Application Lifecycle Management

ALM Activities: Request, Plan, Define, Design, Construct, Test, Maintain, Retire

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) addresses all phases of the creation of a new system from inception to retirement. Unlike software development processes, ALM addresses the the whole lifecycle starting with the business drivers, priorities, strategies and needs, continuing through the software development process and not ending until the application has been removed from production.

The figure at the top of this page shows the key activities involved in ALM. Although the figure implies a flow of activities, in actuality many of these activities are happening iteratively and consecutively for individual applications. Understanding the management of these processes requires team members who understand and follow different disciplines. Effective application development practices recognize the activities and disciplines through integrated processes and tools.

ALM improves the value of IT to the business by integrating application lifecycle activites and disciplines. This is accomplished through solid process and supported by integrated tools. Companies that do ALM well, change their IT organization from cost centers into strategic assests. Think of ALM as just-in-time functionality for the business.

Interested in how proactively managing your application can help your business? This web site explains the activites and disciplines of ALM and how they can be integrated. In addition, Notion Solutions offers consulting and mentoring services to help you understand the processes and tools to improve your investment in application development.

Understanding ALM

ALM Activities

The application lifecycle involves performing a series of activities that work together to provide value to the business. In many cases these activities are performed in silos with poor communications and processes between the silos.

ALM Disciplines

The Application Life Cycle management process is made up of many disciplines and best practices which define the rules of conduct for successful organizations. As your people become more experienced with ALM practices they will be able to deliver more consistently.

ALM Tools

ALM can be a complex maze of processes. Proper tooling can simplify and improve your ALM strategy. Learn how proper tooling can maximize the return on your IT investments.

ALM Services

Maximum value in your ALM investment is achieved when you can integrate all of the individual disciplines to provide end-to-end management and visibility into your application lifecycle. Learn how Notion Solutions can elicit, define and help you implement the appropriate level of ALM for your business.

ALM Activities