Back to the November 2008 issue.

Online Application Development

(by Peter Bohenek, President)

Developing effective online applications is usually a balancing act between business goals and user needs. In working to achieve this desired rhythmic harmony we must analyze client needs. This begins with the first step of Rhythm Interactive’s development process known as the RI-5 framework for success.

The first step called “Insight” focuses on a detailed discovery process that helps us understand many important facets about a client’s business and their immediate and distant desires. This information begins to form the preliminary shape of the application that will be developed to meet client goals. Discovery also looks deeply into the heart of the user with intentions of gaining a full understanding of what their needs and wants will be while interacting with the application. After we have exhausted our efforts to understand both sides of the equation, we have the insight needed to formulate the application.

Discovery often lasts for several weeks and is memorialized in a detailed report that becomes the foundation that is used to formulate the strategic design plan. This leads us to the second step in our process, which is called “Innovate.” During this step we assimilate what we learned during discovery to envision a solution that will gracefully bridge business goals and user needs. The outcome of this effort is encapsulated in the strategic design plan which articulates the precise problem to be solved, illustrates the vision for the solution, and creates an exhaustive list of design imperatives that include both functional and technical requirements.

At this point in the process we have determined exactly what the specific solution will be, and we begin the next step in our process known as “Immerse.” During this process we work to architect and design the system. Typically speaking, any solution we plan will be implemented in the form of an online application that could encompass any of the following:

* Ecommerce
* Content Management System
* Intranet
* Extranet
* Database-supported marketing website
* Membership website
* Subscription-based website
* Social Network

Online application solutions that we employ vary from client to client depending on the business goals and user needs. Our job is to determine the best solution to meet the objectives and to build it which occurs in the “Implement” step. This involves the actual creation of the solution. From code production to formal testing, we complete the final product and prepare it for launch.

Once online and functioning, we monitor the application to understand how well it is achieving its purpose of bridging client business goals and user needs. In our world this is the fifth step in our process and it’s called “Impact.” Impact provides the insight we need to understand our successes and leverage them further on behalf of our clients.

Our objective is ensure client success, and we work hard to make that happen!

For more information about online applications, please contact us today.





Statistics Corner

Jupiter Research recently reported that 94 percent of the travel sector sees a strong return on investment in online advertising, versus TV and radio (3 percent) and print (3 percent).

China surpassed the United States in the number of broadband connections to the Internet in August of 2008 according to a study performed by Point Topic

In a recent survey, 46 percent of those who use social networks have also accessed social sites through a mobile phone according to ABI Research.

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