Sketch Development

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Consultant of Adarza Biosystems

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Create a platform for detecting analytes using proprietary Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry (AIR) technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sketch Development to accomplish?

• Design and develop the user interface for our instrument

SOLUTION

How did you find Sketch Development?

Previous experience working with members of Sketch's team

Why did you select Sketch Development over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Sketch Development were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Working alongside our team as we develop the API, create the user interface components.

1. Define the agile processes, team norms, definition of done, etc.
2. Create the base application using React and tie into our authentication service.
3. Create the modules for each component of the system 
   1. Plate Module
   2. Run Module
   3. Reporting Module
   4. Analysis Module

Our DoD was that all code must satisfy the requirements and be fully documented with full test coverage.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Sketch embedded a srum master into the project who kept the project running like a well-oiled machine.  Each sprint begun with defining our goals and ended with a demo.

We broke the work into milestones and would target these during our iterations.  We were building the hardware in parallel with the API and UI so needless to say, we were pivoting quite a lot.

Sketch was able to keep us on track, despite the shifting requirements.

Our measurables were in terms of functionality, attaining our sprint goals, and doing so by meeting our definition of done.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

I credit their management as to one of the primary reasons this project was successful.  This project was in flux from the start because of the fact that we were building this instrument from the ground up, and writing the software to drive it at the same time.  Without Sketch's management, I'm not sure that this would have been the success that it was.  I don't recall having gone through a sprint without at least one pivot, and their team just rolled with it.  I also don't recall completing a sprint without a functional demo. 

What was your primary form of communication with Sketch Development?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

This company is staffed with an incredible array of talent.  From their analysts to their engineers, every person is a rock star in their own right.  From top to bottom, I have yet to work with someone from Sketch who is not at the top of their game.

They work hard, but still take time to have enlightening social events.  They've recently kicked off a speaker series, hosting them in their newly renovated offices.  It's a great way to socialize with people in the industry, as well as glean some expertise from the speakers they bring in.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Sketch Development could have done differently?

Every company has areas where they can improve, and I’m sure Sketch is no exception. However, as a client, I didn’t notice any such areas. Throughout the project, I never felt that we were at risk, nor did I ever feel that any request would be too much for them to handle.