In step with further digitisation, the implementation of more applications, the need for additional functionality increases and at the same time the complexity in and around the application grows. Therefore, it is essential to understand the application life cycle.
Application lifecycle management – better known as ALM – is basically an administration of an application’s life cycle. It includes everything from management, development and maintenance of the application. The application cycle is a process of cyclical software development that typically includes elements such as planning, development, construction, testing, implementation, operation and monitoring.
ALM combines all disciplines involved in the development process to ensure that the development is done effectively and predictably. Therefore, automation is an important part of ALM. Through automation tools, the productivity, security and quality of the application are increased.
Three core aspects of the application cycle
Application lifecycle management includes three aspects:
- Application management
- Application development and
- Application operation
Each of the three aspects plays a role in effectively managing the application throughout its life cycle and ensuring that the company is sufficiently positioned in the market to create value from the investments in technology.
Administration of applications
The purpose of application management is to ensure that the application meets the needs of the business. Effective application management depends on a clear and purposeful structure for the application, its development and operation. The company must also ensure sufficient information so the project managers can make the best decisions to manage the application lifecycle.
Application development
Gathering and analysing user requirements, developing and testing new code, building and testing new releases, and deploying the application in the production environment are the most important areas of application development.
Unlike application management, application development is not always in process. Application development most often takes place before the first implementation and then application development is only resumed when a need arises due to, for example, user requirements and needs.
Application operation
The operation of an application already developed and deployed by the organisation includes monitoring and measuring performance. Applications in production, development and implementation of appropriate monitoring tools, allow development teams to coordinate solutions to application problems, such as performance or degradation. Application operation begins when an application has been deployed and continues until the end of the application’s life cycle.
Are these topics worth investigating further in your organisation? We are here to support and guide you in this change providing modern, agile and holistic partnership and competence for IT operations and development, what we call Lifecycle services. You can also contact me at [email protected].
