Project management

Screenshot MS Project

In addition to in-depth familiarity with the technology involved in specific industries, it also takes intelligent use of available resources to achieve optimum results when implementing any major software development project.

4D Engineering's priorities include efficient planning and professional project management. This focus allows 4DE to guarantee efficient, reliable implementation, especially when it comes to complex large-scale software projects.

4DE clients benefit from our extensive experience when it comes to the planning and management of complex projects:

4D Engineering is in a position to assume complete responsibility for large-scale software projects. This gives clients all of the advantages and convenience of outsourcing.

On the other hand, 4DE clients can also avail themselves of our extensive experience in the area of project management to oversee implementation of their own in-house development projects or turn to us for the resources needed to create combined development groups for specific projects.

One of the primary factors behind the success of 4D Engineering can be found in the way the company plans software projects from the very beginning. All development phases, implementation timetables and required resources are defined before the offer is submitted to the client. This approach provides the basis for maximum reliability during actual implementation. The members of the future project team, and in particular the project manager, are involved in the planning process from the very beginning to smooth implementation. Concrete milestones are then defined to permit objective measurement of progress at regular intervals all the way up to completion.

Since all tasks are assigned and coordinated prior to startup, implementation can then proceed with maximum efficiency as soon as the project begins. Project plans are prepared using Microsoft Project and constantly updated as the project progresses, and this applies even if the overall situation changes. This permits precise monitoring of progress and early detection of potential problems during every phase of implementation.

In-depth experience in the management of software projects enables 4D Engineering to preclude many typical problems by taking timely preventive measures in advance.
4D Engineering also uses active risk-management techniques, especially when it comes to drawing up implementation timetables. For example, buffer periods are provided to safeguard important deadlines. Efficient company-wide deployment of human resources is the key to reliable planning. Centralized master plans assign all developers to parallel projects as a function of needs. Here too, reliable planning is a major priority for 4D Engineering. Experience has shown, for example, that a developer cannot productively spend 100 % of his working hours on the same project.
Up-to-date planning provides the overview it takes to introduce corrective measures in time to maintain productivity.
The overall goal of all of these measures is to achieve maximum quality in the interest of our clients. Since quality is in general very much a function of available time, 4D Engineering considers precision planning to be one of the major factors that can have a decisive effect upon the outcome and ultimate success of a project.

Intensive communication with the client through the entire duration of the project is another factor that can contribute to the success of a project. In addition, 4D Engineering adopts a "proactive” approach to project management. That means that each and every individual involved in a project is committed to and actively works to ensure the success of the overall project. One of the ways this is achieved is by drawing the attention of others to potential problems—or opportunities—early on.
4D Engineering also uses meetings, status reports and open project plans to make projects even more transparent. This is one more way to give clients the opportunity to check results, monitor progress and evaluate potential risks.

The make-up of the project implementation team is varied as a function of changes in requirements in the course of the project.
The head of the project team may devote full or part time to the project, depending upon the scope of the project. The team head is also the individual who liaises with the client.
Temporary teams are integrated into a permanent project management structure. The central project manager’s responsibilities include central coordination, monitoring and auditing of completed projects.

Given the fundamental importance of project management, systematic enhancement of the skills and qualifications of our personnel is a major concern of 4D Engineering.

As a result of its in-depth technical expertise and long years of experience in the management of complex projects, 4D Engineering can offer clients the possibility of completely outsourcing large-scale software projects. This is an area where outsourcing pays off.
If desired, clients can also opt to take advantage of 4D Engineering’s project management experience by having our specialists head their own in-house development groups or participate in mixed groups consisting of 4D Engineering and client development personnel.