Over 30% of software development projects fail before being completed. One of the main reasons is the lack of a unified framework and no strictly defined norms and outlined goals during the Elaboration phase of the project.

The Unified Process (UP) is a widely used approach to developing software that helps organize the creation of large, complex software systems. Its main goal is to simplify the development process by dividing the work into distinct, manageable steps. Some noteworthy aspects are:

• defined sequence of stages;
• component-based approach, where a software system is constructed from software components;
• system components have clearly defined interfaces between them for seamless interaction;
• it follows a repetitive, gradual, architecture-focused, and use-case-guided method.

Digital health app developers use the UP framework to develop top-notch healthcare applications with high-standard security measures that follow HIPAA and GDPR.

Navigating the Unified Process Model in Software Development

The UP approach to software development can be flexible and allows for the development of a wide range of apps. It results in an intricate and multifaceted framework and involves four main stages:

• inception
• elaboration
• construction
• transition

Each stage provides teams with a chance to outline, detail, develop, and assemble components of the software, moving linearly from the preliminary idea to the completed software product.

Inception

The primary objective of the inception phase is to establish the project boundaries. It’s where you determine the rationale for creating a product, to begin with. You should address the following inquiries:

• What will be the most important capabilities of your software application?
• How do certain features provide value to your users?
• Which development approach will you use?
• What are the risks?
• What are cost estimates and time limitations?

The complexity and number of features within your software and time frames of completion will have a significant impact on the end price. An average software development project can cost about $100,000.

Elaboration

During the elaboration phase, your project team is expected to:

• capture a majority of the system’s requirements;
• perform identified risk analysis;
• make a plan of risk management;
• establish design and architecture.

It’s the phase where all the requirements are documented, and the final budget is formed.

Construction

During this stage, the development, integration, and testing take place. The entire architecture is constructed, and the final documentation is delivered to the client.

Transition

During this stage, the software will be launched, tested, and improved. Transition is done through numerous iterations and beta versions. Users will assess the software first — this may uncover potential complications. Subsequently, the development team will address and resolve these issues.

Why the Elaboration Phase Matters in Development

The elaboration phase is the second phase of the UP lifecycle. This stage of the development cycle aims to solidify and validate the proposed solution to mitigate technical risks. The focus here is on proving the architecture and reducing the most critical uncertainties. The target is to create a solid foundation for the system’s architecture.

The elaboration phase encompasses goals aimed at tackling potential risks related to requirements, architecture, costs, and schedule.

Requirement Clarification

By understanding most of the requirements thoroughly, you can develop a more precise strategy and gain the support of stakeholders. It does not mean that every use case needs to be detailed, but that you have detailed key use cases and understand the remaining use cases well enough to size them.

Risk Mitigation

The elaboration stage focuses on reducing critical risks and generating precise timelines and budget projections. Much of the technical risk is handled by expanding on the requirements and coming up with, building, and evaluating the architecture. You may also have to address non-technical risks, such as legal and financial issues related to the usage of open-source or commercial components. It’s where you detail the high-level project plan.

Cost and Time Optimization

The elaboration phase contributes to more accurate cost estimation and scheduling. It’s about refining the project plan to ensure it meets your objectives. It includes identifying gaps in your requirements and ensuring you understand what needs to be done. You may also need to adjust your architecture or design to meet these objectives.

The Elaboration Phase in Action

During this period, you need to focus on addressing risks. Non-technical risks are handled by delivering key capabilities in close collaboration with stakeholders, allowing you to answer the following questions:

• Does stakeholder A concur with the usage paradigm as implemented by the first delivered scenarios?
• Can you leverage an important, open-source component?
• Can you acquire the needed commercial components?
• Do you have personnel with the appropriate competency?
• Can the team collaborate effectively to deliver working software?

The set of things you need to do and produce will vary according to the precise nature of the risks faced.

Here are some of the stages of the elaboration phase:

1. Use-Case Descriptions

To begin, determine the people and external entities that will use the system. These are called actors. After that, provide the use case with a clear and understandable name that shows its intention. Specify the main purpose or aim of the use case. In addition, create a step-by-step flow of the primary or regular scenario.

2. Software Architecture Description & Design

Once you clearly understand the use cases, you can start to design the software architecture. It will involve creating a high-level diagram showing how different components of your system interact. Create detailed class diagrams for each use case and actor to show how they are related.

3. Feedback Loop

Walk through the sequence of events and possible scenarios with the stakeholders to verify precision and comprehensiveness. Make any necessary adjustments based on their input.

4. Project and Development Planning

Create a project plan that includes a timeline, budget, and resources. Establishing transparent communication upfront will make it easier to align assumptions and guarantee that all parties share a common understanding.

Conclusion

The software development process is complex. To create a successful project, you should understand your goals and ways to reach them. By following the best practices of the UP model and having a defined elaboration phase, you can create a high-quality software that meets your business needs and improves users’ lives.