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A deployment plan anticipates what happens after a product is delivered. Use this guide to go beyond the initial project development phase and plan for a successful launch.
Many friend groups have a Dale in them. Dale likes to meticulously plan every moment of your vacation. You will all wake up at 7 a.m. You will quickly grab the hotel’s continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m., and be on your way to Dollywood for an 8 a.m. arrival.
You will spend exactly three hours at this famed theme park and then drive to Newfound Gap in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, arriving by noon. You will enjoy this overlook for 20 minutes, take exactly five selfies, and then continue on to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center for a 12:45 p.m. arrival.
You get the point. Dale is a man of many details.
However, Dale often finds himself frustrated on his vacations. Somehow his plans don’t work out, and he has to cut the day’s activities short to make the evening’s dinner reservation on time. This is because Dale is creating a vacation itinerary when what he needs is a vacation deployment plan.
In this article, we’ll cover what a deployment plan is and why it would help Dale enjoy his vacations more. We’ll also look at what to consider when creating yours and the step-by-step process for doing so.
Overview: What is a deployment plan?
Dale spent hours researching the best things to do and places to eat in eastern Tennessee for this latest vacation. He typed up the weekend’s itinerary and delivered it to his friends. We can think of this itinerary as a project deliverable, but the full project scope needs to include a deployment plan for that itinerary. A deployment plan answers how that deliverable will be launched and anticipates what will happen once it is.
For example, Dale’s vacation deployment plan would need to consider what tickets need to be bought and who will buy them, which restaurants need reservations and who will make those, and to which locations they’ll drive or walk. It will consider what they’ll do if traffic is backed up and they get to Dollywood late. It will have a plan if Susan’s allergies act up in the park, and they have to leave the overlook early. It looks at interpersonal troubles that occurred in the group on the last vacation and includes steps to avoid repeating those same conflicts on this trip.
This deployment plan helps Dale better understand how the itinerary will play out in real time and how he can both mitigate risks for conflict upfront and plan for how to go with the flow if they do occur.
To summarize, deployment plans document the goals, timeline, and approach for implementing project deliverables. Deliverables can be a software update, a new staff training, or, yes, even your next vacation itinerary.
What to consider while creating a deployment plan
Before diving into your deployment plan, consider a few things up front. These will ensure a more organized and effective approach for your project’s deployment.
Begin with end users in mind
In Dale’s case, as he puts together his deployment plan, he needs to think about any special health needs his fellow travelers have, what types of activities they like to do, and how much downtime they need to have each day.
In software deployment, you need to think about ease of use for your customers. This means you should plan to test your software with a lay audience before its official launch. Receiving feedback from people who are not entrenched in developing the software helps identify glitches that would otherwise play out after launch, potentially creating unhappy customers.
Beginning with end users in mind also means communicating with them before launch. Remind them this is a new product and may require fixes. Create a dialogue that invites their valued feedback and encourages patience as the new service gets underway.
Keep track of your versions
As you prepare for your product’s deployment, you’re likely to cycle through several versions of it. Project cycle management accounts for this by keeping clear documentation of different version types. This includes both external documents, such as letting users know which is the latest version of your software guide, and internal documents, such as a log of coding updates for your next software release.
Teams can keep version logs organized through project management software such as Jira.
Jira Software lets teams easily track the status of different release versions. Image source: Author
Ask if changes are worth it
As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Creating new products or changing existing ones can be a big undertaking and come with unintended consequences, such as new glitches for your end users. Software deployment planning should consider whether making an update to your software will be worth it, or potentially just lead to a bigger headache.
Scope management is also important when considering new deployments. If your team is branching into an aspect of your project that goes beyond your focus or goals, this can tax your stakeholders and lead to resource imbalance.
How to create a deployment plan
You might think deployment planning happens after you’ve designed, tested, and delivered your product. However, the most effective deployment plans are implemented during initial development and throughout each of its stages. This section includes the steps to create a deployment plan that you’ll consider in your initial project planning phase.
Effective software deployment plans consider deployment processes and goals throughout each stage of the development cycle. Image source: Author
1. Summarize your deployment goals
Start with a clear picture of what deployment will look like. You’ll want to know the target date and time you expect to deploy your product.
You’ll also want to communicate the impact your deployment will have. Impact includes both the value you anticipate it will bring to your user community and how it will affect your staff and resources. This initial summary clarifies your scope of work and sets the parameters for your project schedule.
2. Document and mitigate risks
List all potential risks that could derail a smooth deployment. For example, a risk could be not having enough support staff available to manage the help desk when your new software launches.
