In process modelling, we deploy the Scrum approach as an iterative incremental framework for managing complex work. According to this method, each team at Add-On Development normally consists of 6 to 9 people, the Team Lead being referred to as the Scrum Master. The client usually plays the Project Owner role, necessitating close cooperation between client and development team.

Requirements are captured as items on a ‘product backlog’ list produced by the project owner, which is then broken down into smaller processes, so-called sprint backlogs, by the client and development team in unison. By dividing the entire project like that, the Scrum model facilitates an agile and flexible development process. Thus, the resources dedicated to preliminary planning and paperwork are minimized and the development process itself is shortened. At the same time, superfluous work is prevented and optimum flexibility is ensured regarding changes desired during the development process.

Scrum is characterised by producing frequent intermediate deliveries with working functionality. This enables the client to get working software earlier and to change requirements during the process. Throughout each ‘sprint’, our teams self-manage to determine the best way of delivering the highest priority features. Team members meet to discuss project progress and issues on a daily basis for 15 minutes, mostly standing.

There is an overall visibility to potential slippage or deviation ahead of time, and the model allows the client to rapidly and repeatedly – once every fortnight or month – inspect actual, working software and decide to release it as it is or continue to enhance for another iteration.

Of our current full-time employees, 40 have MCTS, 20 have MCPD, and 2 have MCITP certifications. Education wise, 32 staff members possess university degrees at bachelor level or above.

MCPD employees are certified Windows, Web and Enterprise Application Developers, while MCITP employees are certified Enterprise Administrators and / or Enterprise Messaging Administrators.

Our 40 MCTS certified employees have all relevant certificates. Furthermore, a large number of employees are certified in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and the various fields of Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0.

Please contact us for a comprehensive, updated list of all current certifications and achievements.

Being a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, we use Microsoft approved systems to the highest possible extent – both in the fields of productivity software packages, process management tools and programming practices. As a programming package, our primary tool is Microsoft Visual Studio.

For source control and task management, we apply Microsoft’s Team Foundation Server (TFS). Using this application, the project is split up into pieces which are again broken up into smaller pieces registered as tasks, thus supporting our Scrum development approach. TFS generated reports enable the client to continually monitor project progress and time consumption. Furthermore TFS is capable of listing all known issues and errors of a given development project.

To facilitate successive quality assurance in the programming progress, we apply the Code Analysis tool, which continuously monitors the code and alerts developers if something is created that is noncompliant with Microsoft standards. This way, our clients can always be sure that applications developed by Add-On Development converge with Microsoft guidelines.

Add-On Development uses Team Foundation Server (TFS) for centrally archiving artifacts created during the software development process and for facilitating the effective cooperation of internal and external project stakeholders, no matter their location. Hence, the software is applied for managing and monitoring source code, versioning, product and sprint backlogs, and build management. Furthermore, the package is applied for tracking and reporting bugs.

TFS allows integration of project management and software development activities, providing clients insights into the development process. Thus, it promotes continuous interaction between clients and developers. It also provides facilities for various system and integration tests of the software developed.

Working on projects, Add-On Development utilizes Microsoft’s Enterprise Project Management (EPM) solution to effectively manage and coordinate people and processes.

Practically, Microsoft EPM is applied for the management of schedules and resources as well as for monitoring and reporting statuses on individual tasks and sprints and on the project as such.

EPM facilitates team cooperation in providing a collective framework for managing issues, risk, and project documents. Furthermore, it provides project groups with discussion boards and news forums.

We are familiar working with all commonly applied IT technologies and software packages as well as a wide variety of specialist systems in the respective areas listed below.

• Web languages and technologies
• Web servers, application servers and server software
• Enterprise Project Management tools
• Operating systems
• Software development packages
• Databases and RDBMS software
• Reporting tools
• Networking architectures and protocols
• Multimedia tools
• Design / Modeling tools
• Requirements and Change Management
• Testing / Documentation
• Bug Tracking
• Project Management

Apart from basic productivity software, we apply the following Microsoft applications in the software development process.

MS Enterprise Project Management (EPM) for cooperation, documentation, and tracking issues and risks

MS Team Foundation Server for cooperation, tracking issues and risks, source code management, configuration and documentation

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team System for tracking issues and risks, cooperation, source code management, configuration and documentation.

Microsoft SharePoint for tracking issues and risks, cooperation, documentation and management.

Microsoft Project for project planning, resource planning, scheduling, progress tracking and cost estimates.