Building a successful software project isn't just about coding—it’s about planning, understanding users, and making smart choices along the way. Here are five key strategies that can set your project up for success:

1. Define Success with Clear Outcomes

Before jumping into development, take a moment to define what success looks like for your software. Ask yourself, "This software works if it can ___." Fill in that blank with something that directly benefits users. Here are a couple of examples:

  • “This software works if it helps users finish their end-of-month reports faster.”

  • “This software works if it allows customers to track their fitness progress effortlessly.”

By focusing on outcomes, you give your team a clear direction and purpose. Everyone understands what value you’re aiming to deliver, making it easier to prioritize and make decisions. Having clear outcomes from the start is crucial, as it's easy for projects to get sidetracked by excitement over new ideas or simply losing focus. As the build progresses, it's important for everyone to regularly revisit the main goals to refocus. This is especially important when working with an outsourced engineering team, as they may need consistent reminders of the core objectives to stay aligned.

2. Make Strategic Decisions, Don’t Outsource Everything

Imagine building a house—you'd hire experts to do the heavy lifting, but you wouldn’t let them decide how many bedrooms you need or how your kitchen is laid out. Software is the same. Trust your developers for technical execution, but stay involved in decisions that impact your business directly, like feature priorities and user experience.

You’ll be the one using the software every day, so take ownership of the choices that affect how it works for you. Let the experts handle the technical details, but always remain the architect of your vision.

3. Focus on User Stories, Not Technical Jargon

If you’re not a technical person, don’t feel like you need to understand every line of code. Instead, focus on defining user stories—these are simple descriptions of what users want to do with your software.

A good user story follows this format: “As a user, I want to [action] so that [benefit].” For example:

  • “As a manager, I want to generate a monthly performance report so that I can see my team’s progress.”

User stories help you communicate what’s important to the end users without getting lost in technical details. It keeps the focus on the user experience, which is what ultimately makes software successful.

4. Think Long-Term, Build Short-Term

Having a long-term vision for your software is great, but the first version doesn’t need to be perfect or packed with features. Start by building one or two key features that provide the most value. Get them out quickly, let users try them, and gather feedback.

This “build small, iterate often” approach helps you learn what really works in the real world. Once the core features are solid, you can expand towards your long-term goals without overcomplicating things from the beginning.

5. Accept That Change Is Inevitable

No software product is ever built exactly as planned. Even if you have a crystal-clear picture of what you want, real-world use will always reveal areas for improvement. Plan for change—it’s not a sign that something went wrong, it’s just the natural evolution of building good software.

Keep this in mind when setting budgets and timelines. Flexibility is key. Knowing that adjustments will be needed helps you stay adaptable and stress-free when changes inevitably come up.

By focusing on these five strategies—defining clear outcomes, staying involved in key decisions, concentrating on user needs, starting small, and embracing change—you’re setting your software project on a solid path to success. Ready to take the next step?