Next, assign a probability to each risk and the impact it would have on deployment if it occurred. In the previous example, the impact of not having enough support staff could have a high impact on end user satisfaction. The probability of it happening is relatively high since your launch is in the summer when many staff are taking vacations.
Finally, list steps to mitigate each risk. In our example, you could ask staff to be in the office for your launch week.
Since you’ll be thinking about deployment plans not only in this initial planning stage but also throughout your project development cycle, risks you didn’t think of initially may arise as you move into product design or testing. You can use project management software to leave notes for your team about these new risks as you uncover them.
3. Create a deployment schedule
A deployment schedule breaks production deployment down into manageable tasks that can be assigned to specific team members to implement. Each task should have a person responsible for it and stated beginning and end dates. Some of your tasks might include setting the software update live on your site, checking your help desk for user inquiries, or responding to those inquiries promptly.
4. List deployment requirements
Know early on what resources you’ll need for a successful deployment. These include hardware, such as computers, routers, phones, or office space. Software resources could include project management platforms, help desk programs, or customer management databases.
Resources should also consider staff time to implement and monitor the deployment plan. By considering these up front, you can have a smoother launch where you’re not scrambling for needed equipment or team support.
5. Establish a deployment communication plan
Clear communication is critical for successful deployment. Know who needs to communicate with whom, how often, and through what means. For example, your lead software developer might communicate with your project manager weekly on a call to gauge progress toward operational readiness.
A deployment communication plan can also include shared resources that promote consistency in the team’s deployment approach. If launching a new program feature for customers, a software deployment checklist could include particular metrics, such as page loading time, that different staff need to check and document daily.
Create a deployment plan to be prepared for what happens after product delivery
Your new software idea is probably just as amazing as the next trip Dale has planned for his crew. However, if you don’t think about what happens after the product is delivered, you could find yourself in the same frustrating pickle Dale often ends up in. Create a deployment plan to mitigate risks, measure success, and know how and when to pivot after launch.
FAQs
Software deployment process mainly consists of 3 stages: development, testing and monitoring.
What is a deployment guide? ›
The guide describes the steps that are necessary in order to deploy Compound Registration in an empty environment. In the first chapter you will find information regarding the minimum system requirements and the necessary environment to be able to install Compound Registration.
What is deployment explain deployment process in detail? ›
Deployment is the mechanism through which applications, modules, updates, and patches are delivered from developers to users. The methods used by developers to build, test and deploy new code will impact how fast a product can respond to changes in customer preferences or requirements and the quality of each change.
What means deployment planning? ›
Deployment plans define the segments and segment-related tasks that drive deployments. Phases in a release are derived from the lifecycle; segments and tasks in a phase are derived from the deployment plan. When you create a deployment, you select a deployment plan from the plans that are associated with the release.
Why is deployment planning important? ›
Deployment planning is essential to avoid unforeseen situations and delays. With a well-thought out deployment plan, release teams are less likely to miss out anything critical to the project.
What are the stages of deployment? ›
The Five Stages of Deployment
These stages are comprised as follows: pre-deployment, deployment, sustainment, re-deployment and post-deployment. Each stage is characterized both by a time frame and specific emotional challenges, which must be dealt with and mastered by each of the Family members.
What are deployment techniques? ›
What Are Deployment Strategies? A deployment strategy is a way to change or upgrade an application. The aim is to make the change without downtime in a way that the user barely notices the improvements. The most common strategy is to use a blue-green deployment.
How is project deployment done? ›
First, the project manager creates a deployment plan. After that, the project team reviews it, before deployment. The project schedule allots time for each activity related to the project. And teams can get insight into the process by referring to the deployment planning framework during deployment.
What is the deployment process of your application? ›
Application Deployment, also known as Software Deployment, is the process of installing, configuring, updating, and enabling one application or suite of applications that make a software system available for use, like facilitating a certain URL on a server.
How do you write an installation guide? ›
Steps of Writing the Installation Guide
- Start by Gathering Information. ...
- Plan the Structure of Your Guide. ...
- Write the Guide's Introduction Section. ...
- Write the Software Prerequisites Section. ...
- Write the Software Installation Section. ...
- Write the Software Post Installation Tasks Section.
CodeDeploy is a deployment service that automates application deployments to Amazon EC2 instances, on-premises instances, serverless Lambda functions, or Amazon ECS services. You can deploy a nearly unlimited variety of application content, including: Code. Serverless AWS Lambda functions. Web and configuration files.
How do I write a deployment document? ›
How to write a deployment plan
- Write goals. ...
- Assign roles. ...
- Determine tasks and dependencies. ...
- Decide on communication methods. ...
