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The Design phase is the most creative part of the development process. It builds upon the work done in the Analysis phase by building initial theoretical solutions. So, it differs from the initial phases which are only ideas put on paper, in the way that it represents already a real integration of those ideas where requirements are translated into a schematic design. Thinking about importance each phase is equally important to the development process as long as its function meets the goal.

Design has project wide influence, being present in all phases of any System Development Life Cycle. Although the typical design phase makes its official appearance after the foundational definition and analysis phases, the activity of design is ever present. Many times, the lines that separate task from project are hazy and subjective. Tasks are to projects as sub-systems are to systems. Tasks are, or can be view as, small, interdependent projects. While having conceptual value here, viewing tasks as projects in the hard coded reality of the business world is a sign of micro-management. Micro-management -excessively practiced- can potentially hamper or even cripple a project’s progression.

However, this academic environment is governed by learning, not production. A runner focuses on stride length and foot planting position while training. On race day, performance is the reflection of training and scientific self discovery, but not the focus. We all have races before us, future problems whose solutions we will proliferate someday. The experiences gathered here shall live in the solutions and innovations of the tomorrow.

Design seems to be the hub of the project. The needs of a business situation -that prompts a system constructing project- make their presence known in the first and second phases of project development. The first two phases of development feed the designer problems to design the new system around, over, under or through. With the recognition of new requisite design features documented, the design phase both; begins and paves the way towards implementation, and the life long maintenance phase. As the third member of a five phase group, design’s core function places it well in the middle of the sequence.