Natural Process.org - Advanced Lifecycle Research

Natural Process.org | Advanced Lifecycle Research

Advanced Lifecycle Research

The Natural Process Advanced Lifecycle™ (ALC) model adopts a holistic approach to the information systems lifecycle. It does not preclude the utilization of other effective mechanisms within its framework. For example, the area of programming (or construction) processes such as spiral, agile, or extreme programming techniques are not addressed within our area of research. While we do not address these areas, we encourage the use of disciplined programming practices such as these as long as they are accompanied by analysis, architecture, design, and management practices.

In addition, we encourage the utilization of our principles and practices within the frameworks of process evaluations, appraisals, and certifications such the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) - Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) and International Standards Organization (ISO).

The Advanced Lifecycle™ (ALC) Model
Natural Process Advanced Lifecycle (ALC) Model

The Advanced Lifecycle Model has seven basic phases. These include Project Inception, Architecture, Design, Construction, Stabilization, Finalization, and Deployment. Briefly, these can be described as follows:

**The Advanced Lifecycle Phases**
The Phases	Brief Description	Primary Outputs
Project Inception	Involves the definition of the project scope	Prospectus
Architecture	Further refinement of scope and architecture development	Architectural Design Specifications (ADS), System Blueprint, Component Design Specifications (CDS), and Interface Design Specifications (IDS)
Design	Component and detailed system design and build planning	Detailed Design Specifications, Component Build Plans
Construction	Controlled component builds and unit testing	Build Components
Stabilization	Progressive functional and integration testing	Functional and Component Integration Test Reports
Finalization	Comprehensive deployment and support testing, including finalization of user related training materials and manuals	User Manuals and Documentation, Installation Procedures and Scripts
Deployment	Go-live deployment, final data/system migrations, and user community training	User Training, System and Support Infrastructure Deployed

The Process Areas

Within the Advanced Lifecycle (ALC) there are five distinct process areas that run throughout the lifecycle. These include:

Management and Planning*
Requirements and Design*
Quality Assurance*
Configuration Management*
Transition Management*

* - Risk management is an important activity with the Advanced Lifecycle model. Each of the process areas should contain a risk management component, since each process area has specific elements risk.

These process areas continue throughout the lifecycle, however, the level of activity and the types of activities will fluctuate throughout. The table below describes this level of activity as it applies to the lifecycle.

**Process Area to Lifecycle Mapping**
Process Areas	Lifecycle Phases
Process Areas	PI	A	D	C	S	F	D
Management and Planning
Requirements and Design
Quality Assurance
Configuration Management
Transition Management

**Process Area Activity Key**
	Extensive amount of activity in this process area
	Moderate amount of activity in this process area
	Little or no activities in this process process area