Creating applications without coding may seem easy, which often leads us to dive straight into the details of the creation process while losing sight of the bigger picture. Like Alice in the famous tale “Alice in Wonderland,” we might be tempted to start building our first no-code application immediately without a clear end goal in mind. However, this can backfire later when we become lost in the complexities of the project, lacking a clear vision of the essential elements needed for business success. Worse yet, like Alice, we might find ourselves in the wrong place, ending up with an application that doesn’t meet our expectations or needs. Therefore, it’s essential to start the process with a clear understanding of goals and strategy to achieve the desired results.

The design phase is critical because it helps define a plan for the application and ensures it is created correctly.

Use Case

In the first phase, the general business requirements for the solution being created are defined, and business success criteria are outlined. At this stage, it is important to maintain the right level of detail, focusing on the “what” and “why,” rather than the “how.” While it may be tempting to delve into specifics, such as defining the application interface, inputs/outputs, or technical components, the Business Use Case phase should concentrate solely on high-level business requirements and processes. This phase should also include defining the business operations. It is crucial not to restrict yourself too much at this stage regarding how it might be broken into subsequent phases. That will come later, but for now, keep a broad perspective on whether the solution aligns with business needs.

Option Analysis

To transition from a general vision of the solution to its core elements, it’s necessary to choose from various technological options, such as ready-made software, building a custom application from scratch, no-code development, or using templates and components. This can be challenging due to the numerous options, but a simple decision-making framework can help identify the most suitable one for the problem at hand. This approach ensures the solution is simpler, easier to implement, and maintainable.

Design and Prototyping

This stage involves creating a vision of the solution and uses visual prototyping methods to quickly create and visualize through defining the user experience (UX), user interface (UI), workflows, analytics, and other elements. It’s key that work in this phase is carried out using no-code tools rather than creating intermediate documents that are later converted into code. The goal of prototyping is more about exploration than detail – aiming to quickly achieve a working version of the solution within a no-code environment. This prototype will include most expected business processes, forms, etc., though the depth of functionality and logic might still be incomplete or temporary. The scope of this phase should be as broad as possible, reflecting the vision from the business case. Avoid narrowing the project down to a smaller scope at this stage.

Project Assignment

In the final step, you break your vision into smaller components, such as use cases, applications, and components. At this point, you start planning your path to achieving the goal, focusing on the smallest scope of functionality that delivers business benefits – often referred to as the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The MVP aims to quickly provide core usability without spending time on all the features and capabilities that will be developed later (to be gradually added through regular updates). Think of it as the minimal set of features necessary to make the first version of the product useful. Once the MVP is defined, you make key decisions about priorities, dependencies, and feature order. Finally, you use essential tools – such as the Application Matrix – to select the appropriate delivery model based on the complexity assessment of the application. The chosen delivery model will set the foundation for allocating and organizing the necessary resources (e.g., budget, roles, system environments) needed for the first version of the application.

The design phase, while it may appear to be a linear process, should actually be predominantly iterative. Actions taken in later phases might reveal new ideas or opportunities, prompting a return to earlier concepts. This is especially evident in the prototyping phase, where new ideas can influence the business process.

In conclusion, while the described approach may seem complex, it is actually quite intuitive. Successfully implementing no-code projects is becoming increasingly accessible thanks to technological advancements. The key to success lies in focusing on iteration, innovation, and delivering business value through prototyping and working in a no-code environment.

To delve deeper into this topic and learn how to execute no-code projects effectively, we encourage you to explore the No-code Playbook. This guide comprehensively discusses each stage of the process, providing practical tips, sample templates, and tools useful at every step. With this resource, you’ll have a solid foundation for mastering this advanced methodology and successfully creating innovative solutions without deep immersion in code. Download the No-code Playbook.