{"id":5011,"date":"2020-03-02T04:43:32","date_gmt":"2020-03-02T04:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.verbat.com\/?p=2326"},"modified":"2024-05-24T04:13:50","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T04:13:50","slug":"how-to-apply-pareto-principle-in-software-application-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.verbat.com\/blog\/how-to-apply-pareto-principle-in-software-application-development\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Apply Pareto Principle in Software Application Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Pareto principle or the 80\/20 rule was a\nprinciple put forward by the Italian economist Vilfredo Federico Damaso Pareto.\nSimply put it says that 80% of results will come from just 20% of the action.\nIt is a widely accepted principle applied in every field of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Seems to be a great idea, but how practical\ncan it be when it comes to the IT industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s go in depth to see the real benefits of\napplying this principle in software engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pareto Principle in Software Development<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Studies show that users predominantly use only\n20% of an app\u2019s features while they never use 45% of the app features and 19%\nare rarely used. To sum it up, we can say that the real benefits are from the\n20% of the app\u2019s features and hence focus should be on improving the core functionalities.\nThe remaining 80% of the features act as additional perks for more advanced\nusers.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pareto principle helps to improve the overall software development<\/a><\/strong> process throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).\u00a0 This discovery has heavily influenced the agile management model, where 80% of the team\u2019s efforts are focused on what is crucial and essential at any stage of the product\u2019s development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 80\/20 rule in Agile<\/a><\/strong> is a flexible solution that improves the development process to be more efficient and secure. It helps in restricting the process to most important actions and thereby choosing the most appropriate approach to organize the development process. In such situations, the time spent on the most important functionalities will take only 80%, while the remaining 20% will be used to refine the rest of the additional features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimum Viable Product and the Pareto Principle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Pareto principle is ideal for planning the\nbasic idea of a future software project. The Minimum Viable Product can offer a\npicture of how we can minimize the expected resources for software development,\nmeanwhile understand what really matters to the end-user, before the app goes\nlive. Thus it enables us to closely examine the fundamental needs of the target\naudience in the initial stages of the software development, while all further\nupgradation or additional features (80%) will be introduced after the initial\nfeedback analysis.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the main advantages offered by MVP is\nthe opportunity to listen to the clients earnestly. They provide actual data\nanalysis, not just based on hypothesis which will prompt you to search\npractical business solutions. Besides, you can define what exactly constitutes\nthe 20% and what can be done away with. The performance and development will\nnot be hindered in any way; rather it will only be beneficial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pareto Principle in Testing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pareto principle, can also be applied to software testing<\/a><\/strong>. The 80\/20 rules make it possible to understand and assess the risks of software development thereby avoiding unanticipated expenses and ensuring the smooth working during later stages of development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Code quality has a crucial role to play in the\nsuccessful development of software. By applying the 80\/20 rule in practice, it\nis apparent that 80% of the errors and crashes arises from the 20% of the most\nfrequent bugs. So that, it is essential to focus on this 20% to ensure timely\nelimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To protect the project from unexpected\nchallenges, recognize the most frequent bugs and where they come from. By\nworking on the causes that have the highest impact on the functionality, the\nteam\u2019s efforts are directed to areas with maximum returns. Thereby saving\nenergy, time as well as money.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pareto Analysis <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pareto Analysis is a statistical technique in\ndecision-making used for the selection of a limited number of tasks that\nproduce significant overall effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight steps to identifying the essential\ntasks you should focus on, using Pareto Analysis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Create
    a vertical bar chart with causes on the x-axis and number of defects on the
    y-axis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Arrange
    the bar chart in descending order of cause importance <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Calculate
    the cumulative count for each cause in descending order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Calculate
    the cumulative count percentage for each cause in descending order. Percentage
    calculation: (Individual Cause Count) \/ (Total Causes Count)*100<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Create
    a second y-axis with percentages descending in increments of 10 from 100% to
    0%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Plot
    the percentage cumulative contribution of each cause on the x-axis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Join
    the points to form a curve.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Draw
    a line at 80% on the y-axis running parallel to the x-axis. Then drop the line
    at the point of intersection with the curve on the x-axis. This point on the
    x-axis separates the important causes on the left (vital few) from the less
    important causes on the right (trivial many).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Sample Case:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Project: Carrefour Intelli planner<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This project is an order support and product estimate system to replenish supplies in their stores located in UAE. Carrefour has 33 Hypermarket stores in UAE. The scope of the application includes management of the following divisions within each store<\/p>\n\n\n\n