# Ultimate Software Project Kickoff, Planning, & Execution Blueprint

This document serves as your single source of truth for planning and executing
a software project using industry-standard practices. It tries to cover the
full lifecycle—from initial market research and business case development to
design, development, testing, deployment, and post-launch evaluation.

> **Note:** Every decision should be questioned—ask “Why?” and “What if?” at
> each stage to avoid hidden pitfalls.

## Table of Contents

1. [Project Ideation & Business Analysis](#1-project-ideation-business-analysis)
2. [Stakeholder Alignment & Kickoff](#2-stakeholder-alignment-kickoff)
3. [Requirements Gathering & Use Case Definition](#3-requirements-gathering-use-case-definition)
4. [Design, Wireframing & Prototyping](#4-design-wireframing-prototyping)
5. [Technical Architecture & Technology Selection](#5-technical-architecture-technology-selection)
6. [Data Modeling & Database Design](#6-data-modeling-database-design)
7. [API Design, Integration & Contract Management](#7-api-design-integration-contract-management)
8. [Development Planning & Agile Execution](#8-development-planning-agile-execution)
9. [Coding Standards, Version Control & Collaboration](#9-coding-standards-version-control-collaboration)
10. [Testing, Quality Assurance & CI/CD](#10-testing-quality-assurance-cicd)
11. [Deployment, DevOps & Infrastructure](#11-deployment-devops-infrastructure)
12. [Risk Management, Compliance & Change Control](#12-risk-management-compliance-change-control)
13. [Post-Deployment Review & Continuous Improvement](#13-post-deployment-review-continuous-improvement)
14. [Training, Knowledge Sharing & Documentation](#14-training-knowledge-sharing-documentation)
15. [Appendices & Supplementary Resources](#15-appendices-supplementary-resources)

## 1. Project Ideation & Business Analysis

### 1.1. Market Research & Competitive Analysis

- **Objective:** Understand market needs, identify customer pain points, and
  assess competitors.
- **Actions:**
  - **Research Trends:** Gather quantitative & qualitative data on industry trends.
  - **Competitor SWOT:** Analyze competitors’ strengths, weaknesses,
    opportunities, and threats.
  - **Business Case:** Create a detailed business case including ROI estimates.
- **Tools:**
  - Google Trends, Statista for market data
  - SWOT templates in Excel or Notion
  - Business case templates (e.g., from Smartsheet)
- **Example:**

  ### Market Research Summary

  - **Key Trends:** [List major trends]
  - **Customer Pain Points:** [List pain points with supporting data]
  - **Competitor Analysis:**

    | Competitor | Strengths    | Weaknesses | Differentiators              |
    | ---------- | ------------ | ---------- | ---------------------------- |
    | Company A  | Fast support | Expensive  | Intuitive design, lower cost |

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Does our product fill a gap that competitors overlook?
  - Are our ROI projections realistic?

### 1.2. Define Business Objectives & Scope

- **Objective:** Set SMART objectives that align with strategic goals.
- **Actions:**
  - **Vision Statement:** Write a concise statement of the project’s purpose.
  - **SMART Goals:** Define measurable targets (e.g., increase user engagement
    by 25% within 6 months).
  - **Scope Definition:** Clearly outline what is included and excluded.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Project Name:** [Your Project Name]

  **Vision Statement:**  
  "To revolutionize customer data interaction by creating an intuitive, secure
  analytics platform."

  **SMART Objectives:**

  - Increase user engagement by 25% within 6 months.
  - Reduce data retrieval time by 50%.

  **Scope:**

  - **In Scope:** Real-time analytics, mobile responsiveness, secure data storage
  - **Out of Scope:** Legacy system integration, offline mode
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Are our objectives achievable with current resources?
  - What are the potential risks of an overly broad scope?

