Project Discovery: A Practical Approach to Starting Your Software Journey | Our Processes

Turning an idea into a working software product can feel overwhelming. 

Where do you begin? How do you ensure your vision takes shape without costly detours? 

This is where project discovery comes into play – a vital first step that sets the stage for success. 

At Fora Soft, we’ve refined a practical approach to this process through years of collaboration with founders like you. In this guide, we’ll explore the value of project discovery and outline our method as an example, offering insights you can apply to your own project.

What is Project Discovery?

Project discovery is the process of understanding your idea, defining what needs to be built, and charting a clear path forward. It’s the phase where critical questions come to light: 

• What’s the goal? 
• Who’s the audience? 
• How does it stand out from the crowd?
• What obstacles might arise? 
• How can we use tried-and-true industry practices to get the best results without reinventing the wheel?

By addressing these early on, you minimize the chances of miscommunication or wasted effort down the line. 

Research from the Project Management Institute highlights that up to 70% of software projects fail due to poor planning or unclear requirements (source), making discovery an essential safeguard.

For those without a technical background, this process simplifies the complexity of software development, breaking it into digestible steps that build confidence and clarity.

Our Approach to Project Discovery

Every team approaches project discovery differently, and at Fora Soft, we’ve crafted a method that’s both thorough and accessible. Our process revolves around three key stages: 

1. Personal consultation
2. Ideation
3. Scoping

We begin with a personal consultation to dive deep into your idea. Through a one-on-one conversation, we explore your goals, target audience, and any challenges you anticipate. A live discussion allows us to clarify details immediately, recommend suitable technologies, and share insights on successful product development right away – something email exchanges can’t always achieve, ensuring alignment from the start.

From there, we transition into ideation, where we collaborate with you to refine your concept. Drawing on insights from past projects, we analyze competitors to identify what works – or doesn’t – helping you shape an idea that’s both unique and market-ready. 

Finally, in the scoping phase, we consolidate everything into a list of features. This blueprint outlines the features, offers straightforward technical recommendations, and provides a rough timeline. 

It’s a practical tool designed to keep the project on course, even if you’re new to the tech world.

For an Existing Project

If we’re dealing with an existing software product, project discovery takes on a slightly different but equally valuable form. 

We start by auditing your system to assess its current state, conducting a comprehensive review of the code, architecture, and performance. 

Based on this, we recommend improvements – whether that’s optimizing the codebase, updating outdated technology, or enhancing the user experience to make your product more appealing to users. 

We also suggest practical ways to implement these changes, ensuring they align with your business objectives. Just like with a new project, we deliver a high-level plan that maps out the steps to upgrade or expand your system, complete with estimates for developing new functionality. This gives you a clear roadmap to elevate your product effectively.

Why Project Discovery Pays Off

Investing time in discovery might seem like a slow start, but it yields significant benefits. A well-executed discovery phase creates clarity, aligning you and your developers on a shared vision without guesswork. It also allows you to identify potential risks – like complex features or tight deadlines – early enough to address them proactively. 

With a clear understanding of what you’re building, you can avoid scope creep, where unchecked additions inflate costs mid-development. Plus, it empowers you to prioritize effectively, even without a technical background. 

These advantages hold true no matter the size of your product  – discovery is a universal win.

The Power of Talking It Out

One lesson we’ve learned stands out: nothing rivals the value of a real conversation. While some teams rely on forms or emails, we’ve found that personal consultations resonate especially with non-technical founders. 

A live discussion offers instant feedback and value, letting you ask questions and get answers on the spot, clearing up confusion before it grows. It fosters trust and collaboration, making the process feel approachable rather than daunting. 

Additionally, a specialist can tailor advice to your specific idea, leveraging past experiences to guide you. This simple step sets a strong foundation, and it’s something worth seeking out wherever you take your project.

What You’ll Have After Discovery

By the end of discovery, you’ll have a actionable roadmap in hand. This typically includes a feature breakdown with rough time estimates, technical options for you to consider, a high-level timeline to maintain momentum, and a ballpark cost to inform your budget. 

Far from being just paperwork, this is your project’s foundation – a versatile tool whether you’re comparing developers or jumping into the next phase.

Where to Go From Here

Once discovery wraps up, the journey continues with full-fledged planning, designing, developing, testing, and launching your software. Each step builds on that initial plan, keeping your project focused and manageable. This early effort makes the entire process far less intimidating. 

Our advice? Don’t bypass discovery – it’s the key to a smoother ride. Our approach is just one way to tackle it; take what resonates with your needs. 

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If you’d like to get a clear-cut roadmap for your software product, we’re here to help. Reach out or book a consultation right away to get it started!