Projects at CSA – our process for your added value
Today’s world is fast-paced and shaped by constant changes. Digitalisation and ongoing globalisation, among other things, are the driving force for this, resulting in international competition with rapid technological developments. The ensuing shortened product and process cycles and increasing complexity constantly pose companies new challenges. One way of overcoming these challenges is to implement plans as projects –
and this is exactly where CSA can help. We have the necessary specialists, qualified project leaders and an effective project management team to successfully realise customer projects.
But what are projects and what do project managers do?
Repetitive activities, such as serial production and the performance of stand-alone tasks by individual people, do not count as projects. Projects are characterised by the development of a more complex product under specific circumstances:
- they take place within a defined time frame,
- they should have a dedicated team and expenses,
- and they achieve a specific goal.
The three central parameters – content, time and costs can be depicted using the magic triangle. An important aspect of this is the resulting quality, which can be conceived as the area within the triangle.
The unique nature of the given context makes it clear that projects are always new and therefore harbour many risks. But the risk can be mitigated by using appropriate methods, types of organisation and suitable management methods. Project management can be understood as the totality of the management tasks that are necessary for the successful execution of a project. A crucial element of this is adapting project management to fit the plan at hand. Various aspects come into play when choosing the right tools for the job, such as:
- the origin of the project
- the setting
- the type of project
- the intended
Projects at CSA
Here at CSA, we specialise in research and development projects within the electronics and software development fields. From the first feasibility study and the creation of a proof of concept (PoC) to the production-ready product, we are masters of successful project management. We scale the project accordingly to reflect project maturity, customer requirements and project requirements. Our development process is based on the following main phases. These are not to be confused with the specific development process (process modelling), which may be drawn up in an iterative, classic or hybrid manner. Depending on the plan, only part of the main phases is run through, individual parts are run through multiple times or the whole process is run through x number of times. It is the job of project scaling to define the most suitable processes and most promising project management methods, based on the customer requirements and project goals.
customer requirements and project goals
Here are two examples to illustrate the process and any scaling:
Software development project with a total runtime of 15 months
A customer had an existing software system, which could not be extended as intended. A new software system, based on the available customer infrastructure, was to be developed.
The project went through the following phases:
- Definition phase and specification phase to compile the specifications for the new system
- Full run-through of all phases with the goal of testing critical aspects in a proof of concept on the customer’s infrastructure
- Full run-through of all phases with the goal of creating the final system, including
Hardware and software development project with a total runtime of eight months
A customer wanted to develop a functional model consisting of electronics, software and housing to verify external requirements and to create a demonstration system.
The project went through the following phases:
- Definition phase consisting of a workshop to compile the functional model’s requirements
- Full run-through of all phases, but the realisation phase was run through twice to incorporate the desired amendments following tests with the customer
Thanks to scalable project management at CSA, the most suitable process is always found for any plan and ensures a goal-orientated and customer-specific development process.
When can CSA really help?
A necessary and sophisticated development process is being lined up, but the following are lacking:
- the necessary human resources,
- specific specialist knowledge,
- time available
- or development itself is not a core business activity.
In these and many other cases, working with CSA can give a development plan the boost it needs. We discuss the plan together, find the best set-up to meet your requirements and put together the most suitable project team from our employees.
We are specialists in sophisticated electronics and software development and our customer’s success is our main objective. Our project set-up is always adapted accordingly to meet the specific requirements of each customer. We develop solutions in our own way, keep our customers up to date and get them involved in important decisions, thereby reducing complexity for the customers and ensuring their success as a result. Our long history and our satisfied customers prove us right.