This is intended start a discussion about this topic - please comment so we end up with the best process.
Purpose: Who will use the module for what purpose? Expressed in terms of end result and including any sapecific requirements.
Scope: Expressed in "ideal" total of functionality and use and accompanied by degree of willingness to compromise on some features. Included in the scope definition should be the anticipated number of users both in total and simultaneous.
Acceptance criteria should be clear and objective. However, all development must be capable of scaling to exceed the scope definition.
Change management - the scope should be fully understood and part of the written agreement - deviations from the scope must be dealt with via a change management function.
Documentation should be using Drupal Books - include your concept of the "tree". Documentation includes user 'manuals' in the Books module as well as code description included in the code to make it easy for another developer to understand.
All development should follow the 3 tier process - developed in the "dev" system with developer QA testing, moved to a "test" environment for customer testing, and moved to a "production" environment upon acceptance by the customer.
Wherever possible, the development contract should be awarded to teams of independent developers. It is suggested that teams consist of both Drupal and netFORUM developers, freely sharing information about structure and function to maximize the effectiveness of the end result.
All documentation and code should be delivered to both the customer(s) and the AUG, as well as contributed to the Drupal community where appropriate.
In general, the construct should be to perform much of the work in the Drupal side of the system - drawing information from netFORUM where appropriate - and 'pushed' to netFORUM (via xWeb services).
There should be a "mapping" module that correltates fields between systems and identifies xWeb services in use - including whether those services are baseline or custom. xWeb services developed for these modules are to be donated to the DruForum project and recorded in this map module.
Regards,
Paul