- List the ways to track and solve issues. ...
- Provide a training plan. ...
- Create a BC/DR plan. ...
- Choose accountable members.
Deployment activities
The activities involved in deployment management include: Planning deployment. Preparation tasks including authorization, alignment of resources, and scheduling. Verifying service components. Unit and integration testing, with iterative fixing and retesting.
What is deployment diagram explain with example? ›
A deployment diagram is a UML diagram type that shows the execution architecture of a system, including nodes such as hardware or software execution environments, and the middleware connecting them. Deployment diagrams are typically used to visualize the physical hardware and software of a system.
What will be your first step for planning the network deployment? ›
The first step in planning the deployment of a Security Access Manager security environment is to define the security requirements for your computing environment. Defining security requirements means determining the business policies that must apply to users, programs, and data.
What is solution deployment? ›
Solution Deployment enables the user to fully deploy solution definitions and installation packages (IPs) to local and remote locations. This includes installation and configuration of all necessary applications and updates to existing multi-tenant applications, where appropriate.
How can the deployment process be improved? ›
Tips for Taking the Headaches out of Deployment
- Plan Early. ...
- Release Regularly. ...
- The Continuity Trifecta: Integration, Delivery, and Deployment. ...
- Make Use of Tools and Services. ...
- Automating Code Review. ...
- Automate Most Things, Don't Worry About All Things. ...
- Test Early, Test Often. ...
- Practice Gradual Feature Rollouts.
Deployment is the realisation of an application, or execution of a plan, idea, model, design, specification, standard, algorithm, or policy.
What is an implementation plan? ›
A project implementation plan is a document that defines how a project will be executed. Implementation plans explain the strategic goals and steps involved in a project, define the project completion timeline, and list the resources (including team members) necessary for a successful project.
Where do you deploy a project? ›
#Deploy a Project
To deploy your Project, click the “Deploy” button in the lower right corner of the Project editor. On the Deployment screen, click the green “Deploy Project” button to deploy. After a moment, you'll see the URL to your deployed Project.
10 Tips for Keeping a Relationship Strong During Deployment and Separation
- Talk about your upcoming separation. ...
- Discuss how you will stay in touch. ...
- Establish mutual trust. ...
- Keep busy and stay active. ...
- If you have children, keep them occupied and on track. ...
- Supporting your children through the deployment cycle.
Pre-Deployment. During pre-deployment, service members work closely with family members and loved ones to complete various tasks before deployment. It's a busy time where service members undergo training, briefings, medical evaluations and counseling.
How long is a deployment? ›
The average military deployment is typically between six and 12 months long. However, deployment lengths vary greatly from branch to branch, are situational and depend on several factors specific to each individual service member.
What are common deployment strategies? ›
Various Types of Deployment Strategies
- Blue/Green Deployment. In this type of deployment strategy, the new version of the software runs alongside the old version. ...
- Canary Deployment. ...
- Recreate Deployment. ...
- Ramped Deployment. ...
- Shadow Deployment. ...
- A/B Testing Deployment.
Now, we're going to examine the four major deployment types and outline each of their advantages and disadvantages. These are: Minimum In-Service deployment. Rolling application updates.
What is the default deployment strategy? ›
A rolling deployment is the default deployment strategy in Kubernetes. It replaces the existing version of pods with a new version, updating pods slowly one by one, without cluster downtime.
What is the process after deployment? ›
A post-deployment process is a process that automatically runs after a direct deployment has finished on an environment. From this process, you'll be able to access key information about the relevant deployment.
How do I prepare for a deployment application? ›
Your Android app is deployed when you run it on an Android target device.
...
Preparing an Android Application for Deployment
- On the Project > Options > Application page, provide the icons and images to represent your application.
- On the Project > Options > Version Info page, increase the version code of your application.
Answer. Deployment is an activity to make sure that the workers of the organisation should remain in ideal relation with their work and organisation. The people who do this deployment must be the part of creating deployment process, as it will help them to understand and implement the process in better way.
What is a deployment platform? ›
Deployment Platforms are a category of software developed by third-party vendors that mimic the features and functionalities of Online Staffing firms, often offering the software as a white-labeled “app.” They typically include: Worker profiles. Work history. Automated (or semi-automated) assignment matching.
Installation guide is a technical communication document intended to assist people on how to install a particular program. An installation guide may include the following information: The first part of a guide may give general instructions. Information on the minimum system requirements.
What is installation process? ›
Installation is the process of making hardware and/or software ready for use. Obviously, different systems require different types of installations.
What are the 4 types of installation? ›
There are four approaches of installation; direct, parallel, single-location and phased installation.
