The Grand Rapids-based CUSO, CU*Answers, known for providing core data processing and its flagship CU*BASE system, is offering a contest reward of $2,500 to the person that designs the best spec for an integrated CU*BASE tool.
According to the CUSO, a good project spec requires the ability to imagine and clearly explain big-picture, high level overview of the project, and get down to the nitty-gritty details that define how the software will behave and what the end-use experience will be. Contest rules require that specs be submitted in a Microsoft Word formatted document, and include a thorough big-picture introduction suitable to be adapted for the Release Summary when the project is implemented, as well as include mockups of all related screens with explanations and illustrations of the specific changes to be made. Detail and structure guidelines have been provided on their website, as well as sample programming instruction, techniques for making screen mockups, templates and more.
Suggested project ideas include creating an on-demand process for members opting into a CU’s ski-a-pay program, a configuration and work process to handle common wire transfers, integrating a Savings Bond Redemption flow into teller processing, and others. The CUSO also recommends submitting an original idea, but reminds contestants to follow the posted rules and propose a project with enough complexity to warrant at least 7 pages of content.
This contest was announced in an email blast to CU*Answers clients late last week, with the headline “Another Chance to Win $$ for your Credit Union”. The CUSO is also concurrently running their 3rd Annual Video Contest, which awards $1,500 to the credit union that provides the best video contest concept conveying the theme: “Your Credit Union is Everywhere”.
According to Dawn Moore, VP Writing Team/Product Design for CU*Answers, “I’m really looking forward to discovering some untapped talent somewhere in the network. At the very least, I’m hoping the contest will provide some insight into the software design process, which can be as time-consuming and complex (and expensive) as the development work itself.”
For more information on this contest, go to: http://www.cuanswers.com/spec-contest/