released their app was very eye opening.  I have seen small businesses do great things with apps, and I have seen a lot of large companies fall to the wayside due to lack of understanding of how much social attraction an app can create to a business.  This project was terminated in the planning phase, due to the many moving parts that are required for such a technological project, and the overwhelming details I provided the project sponsor.  However, anyone who has read this article would expect that level of detail from Goal-Getter Project Management.

Goal-Getter call to action:

Is your company ready to acquire an app?  Answer the questions mentioned above in this blog.  Understand that an app will cost $10,000 – $250,000.  How will you assess leverage properly?  Go to the contact us page, fill out the form, and after your comment insert “#Part4”.  You will receive a free consultation on the initiation phase of project management for acquiring an app.

Sources:

PMI. Requirements Management: A Practice Guide. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, 2016. Print.

Image Source: http://www.buzzanalysis.com/2016/07/gap-analysis-what-and-how-all-you-need.html

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