## 2. Stakeholder Alignment & Kickoff

### 2.1. Stakeholder Identification & Mapping

- **Objective:** Identify all internal and external stakeholders and assess
  their influence.
- **Actions:**
  - Create a stakeholder map detailing roles, influence, and interest.
  - Document key contacts and expectations.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Stakeholder Map:**
  | Name | Role | Influence | Interest | Contact |
  |---------|---------------------|-----------|----------|---------------------|
  | Jane Doe | Marketing Director | High | High | jane.doe@example.com|
  | John Smith | Lead Developer | Medium | High | john.smith@example.com|
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Who are the decision makers and who can become blockers?
  - How will we engage each stakeholder throughout the project?

### 2.2. Kickoff Meeting & Alignment Workshop

- **Objective:** Ensure all stakeholders and team members are aligned with
  project vision and roles.
- **Actions:**
  - Develop a meeting agenda (project vision, roles, timeline, expectations).
  - Facilitate interactive exercises (brainstorming, “five whys” analysis).
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Kickoff Meeting Agenda:**

  1. Introduction & Vision Overview
  2. Roles & Responsibilities
  3. Project Timeline & Milestones
  4. Open Discussion/Q&A

  **Workshop Outcomes:**

  - Clarify project objectives
  - Identify immediate concerns and action items
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Does everyone understand their responsibilities?
  - What concerns were raised and how can we address them early?

## 3. Requirements Gathering & Use Case Definition

### 3.1. Gather Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

- **Objective:** Collect comprehensive requirements that define what the system
  must do.
- **Actions:**
  - Interview stakeholders and end users.
  - Create detailed user stories and use cases with acceptance criteria.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **User Story Example:**

