Cafe Abroad

PClient Overview:
Dan Schwartzman is the co-founder of Cafe Abroad, an online community, city guide and news magazine for study abroad students. A 2005 Pennsylvania State University graduate, Schwartzman studied abroad in 2002 in Brisbane, Australia. He currently leads teams of student writers in 30 cities, worldwide.

Challenges:
The client had embarked on a strategic initiative with a view to provide a scalable, reliable and cost-effective technology solution platform for supporting the business objectives.

The client wanted to have a online Community website.
The client also wanted to have features like Blog, Forum, Integration with other popular social networking websites etc.
SeagalSOFT's Approach:
SeagalSOFT exceuted the project in a phased manner:
Startup and planning phase:

• Developed a detailed project plan.
• Validated the scope by identifying the application modules.
• Identfied the set-up requirement and risk management.

Knowledge transfer phase:

• General overview of the system, database structure, Application systems, On-line flow, process flow and business rules.
• Module wise familiarization: Team members were assigned specific modules for in-depth familiarization.
• The team would adopt a mechanism to ensure that all the team members are exposed to most of the modules.
• On-the-job observation: This was a activity specific. SeagalSOFT members had worked together with the client team members and document their understanding.

Collaboration phase:

• Client team had assigned non-critical activities, to start with, to the SeagalSOFT team members and slowly moved to the complex ones.
• Client team members had reviewed, monitored the SeagalSOFT's work result.

Highlights:

• Web Server configuration
• Database Server configuration
• Mail Server configuration
• Blog
• Inbuild Forum
• Integration with other community websites like Facebook, Delicious, Digg etc.
• Students can create their own Community, Group, Photo Album
• Global Upcoming Events
• Featured Reviews
• Mannual Testing
• Automation Testing (QTP, Load Runner, Win-Runner)
• Performance Testing
• Simulated Test Runs
• Dedicated Access and Restricted work environment
• Access to client Network
• Orientation on client Maintenance and Enhancements project

Benefits to the Client:

• Potential cost savings over a year period through offshore maintenance.
• Quality product.
• Effective knowledge management leading to reliable and updated documentation, reduced dependency within people, and improved interchangeability with the team members.

Client Appreciation:

• Congratulation to the entire team (Client & SeagalSOFT) for such a succesful project. All milestones and deliverables scheduled to date have been met. Based on the degree of cooperation and agreement, we are all looking forward to demonstrate the ongoing value provided by SeagalSOFT. Again, thanks to all for a great job!

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