Balancing Cost and Control in Custom Software Development: A Look at the DSDM Process

When it comes to building custom software development for businesses, clients often expect a fixed price/upfront cost for the project.

That’s fair enough because this type of pricing/costing provides budgeting certainty and avoids the potential for future hidden costs in terms of money and delays in terms of time.

With traditional software development processes such as Scrum, where the entire development team is involved in what is called “sprint” planning.

Sprint planning can add an unnecessary cost for the client because of the human capital involved.

Compare this to the Dynamic Systems Development Method (or DSDM) software development process, which offers an alternative solution to this challenge by allowing developers to individually estimate and work on tasks without needing the whole team.

Each software developer has the authority to make decisions in the best interest of the project (and thus the client), which can help to expedite the software development and then in turn reduce costs.

While upfront fixed costs are desirable for customers, it’s essential to find a balance between both cost control and project success.

The Dynamic Systems Development Method offers a unique approach that helps achieve this balance by empowering individuals and promoting cost-saving decision-making it encourages.