  - **Story:** As a data analyst, I want to filter reports by date so that I
    can view trends over specific periods.
  - **Acceptance Criteria:**
    - A date picker is available.
    - Reports update in real time upon selection.
    - Error handling is implemented for invalid inputs.
  ```

- **Tools:**
  - Are all edge cases and error scenarios covered?
  - How will these requirements be validated through testing?

### 3.2. Use Case and Scenario Development

- **Objective:** Translate requirements into clear scenarios for development
  and testing.
- **Actions:**
  - Develop a use case model and sequence diagrams.
  - Create a list of scenarios from normal flows to edge cases.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Use Case: User Login**

  - **Actor:** Registered User
  - **Scenario:** User enters valid credentials, system authenticates, and
    grants access.
  - **Alternate Scenario:** User enters invalid credentials, system displays error.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Do the use cases capture all user interactions?
  - Are acceptance criteria clearly measurable?

## 4. Design, Wireframing & Prototyping

### 4.1. Information Architecture & Wireframing

- **Objective:** Create the blueprint for user experience and navigation.
- **Actions:**
  - Develop a site map or app structure diagram.
  - Create low-fidelity wireframes for key screens.
  - Map out detailed user flows.
- **Tools:**
  - Figma, Sketch, or Balsamiq for wireframes
  - Miro or Lucidchart for flow diagrams
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Wireframe for Dashboard Screen:**

  - [Insert image or link to wireframe]

  **User Flow Diagram:**

  - [Insert diagram showing login → dashboard → analytics page]
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Is the navigation intuitive for new users?
  - Do wireframes align with the defined user flows and requirements?

### 4.2. Visual Design & Interactive Prototyping

- **Objective:** Develop high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes for
  user testing.
- **Actions:**
  - Create a design system (colors, typography, components).
  - Build interactive prototypes to simulate user interaction.
  - Gather early feedback and iterate.
- **Tools:**
  - Adobe XD, Figma, or InVision
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Design System Overview:**

  - **Primary Colors:** #1A73E8, #4285F4
  - **Typography:** Roboto for headings, Open Sans for body text
  - **Components:** Buttons, form fields, navigation bars

  **Prototype Link:** [Insert URL]
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Does the design adhere to accessibility standards?
  - What usability issues have early testers encountered?

## 5. Technical Architecture & Technology Selection

### 5.1. System Architecture & Component Breakdown

- **Objective:** Define the overall structure and key components of the system.
- **Actions:**
  - Decide on architectural style (monolithic, microservices, hybrid).
  - Create an architecture diagram showing component interactions.
  - Define integration points with third-party systems.
- **Tools:**
  - Lucidchart or Draw.io for architecture diagrams
  - Confluence for documenting design decisions
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Architecture Diagram:**

  - [Insert architecture diagram image]

  **Component Breakdown:**

  - **Frontend:** React with Redux for state management
  - **Backend:** Node.js with Express
  - **Database:** PostgreSQL with Redis caching
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Does the chosen architecture support scalability and resilience?
  - Have we evaluated trade-offs between different technology stacks?
  - Are industry standards like ISO/IEC 12207 considered?

### 5.2. Technology Stack Evaluation & Trade-Offs

- **Objective:** Choose a technology stack that meets performance, scalability,
  and team expertise requirements.
- **Actions:**
  - List pros and cons of candidate technologies.
  - Evaluate based on cost, community support, and maintainability.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Technology Evaluation Matrix:**
  | Technology | Pros | Cons | Decision |
  |---------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------|----------|
  | React | Rich ecosystem, component reusability | Learning curve for advanced state management | Yes |
  | Angular | Comprehensive framework, robust tooling | Verbose syntax, heavier footprint | No |
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - How do our choices affect future maintenance?
  - Are our team members familiar with these technologies?

## 6. Data Modeling & Database Design

### 6.1. Data Requirements & Entity Identification

- **Objective:** Define the data entities, relationships, and expected data volumes.
- **Actions:**
  - List all core entities (e.g., Users, Orders) and their attributes.
  - Determine data access patterns (CRUD operations).
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Data Inventory:**

  - **Entity:** Users
    - **Attributes:** id (PK), name, email, password, created_at
  - **Entity:** Orders
    - **Attributes:** id (PK), user_id (FK), product_id, order_date, amount
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Are data relationships normalized for efficiency and integrity?
  - How will we handle expected data growth?

### 6.2. Database Schema & ER Diagrams

- **Objective:** Create a visual representation of the database schema.
- **Actions:**
  - Develop an ER diagram to document tables and relationships.
  - Define indexes, constraints, and storage optimization strategies.
- **Tools:**
  - MySQL Workbench, ERDPlus, or Draw.io
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **ER Diagram:**

  - [Insert ER diagram image]

  **Schema Details:**

  - **Table:** Users
    - Columns: id (PK), name, email, created_at
  - **Table:** Orders
    - Columns: id (PK), user_id (FK), order_date, amount
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Does our design support both current and future query loads?
  - What are our backup and disaster recovery strategies?

## 7. API Design, Integration & Contract Management

### 7.1. API Specification & Endpoints

- **Objective:** Define the API’s endpoints, data contracts, and versioning.
- **Actions:**
  - List all API endpoints with HTTP methods.
  - Document request/response formats and error handling.
- **Example:**

