The field of software development has evolved over the years and continues to evolve at a rapid pace. In addition to traditional models such as the waterfall model, more flexible and iterative approaches such as agile and DevOps are also gaining attention.Â
 In this blog, we will introduce some of the top software development models of 2023. We discuss the benefits and challenges of each model and help you understand how they impact your business.Â
Whether you’re a startup undertaking your first software development project or an established company looking to overhaul its development process, this blog provides valuable insights to aid your decision-making process. You will gain a clear understanding of the software development model that best suits your business and project requirements.Â
agile development
Agile development is a software development method. Unlike approaches such as traditional waterfall models, agile development emphasizes flexibility and adaptability.Â
Agile development involves breaking software into smaller versions over shorter periods, with each version having a shorter development cycle. This development cycle typically lasts from a few weeks to a few months.Â
Agile development suits business projects with the following characteristics :Â
- Projects with frequent changes in requirements: Agile development allows for flexible responses to changes in requirements. You can adjust your development process and change priorities based on customer and user feedback.Â
- Projects where visualization of progress and quality of the development process is important: In agile development, it is common to visualize progress and quality in each sprint. Through events such as sprint reviews and daily scrum meetings, you can share project progress and issues and take appropriate measures.Â
- Projects that require continuous communication with stakeholders: Agile development emphasizes continuous communication with customers and stakeholders. Communicate and receive feedback on requirements and priorities through user stories, sprint reviews, and more.Â
- Projects that require team self-organization and cooperation: In agile development, it is important for development teams to self-organize and collaborate to advance the project. Each team member is expected to understand their role and responsibilities and work together to achieve the sprint goal.Â
Agile development is often used effectively in business projects that include the above elements. However, the optimal development method differs depending on the nature and situation of the project, so situational analysis and evaluation are important to make an appropriate choice.Â
DevOps model
The DevOps model is an approach that integrates software development and IT operations processes to achieve efficient software delivery.Â
DevOps involves development and operations teams collaborating and working together to develop, test, deploy, and monitor software. It removes the traditional barriers and delays between development and operations, making it possible to deliver software quickly and stably.Â
The DevOps model suits business projects with the following characteristics:Â
- Projects that require rapid release in software development: DevOps enables software development and release in short iterations. You can reduce the time to release and quickly respond to market changes and increased competition.Â
-  Projects that require deployment to diverse environments and platforms: DevOps facilitates the deployment of software to different environments and platforms through automated deployment processes. Compatible with a variety of environments including cloud, on-premises, and mobile.Â
- Projects that require high quality and stability: DevOps uses automated testing, continuous monitoring, and real-time feedback to improve quality and stability. This allows for early detection and fixing of bugs and issues, which also contributes to improving the user experience.Â
- Projects involving multiple development teams and departments: DevOps facilitates collaboration and sharing between different development teams and departments. Developers, testers, operations engineers, and more work together for effective collaboration.Â
- Projects that respond to rapid business changes: The flexibility and responsiveness of DevOps allow you to quickly respond to changes in business requirements and the market. You can quickly incorporate customer feedback and continue to improve your software.Â
 However, DevOps is just one approach, and the optimal method may differ depending on the nature and situation of the project.Â
lean model
The lean model is a methodology for pursuing efficiency in manufacturing and business process improvement. Lean models focus on reducing waste and maximizing customer value. Therefore, we aim to increase production efficiency and improve quality by eliminating unnecessary work, inventory, and waiting time on production lines and processes.Â
It also emphasizes employee participation and a sense of improvement and incorporates methods that encourage problem-solving and continuous improvement. Lean models can improve an organization’s competitiveness by providing efficient processes and improved quality.Â
The lean model can be applied to a variety of businesses and projects. The main examples are as follows.Â
-  Manufacturing: Lean is most widely used in manufacturing. Improve production efficiency by optimizing production processes, reducing inventory, and eliminating waste.Â
- Service industry: Lean is also effective in the service industry. For example, you can reduce waiting times to improve the speed of service delivery and increase customer satisfaction.Â
- Software development: Lean is often used in conjunction with agile development. Applying Lean principles can streamline the development process, reduce waste, incorporate customer feedback, and more.Â
- Project Management: Lean is also useful in project management. You can improve project progress management by optimizing task flow, reducing unnecessary steps, and optimally allocating resources.Â
- Business improvement: Lean can also be applied to overall business improvement. It is possible to improve business efficiency and competitiveness by reviewing organizational processes and functions, reducing waste, improving quality, and shortening lead times.Â
The lean model is widely used as a powerful method for pursuing efficiency and quality improvement in the industries and projects mentioned above. However, it is important to customize it for each organization and project.Â
Iterative method/incremental method
Iterative methods and incremental methods are types of development methods used in areas such as software development and project management.Â
