10. Evaluation

Now that the system is up and running for real, it is important to evaluate it.

It is at this point two key questions are considered:

Does the finished system do what it is supposed to?

Does it solve the problem that was found in the first place?

These questions are answered by considering details written down in the original Requirements Specification and comparing it to the performance of the new system.

For example:

Requirements specification states that the system should be able read the data file in less than 3 seconds. 

Question: Does the system meet this specification?

Answer: Yes, the data file is read in 2.8 seconds.

In a complicated project, there may be hundreds of requirements specified.  It could take many weeks to complete the evaluation phase.

The project manager has to review whether or not the project has been completed successfully.

If a company follows all of these stages in the correct order, then their new system should be successful and worth the investment of time and money.