  ````markdown
  **API Endpoint: GET /api/v1/users**

  - **Description:** Retrieves a list of users
  - **Query Parameters:** page (optional), limit (optional)
  - **Response Example:**

  ```json
  {
    "users": [{ "id": 1, "name": "Jane Doe" }],
    "pagination": { "page": 1, "limit": 10, "total": 50 }
  }
  ```
  ````

- **Tools:**
  - Swagger/OpenAPI, Postman
- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Are our endpoints RESTful and intuitive?
  - How do we ensure backward compatibility with versioning?

### 7.2. Third-Party Integrations & Contract Management

- **Objective:** Manage dependencies with external systems and APIs.
- **Actions:**
  - Document third-party services (payment gateways, social logins).
  - Specify SLAs, authentication methods, and fallback plans.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Third-Party Service: Payment Gateway XYZ**

  - **API Endpoint:** https://api.paymentxyz.com
  - **Authentication:** API Key
  - **Fallback:** Switch to Payment Gateway ABC if downtime exceeds 5 minutes.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - What are the risks if a third-party service fails?
  - Do our contracts include clear performance guarantees?

## 8. Development Planning & Agile Execution

### 8.1. Agile Methodology & Sprint Planning

- **Objective:** Organize development work using Agile practices.
- **Actions:**
  - Define sprint durations, goals, and backlog priorities.
  - Break down features into user stories and tasks.
- **Tools:**
  - Jira, Trello, or ClickUp for sprint and backlog management
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Sprint 1 Plan (2 Weeks):**

  - **Goals:** Complete user registration and initial API endpoints.
  - **User Stories:**
    1. As a user, I want to register with email.
    2. As a user, I want to login securely.
  - **Tasks:**
    - Create wireframes for registration.
    - Set up backend authentication.
    - Draft API documentation for user endpoints.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Are our sprint goals realistic given our team’s experience?
  - How will we handle dependencies between tasks?

### 8.2. Daily Stand-Ups, Kanban Boards & Retrospectives

- **Objective:** Maintain regular communication and adapt based on feedback.
- **Actions:**
  - Conduct daily stand-ups to discuss progress, blockers, and plans.
  - Use Kanban boards to visualize work states (To Do, In Progress, Done, Blocked).
  - Hold retrospectives at the end of each sprint.
- **Tools:**
  - GitHub Projects, Notion, or Trello
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Daily Stand-Up:**

  - **Yesterday:** [What was accomplished]
  - **Today:** [Tasks planned]
  - **Blockers:** [List issues]

  **Retrospective Summary:**

  - **What Went Well:** [Highlights]
  - **Challenges:** [Issues encountered]
  - **Action Items:** [Improvements for next sprint]
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - How can we improve communication to avoid repeated blockers?
  - What changes in process are necessary based on sprint feedback?

## 9. Coding Standards, Version Control & Collaboration

### 9.1. Establishing Coding Guidelines & Best Practices

- **Objective:** Ensure code quality and consistency across the project.
- **Actions:**
  - Adopt language-specific style guides (e.g., PEP8, Airbnb JavaScript Style Guide).
  - Set up automated linters and formatters (ESLint, Prettier, Black).
  - Define code review processes and merge policies.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Coding Standards Document:**

  - **Language:** JavaScript (ES6+)
    - Follow Airbnb style guide.
    - Use ESLint with our custom configuration.
  - **Commit Guidelines:**
    - Follow Conventional Commits format.
  ```

- **Tools:**
  - GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket for version control; CI tools like GitHub Actions
- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Are our standards easy for new team members to adopt?
  - How can code reviews be structured to provide constructive feedback?

### 9.2. Version Control Strategy & Branching Model

- **Objective:** Organize source code management and collaboration efficiently.
- **Actions:**
  - Set up a main branch that is always deployable.
  - Use feature branches (e.g., `feature/<short-description>`).
  - Define merge and pull request review processes.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Version Control Guidelines:**

  - **Main Branch:** Always production-ready.
  - **Feature Branches:** Named as `feature/<description>`.
  - **Review Process:** Minimum of two approvals required before merging.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Does our branching strategy minimize merge conflicts?
  - Are our guidelines clear enough to ensure consistency across contributions?

## 10. Testing, Quality Assurance & CI/CD

### 10.1. Comprehensive Testing Strategy

- **Objective:** Ensure the software meets quality standards through rigorous testing.
- **Actions:**
  - **Unit Testing:** Write tests for individual functions.
  - **Integration Testing:** Validate interactions between modules.
  - **End-to-End (E2E) Testing:** Simulate complete user journeys.
  - **Performance & Security Testing:** Assess load capacity and vulnerabilities.
- **Tools:**
  - Jest, Mocha for unit tests; Selenium, Cypress for E2E tests; Jenkins or
    GitHub Actions for CI/CD
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Test Plan Document:**

  - **Unit Tests:**
    - [List modules and test cases]
  - **Integration Tests:**
    - [Define data flow tests between API endpoints]
  - **E2E Tests:**
    - [Outline scenarios like user login, registration, and checkout]
  - **Performance Testing:**
    - Define benchmarks for response times and load testing.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Do our tests cover both common and edge cases?
  - How quickly can we roll back deployments if tests fail?

