Read this before going live with your software

Pilots use a checklist before taking off.

Common sense, right?

Then why not use a checklist for going live with your software?

We are using these points in my software company for bringing new software online all the time.

The following is a checklist for non-technical project managers.

1. Goal of this release

• Why are we going live?
• What are we not going live with?
• What metrics do we want to gather?
• What is the worst case outcome and how do we handle it?

2. Features and tests

• Complete user journeys with test cases
• All background processes
• With approvers who tested the flow
• Bonus: add the automated tests (number of cases)

3. Infrastructure

• Who can make a rollback + how long does it take?
• Who can access the database and fix data, if needed?
• Where are backups?

4. Responsibilities

• Who can do support?
• Who is first + second level support?
• Who is fixing bugs

5. Metrics

• How do we know who uses the software?
• What kind of performance / storage metrics do we have?
• Who can see them?
• What do we accept as good / bad outcome?

6. Communication

• Who signs off on the release and “flips the switch”?
• Are customers notified? Is the user guide up to date?
• Is the marketing department ready?

7. Next release

• What’s the time to next release?
• Did anyone overwork? Who needs some time off?
• What are the open things that are still not done?

Grab the template in the download section.