Iterative methods break down the development process into a series of iterations, each adding or improving some functionality. Build the system in stages, implementing basic requirements in the first iteration and incorporating additional requirements in subsequent iterations. Each iteration allows you to collect feedback from customers and stakeholders and adjust your design and development accordingly. This approach is flexible and easy to change and modify, making it suitable for responding to changing requirements and new insights.Â
Iterative and incremental methods are suitable for business projects such as :Â
- Software development projects: Iterative and incremental methods are widely used in software development. It’s especially effective when you need to respond quickly to changing requirements or feedback. It also makes the development process more transparent and improves quality.Â
- New product development projects: When developing new products and services, it is important to respond quickly to market demands and customer feedback. Using iterative and incremental methods, you can accelerate time-to-market while incrementally adding features and improvements.Â
- Process improvement projects: Iterative and incremental methods are also useful in improving business processes. You can improve one part of your process, evaluate its effectiveness, and gradually improve other parts. This can improve process efficiency and quality.Â
- Project management: Iterative and incremental methods are also useful in project planning and progress management. Divide projects into multiple phases or iterations to help control progress and resources.Â
- Launching a new business: When launching a new business or startup, it’s important to respond quickly to changes in market feedback and demand. By using iterative and incremental methods, you can build your business model or product step by step.Â
These business projects benefit from iterative and incremental methods, especially when uncertainty and change are expected. Choose the appropriate technique based on your project needs and requirements.Â
prototyping
Prototyping refers to prototypes or initial versions created to embody an idea or concept during the product or service development process. Prototypes are used to validate various aspects such as design, functionality, performance, and user experience.Â
Prototyping may be applied to many business projects. Below are some examples of business projects where prototyping is particularly beneficial.Â
- New product development: Prototyping plays an important role when developing new products. You can transform ideas and concepts into actual products and validate product design and functionality. You can also present prototypes to customers and get feedback to understand market demands and customer needs and improve your product.Â
- Software development: Prototypes play an important role in the development of software and applications. Create interactive prototypes to confirm user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) designs. You can also use prototypes to test software functionality and performance, identify problems, and improve them.Â
- Process improvement projects: Prototyping is also suitable for projects to improve existing business processes. You can create process prototypes to visualize the process flow and identify problem areas and bottlenecks. Furthermore, by using prototypes to try out improvements, it is also possible to improve efficiency and quality.Â
- Usability Testing: Prototyping is also used for usability testing. We create prototypes to have real users evaluate the usability and usability of our products and services. Collect user feedback and gain insights to improve your products and services.Â
These are just a few examples, but prototyping can be applied to a wide range of business projects. Prototyping has become a valuable tool for many businesses and organizations because it helps validate ideas, reduce risk, co-create with users, and streamline development.Â
spiral method
Spiral methodology is a type of software development process that takes an iterative approach to progressing a project. In the spiral method, phases such as requirements analysis, design, development, and testing are divided into multiple iterations, and the project progresses while adding or changing features in each iteration.Â
The spiral methodology focuses on managing risks, with each iteration identifying risks, assessing them, and implementing countermeasures. At the end of each iteration, reviews and evaluations are conducted with customers, and plans are made for the next iteration. In this way, the spiral method is characterized by being flexible while proceeding with development while minimizing risks.Â
The spiral method is suitable for business projects that have the following characteristics :Â
-  Projects with high-risk elements: The spiral methodology emphasizes identifying and managing risks. Suitable if your project has high-risk elements and you need to identify them early and take countermeasures.Â
- Large and complex projects: The spiral method is suitable for large and complex projects because it progresses development through multiple iterations. You can refine your requirements and design by adding and changing features with each iteration.Â
- Projects that require continuous feedback from users: Spiral methodology includes reviews and ratings with customers at the end of each iteration. Gather user feedback and incorporate improvements into the next iteration to improve user satisfaction.Â
- Projects with rapidly evolving technology: The spiral method is flexible and can respond to evolving technology. By incorporating new techniques and ideas into each iteration, you can maintain and improve your project’s competitiveness.Â
However, since the spiral method requires adaptability and risk management skills, it is also necessary to consider its compatibility with the characteristics of the project and the skill set of the team.Â
summary
As shown above, there are many notable models out there, but it’s important to evaluate your company’s specific business needs and goals to make the best choice.Â
However, no one software development model is universally superior. The effectiveness of a model depends on a variety of factors, including project complexity, team expertise, and client expectations. We recommend consulting with industry experts and evaluating case studies to find the model that best fits your business goals.Â
At CMC Japan, we understand the importance of choosing the right software development model for your business. Our team of experienced professionals is familiar with many techniques and can flexibly adjust our approach. We have a proven track record of delivering high-quality software solutions and are committed to advancing your business in the ever-changing digital landscape.Â