### 10.2. CI/CD Pipeline & Automated Deployment

- **Objective:** Automate build, test, and deployment processes.
- **Actions:**
  - Set up build triggers for each push to the repository.
  - Integrate automated test suites into the pipeline.
  - Define deployment strategies (staging and production) with rollback procedures.
- **Tools:**
  - Jenkins, GitHub Actions, CircleCI
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **CI/CD Pipeline Overview:**

  - **Build Trigger:** On every commit to feature branches.
  - **Test Stage:** Run unit, integration, and E2E tests.
  - **Deployment Stage:** Automatic deployment to staging; production
    deployment requires manual approval.
  - **Rollback Strategy:** Tag releases and use container orchestration for
    quick rollbacks.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - How fast can we detect issues and trigger rollbacks?
  - Is our pipeline robust enough to catch regressions before production?

## 11. Deployment, DevOps & Infrastructure

### 11.1. Environment Configuration & Infrastructure as Code

- **Objective:** Set up reproducible environments for development, staging, and production.
- **Actions:**
  - Define separate configurations for each environment.
  - Use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools to automate environment provisioning.
- **Tools:**
  - Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, Ansible
- **Example:**

  ````markdown
  **Environment Overview:**

  - **Development:** Local setups with Docker containers.
  - **Staging:** Mirror production environment for final testing.
  - **Production:** High-availability deployment with load balancing and auto-scaling.

  **Sample Terraform Snippet:**

  ```hcl
  resource "aws_instance" "web" {
    ami           = "ami-123456"
    instance_type = "t2.micro"
    tags = {
      Name = "Production-Web-Server"
    }
  }
  ```
  ````

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Are our environments isolated to prevent configuration drift?
  - What are our disaster recovery plans?

### 11.2. Monitoring, Logging & Maintenance

- **Objective:** Continuously monitor performance and maintain the system post-deployment.
- **Actions:**
  - Implement real-time monitoring dashboards.
  - Set up centralized logging for error tracking.
  - Define a maintenance schedule for updates, patches, and backups.
- **Tools:**
  - Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Splunk
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Monitoring & Logging Plan:**

  - **Monitoring:**
    - Configure Prometheus alerts for CPU/memory thresholds.
  - **Logging:**
    - Use ELK stack with daily log rotation.
  - **Maintenance Schedule:**
    - Weekly patch updates, monthly backups, quarterly security audits.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - How quickly can we identify and address outages?
  - What is our expected uptime SLA?

## 12. Risk Management, Compliance & Change Control

### 12.1. Risk Identification & Mitigation

- **Objective:** Proactively identify risks and plan mitigation strategies.
- **Actions:**
  - Create a risk register detailing potential technical, operational, and
    market risks.
  - Assess likelihood and impact, and assign risk owners.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Risk Register:**
  | Risk Description | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation Strategy | Owner |
  |----------------------------------|------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------|
  | Third-party API downtime | Medium | High | Establish fallback integrations | [Name] |
  | Data security vulnerability | Low | High | Regular security audits and code reviews | [Name] |
  | Scope creep due to changing requirements | Medium | Medium | Implement change control process | [Name] |
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - What risks are most likely to derail our project?
  - Are our contingency plans actionable?

