Rapid Application Development (RAD) Methodology

RAD (rapid application development) proposes that products can be developed faster and of higher quality by:

• Using workshops or focus groups to gather requirements.
• Prototyping and user testing of designs.
• Re-using software components.
• Following a schedule that defers design improvements to the next product version.
• Keeping review meetings and other team communication informal.

There are commercial products that include requirements gathering tools, prototyping tools, software development environments such as those for the Java platform, groupware for communication among development members, and testing tools. RAD usually embraces object-oriented programming methodology, which inherently fosters software re-use. The most popular object-oriented programming languages, C++ and Java, are offered in visual programming packages often described as providing rapid application development.

If you're looking to hire a project manager with a strong software development background, contact us and I'd be happy to discuss
your company's project needs and how I can address them.

Other Methodologies

• Adaptive Project Framework
• Agile Software Development
• Crystal Methods
• Dynamic Systems Development Model (DSDM)
• Extreme Programming (XP)
• Feature Driven Development (FDD)
• Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
• Joint Application Development (JAD)
• Lean Development (LD)
• PRINCE2
• Rapid Application Development (RAD)
• Rational Unified Process (RUP)
• Scrum
• Spiral
• Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• TenStep Project Management Process
• Waterfall (a.k.a. Traditional)

For a high-level look at project management in general, check out my introduction to project management fundamentals.