Website Development Cycle

This is the process we undertake when developing a new website. Some of the stages will not be applicable for some types of websites.

Initial Discussion & Quote

This initial stage involves discussions with the client regarding the scope and requirements of the project and providing an approximate quotation.

In these discussions the requirements of the project will be identified, questions addressed and ideas and recommendations made. Technology options may also be discussed.

Specification Of Requirements

This step involves determining and specifying the clients requirements. This is an extremely important stage as it will constitute the 'deliverables' of the system eg the finished product. The result of this stage is a specification of requirements document is produced and a fixed quotation given. This document will form the basis of the development of the website.

The length of this document can vary from a single page for smaller projects to a multipage document for larger systems. This stage may also involved breaking the project down into deliverables or development stages. For larger project we may ask for part payment of the project cost as these stages are completed.

Development / Prototyping

This stage actually involves developing the website. where time and resources allow we advocate a prototyping approach. The purpose of this is to develop parts of the system and allow the user to see and use these. From the feedback received these can then be refined. Using this approach the completed system is more likely to reflect the client's requirements.

System Testing

This stage involves thoroughly testing the website. Using the prototyping approach the website would have already been extensively tested and so most problems should have been identified.

Data Preparation & Loading

here the client's data is entered onto the system. This may invilves entering the data from scatch or importing it from an existing format.

Going Live

The website is made publicly accessible on the Internet. By this stage the client should already be familiar with the system so the training requirements are usually low.

Maintenance & Support

Ellipse Design places great importance on client support. We actively encourage our clients to keep in touch to discuss any aspects of the website or simply let us know how its going. We will correct any errors free of charge throughout the lifetime of the website. We can also arrange a maintenance contract for any project.