### 12.2. Compliance, Regulatory, and Change Management

- **Objective:** Ensure the project adheres to regulatory standards and manage
  scope changes.
- **Actions:**
  - Document relevant compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.).
  - Define a change management process with formal approval workflows.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Compliance & Change Management Plan:**

  - **Compliance:**
    - Ensure data encryption in transit and at rest.
    - Conduct regular audits per GDPR guidelines.
  - **Change Control:**
    - All scope changes must be documented and approved by the project sponsor.
    - Maintain a change log for traceability.
  ```

- **Tools:**
  - Jira or Confluence for change tracking; risk management tools integrated in project management software
- **Questions to Ask:**
  - How will we control and document changes to the scope?
  - Do we have clear protocols for regulatory compliance?

## 13. Post-Deployment Review & Continuous Improvement

### 13.1. Release Management & Customer Feedback

- **Objective:** Evaluate project outcomes and gather lessons learned.
- **Actions:**
  - Conduct a formal project review meeting with all stakeholders.
  - Collect user feedback and performance metrics.
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Post-Deployment Retrospective:**

  - **Success Metrics:**
    - Uptime, response times, customer satisfaction ratings.
  - **Feedback Summary:**
    - What worked well and areas for improvement.
  - **Action Items:**
    - Process improvements for future sprints.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Did we meet our defined success criteria?
  - What process changes can we implement for next time?

### 13.2. Continuous Improvement & Documentation Updates

- **Objective:** Create a feedback loop to refine future processes.
- **Actions:**
  - Update project documentation with lessons learned.
  - Plan regular process audits and team training sessions.
- **Questions to Ask:**
  - How can we improve our development lifecycle based on current outcomes?
  - What training do team members need to avoid past pitfalls?

## 14. Training, Knowledge Sharing & Documentation

### 14.1. Internal Training & Skill Development

- **Objective:** Ensure all team members are up to date with project tools and methodologies.
- **Actions:**
  - Conduct regular training workshops (e.g., Git workflows, CI/CD best practices).
  - Set up mentorship programs and pair programming sessions.
- **Tools:**
  - Notion, Confluence, or internal Wikis for documentation
  - Online courses (Udemy, Coursera)
- **Questions to Ask:**
  - What are the current skill gaps within the team?
  - How will we measure the impact of our training sessions?

### 14.2. Centralized Documentation & Knowledge Sharing

- **Objective:** Create a single source of truth for all project-related information.
- **Actions:**
  - Maintain a central project wiki or knowledge base.
  - Version control all documentation alongside code (using Markdown in Git).
- **Tools:**
  - Confluence, Notion, or Obsidian (see Reddit recommendations)
- **Example:**

  ```markdown
  **Project Wiki Structure:**

  - **Overview:** Project vision, scope, and objectives.
  - **Technical Specs:** Architecture diagrams, API docs, DB schema.
  - **Meeting Minutes:** Records of all major meetings.
  - **Retrospectives:** Post-deployment reviews and lessons learned.
  ```

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Is the documentation easy to navigate and update?
  - Are all team members aware of the latest changes?

## 15. Appendices & Supplementary Resources

### 15.1. Glossary & Acronyms

- **API:** Application Programming Interface.
- **CI/CD:** Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment.
- **ERD:** Entity Relationship Diagram.
- **MoSCoW:** Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have.

- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Are there any domain-specific terms that need extra explanation?

### 15.2. External Resources & Tool References

- [Lucidchart & Lucidspark](https://www.lucid.co) for visual collaboration
- [Smartsheet](https://www.smartsheet.com) for project planning and dashboards
- [Excalidraw](https://excalidraw.com) for quick diagramming
- [Trello/Jira/ClickUp](https://trello.com) for Agile task management
- **Questions to Ask:**
  - Which tools best fit our project’s needs and team size?
  - Are there integrations that can reduce manual overhead?

## Final Thoughts

This guide is meant to be a living document—a blueprint that evolves as your
team grows and project requirements change. By questioning assumptions,
rigorously documenting decisions, and continuously refining your processes,
even a team of beginners can adopt industry-standard practices and achieve
success. Always ask yourself:

> **“Is there a better way to do this?”**
>
> **“Have we planned for potential pitfalls?”**
>
> **“Are our team and stakeholders aligned on the vision?”**

Use this document as your roadmap for a structured, yet flexible, approach to
software project management. Happy planning, and keep questioning every
assumption as you build your future!