What is QA deployment? ›
The Deployment Complete message provides an indication to the QA team, that the changes/new code is ready to be tested. It is the responsibility of the deployment team to move the changes from DEV to QA. After the QA testing completes, the code is moved to UAT.
What is deployment HR? ›
Deployment is the movement of staff from one work assignment to another to meet operational needs.
What is continuous deployment strategy? ›
Continuous deployment is a strategy for software releases wherein any code commit that passes the automated testing phase is automatically released into the production environment, making changes that are visible to the software's users.
What is a deployment plan in Oneops? ›
The deployment plan is created and the event is published. The Controller reacts on the “new deployment” event, changes the deployment state to “in progress”, and dispatches Workorders from step 1 to Inductors. The inductors consume the Workorders. Call provider API instantiates the Compute, Storage, etc.
What is deployment planning in supply chain? ›
In this process the system determines the distribution of goods within a bill of distribution (BOD). Based on the current demands determined by distribution requirements planning (DRP), deployment decides how to distribute the goods and, if necessary, initiates this within the BOD.
What happens in the deployment phase of a project? ›
The deployment phase is the final step in the software development life cycle and delivers the final product to the customer in a live production environment. After the product deploys, the product is ready for customers to use.
Who is responsible for the deployment plan? ›
First, the project manager creates a deployment plan. After that, the project team reviews it, before deployment. The project schedule allots time for each activity related to the project. And teams can get insight into the process by referring to the deployment planning framework during deployment.
There are four cloud deployment models: public, private, community, and hybrid. Each deployment model is defined according to where the infrastructure for the environment is located.
How do I deploy OneOps? ›
Deploy an Application
- Click commit and deploy Review the deployment plan generated by OneOps.
- Click on a particular step to know what change is going to be deployed.
- Want to change plan, discard and no changes would be deployed.
- If satisfied click green Deploy.
The permissions are also called DTO (design, transition and operations) permissions. Design: When checked and this team is added to an assembly, it allows the team members to manage the design including add/update/delete platform, components and variables within the assembly.
How do I create a supply plan? ›
How to build a supply chain plan
- Review company goals. Reviewing your company's revenue and production goals can help you determine inventory levels and daily production output. ...
- Perform market research. ...
- Forecast consumer demand. ...
- Allocate inventory requirements. ...
- Fulfill consumer orders. ...
- Ensure planning flexibility.
6 Steps to Write a Supply Chain Management Plan
- The Value behind Writing a Supply Chain Management Plan. ...
- 1.Assess your Current Supply Pipeline. ...
- 2.Define the Supply Management Outline. ...
- 3.Quality Assurance (QA) Overview. ...
- 4.Break down your Supply Needs. ...
- 5.Develop a Supply Timeline. ...
- 6.Government Laws & Regulations.
How to achieve connected supply chain planning
- Make the move to real-time supply chain planning. ...
- Unify supply chain planning with enterprise planning. ...
- Anticipate the demand of the end customer. ...
- Leverage real-time data across all points of the supply chain. ...
- Ensure you have the flexibility to cope with change.
A predeployment checklist for you and your service member
- File legal paperwork. ...
- Update DD Form 93, “Record of Emergency Data” and insurance coverage. ...
- Break contracts and pay future bills. ...
- Create a family care plan, enroll in DEERS and update DOD ID cards. ...
- Plan for “combat pay” ...
- Figure out a communication strategy.
The Five Stages of Deployment
These stages are comprised as follows: pre-deployment, deployment, sustainment, re-deployment and post-deployment. Each stage is characterized both by a time frame and specific emotional challenges, which must be dealt with and mastered by each of the Family members.
What are deployment activities? ›
Deployment activities
The activities involved in deployment management include: Planning deployment. Preparation tasks including authorization, alignment of resources, and scheduling. Verifying service components. Unit and integration testing, with iterative fixing and retesting.
How do you deploy a project? ›
To deploy your Project, click the “Deploy” button in the lower right corner of the Project editor. On the Deployment screen, click the green “Deploy Project” button to deploy. After a moment, you'll see the URL to your deployed Project.
Tips for Taking the Headaches out of Deployment
- Plan Early. ...
- Release Regularly. ...
- The Continuity Trifecta: Integration, Delivery, and Deployment. ...
- Make Use of Tools and Services. ...
- Automating Code Review. ...
- Automate Most Things, Don't Worry About All Things. ...
- Test Early, Test Often. ...
- Practice Gradual Feature Rollouts.
Deployment is the realisation of an application, or execution of a plan, idea, model, design, specification, standard, algorithm, or policy.
