Analysis and Design are Key to Successful Projects!
Many developers will skip the analysis and design cycle when creating custom software.  This mistake is often made because they feel they “don’t have the time” or "it costs too much".  Ironically, a common denominator in projects that are seriously behind schedule or architecturally unsound is that there has been little or no analysis and design.  Developers and companies who thought they were saving time by skipping this phase of the project find themselves spending far more time reworking, backtracking and duplicating efforts!

In contrast, software modeling can:

·  Help manage complex systems
·  Decrease cost over the life of a project
·  Reduce time-to-market.

Bottom line is that good analysis and design helps projects meet completion goals.

There are two truisms that should be considered in every software development project.
The first is:
 "You don't need to re-invent the wheel". 
All too often there is software on-the-shelf that will fulfill all or part of your requirements. If you can find a software package that meets your critical needs, you would be well advised to consider it.  Cost of ownership is much lower when someone else foots the initial development, patch development, and upgrade development costs.  This is true not only of entire packages, but even discrete parts.  For instance; if you are building an exotic car for a special purpose, it may still require wheels that you can purchase much cheaper than you can design and make.  Software is much the same.  There are Design Patterns, Development tools, Application Frameworks, and much more that can and should be used to speed development and lower cost.  Hardy Consulting, Inc. uses many of these and this brings up truism number two:
"If the only tool in your tool box is a hammer then all your tasks look like nails".  
This is another reason why good analysis and design must be done at the beginning of any project.  We use many different tool sets and skill sets depending on the Requirements, Analysis, and Design of your project.