The MCF Way

Agile Evolved

The MCF Way provides for an ideal collaboration with customers to leverage the impact and opportunities of new technologies, methods, and practices.

A Fresh Take on a Familiar Story

MCF Media Solutions has evolved a practice specialized in the successful development and deployment of tailored business process solutions. We’ve coined our approach “The MCF Way” because it’s as much an organization mindset as it is a technical practice. The focus of The MCF Way is rooted in Agile principles and draws from leading practices in software development and project management such as IBM Rational Unified Process (RUP), PRINCE2, and PMP.

This client-focused, iterative approach ensures the end results match the exact needs of the client. Our rapid prototyping model puts the functional product in front of end users early and often, promoting exploration and system learning through the development cycle. We quickly adapt to evolving requirements as end users experience the system and as organizational priorities shift.

The MCF Way leads to systems that gets deployed faster, at a lower cost, and with better user adoption than traditional methods.

  1. Define

    We start by capturing, prioritizing, and detailing the system requirements in a Component->Feature breakdown  which can then be estimated  and planned for development.

  2. Design

    A fully working model of the application is developed for client review and trial. The Punchlist Feedback System is introduced to the client and initial development of testing scripts and test plan are completed.

  3. ACCELERATE

    A design document including feature specifications, mock-ups of key user interfaces or reports, and an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is created. Project risks and client action items are identified and addressed.

  4. CONTROL

    Feature releases for client reviews occur regularly, sometimes even daily.  Clients log findings and change requests n the Punchlist. Test plans  and scripts are finalized  and the  go-live sequence is initiated to lock requirement changes and firm dates  for UAT, data migration, and release.

  5. TEST

    The Test stage focuses on integrated  system testing or “User Acceptance Testing” (UAT). In advance of UAT,  system access is provided to testers and super users, and initial training is provided.

  6. RELEASE

    Release activities can vary depending on the application and end users  but always includes communication of the release, data migration / population, granting of user access,  and promotion of the application to production. Often, user training and  release of application documentation  also occurs.

  7. HYPERCARE

    The period following Release is one of the most critical for adoption so MCFMedia plans for a period of high intensity support with rapid  response on any adjustments needed.  Final documentation and additional training is often provided during this stage.

  8. ENHANCE

    Following the successful roll-out, MCFMedia will work with the client to review lessons learned, identify opportunities for improvement, and establish a plan for the  system  maintenance and functionality enhancements if required.