Last updated on Jul 19, 2024

Your client wants last-minute changes to the mobile app. Are you prepared to prevent disruption?

When the deadline is looming, and your client requests last-minute changes to their mobile app, it's crucial to remain calm and assess the situation. Such changes can introduce risks, including bugs, user dissatisfaction, or project delays. However, with the right approach, you can manage these updates without causing disruption. By staying prepared and implementing strategies like feature flags and modular coding, you can accommodate changes efficiently. The key is to ensure that your development process is flexible enough to handle unexpected requests while maintaining the app's integrity and meeting your client's needs.

1 Agile Response

Agile methodologies are your best friend in the face of last-minute changes. By embracing principles like iterative development and continuous feedback, you can integrate new requirements without derailing your project. Ensure your team is well-versed in Agile practices, which allow for flexibility and quick pivots. This approach involves breaking down the project into manageable segments, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining open communication with the client to ensure their needs are met while keeping the project on track.

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Saman Gul

Scrum Master | Agilest | Project/Product Manager.
As a project manager, I understand the importance of end-time client requirement changes, accommodating client requests should be the priority, even if they come at the last minute. with time of experience, I think these are the best practices to adopt to prevent disruption: Agile approach, we utilize agile methodologies, which allow us to adapt quickly to changes and prioritize tasks efficiently. The second would be to maintain clear and constant communication with our clients and team to ensure everyone is on the same page. After that, from my best practices, I suggest contingency planning, we always have contingency plans in place to handle unexpected changes without impacting the overall project timeline.
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2 Feature Flags

Feature flags are a developer's safety net for implementing last-minute changes. They allow you to toggle features on or off without deploying new code. This means you can work on updates and test them in production without affecting your users. If a new feature isn't ready or doesn't meet expectations, simply turn it off. This technique is particularly useful for rolling out changes incrementally and assessing their impact, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption to the end-user experience.

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Andrew Tate

Senior Information Technology Consultant Ready to Make Your Company Stronger
Feature flags are a must especially with mobile development so as to minimize the risk. If suddenly something breaks you can turn off the feature and minimize the impact on others.
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3 Modular Design

A modular design philosophy can be your saving grace when quick alterations are needed. By structuring your app's codebase in a way that separates functionalities into independent, interchangeable modules, you enable easier updates and maintenance. When a client requests a change, you can modify or replace just the relevant module without having to rewrite extensive portions of the code. This not only speeds up the implementation process but also reduces the risk of introducing new bugs.

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4 Version Control

Effective version control is essential for managing last-minute changes. Utilize tools like Git to keep track of different versions of your codebase. This allows you to experiment with new features in separate branches without affecting the main application. If a change doesn't work out, you can revert to a previous version with ease. Version control also facilitates collaboration among team members, ensuring that everyone is working on the latest iteration of the code and minimizing conflicts.

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5 Testing Protocols

Robust testing protocols are your safeguard against disruptions caused by last-minute changes. Implement automated testing to quickly identify and fix any bugs introduced by updates. These tests should cover unit testing, which verifies individual components, and integration testing, which ensures that the components work together harmonously. By having a comprehensive testing suite in place, you can confidently make changes, knowing that any potential issues will be caught before they reach the user.

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6 Client Communication

Clear communication with your client is vital to prevent misunderstanding and disruption when changes are requested. Keep them informed about the implications of their requests on timelines and budgets. Educate them on the development process so they understand why certain changes may require more time or resources. Establishing a transparent dialogue helps manage expectations and fosters a collaborative relationship, which is essential for navigating last-minute adjustments smoothly.

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Belinda C.

Scrum Master at American Express
Communication plays a big role here. We listen and emphatize to ensure we get a great understanding of what motivation is behind the requested change. Is it user experience that can be resolved with a GUI change and little backend changes. Analysis of risk shall be considered as well to ensure we are not introducing issues. The methodology. Mentioned above are so good to apply
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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Your client wants last-minute changes to the mobile app. Are you prepared to prevent disruption?

1

2

3

4

5

6

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1 Agile Response

2 Feature Flags

3 Modular Design

4 Version Control

5 Testing Protocols

6 Client Communication

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

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Your client wants last-minute changes to the mobile app. Are you prepared to prevent disruption?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Agile Response

2 Feature Flags

3 Modular Design

4 Version Control

5 Testing Protocols

6 Client Communication

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

Rate this article

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