Web Project Management Strategies for chaotic web projects in Higher ed.

Strategies for chaotic web projects in Higher ed.

A Project is… “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result” – PMBOK Guide (2004)

A Project is… “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result”

– PMBOK Guide (2004)

A Web Project is... Building a few web pages for a department. Developing a simple web application that collects student information. Extensive Content Management System.

Building a few web pages for a department.

Developing a simple web application that collects student information.

Extensive Content Management System.

A Project is… ongoing, with many false starts and chronic scope creep. Governed by committee, success is not often tangible. – Higher Ed.

A Project is… ongoing, with many false starts and chronic scope creep. Governed by committee, success is not often tangible.

– Higher Ed.

The Chaos Developer comes in sometime after noon. Designer that doesn’t answer email. Department wants to see the “pedagogy” on something aimed at parents. Committees. Never ending change requests.

Developer comes in sometime after noon.

Designer that doesn’t answer email.

Department wants to see the “pedagogy” on something aimed at parents.

Committees.

Never ending change requests.

Learn a little from Software Engineering Pick a dev strategy: understand clearly what you are doing Version control Issue tracking

Pick a dev strategy: understand clearly what you are doing

Version control

Issue tracking

Triple Constraint Scope Time Cost

Scope

Time

Cost

Triple Constraint What am I building? How long will it take? How much will it cost to develop?

What am I building?

How long will it take?

How much will it cost to develop?

Manage Resources What are skills and people available to this project How much time do they have? Is there a line of communication between you and your resources even when not working together in the same place?

What are skills and people available to this project

How much time do they have?

Is there a line of communication between you and your resources even when not working together in the same place?

Dealing with the “what” Project sponsor asks for something that needs to be built Meet with committee and develop a clear scope along with timeline Sketch out application Call in resources you need Develop application, get feedback, tweak, done.

Project sponsor asks for something that needs to be built

Meet with committee and develop a clear scope along with timeline

Sketch out application

Call in resources you need

Develop application, get feedback, tweak, done.

What really happens “I would like a web site that looks like (insert newsworthy site of the week)” “Next week would be perfect” “Oh and can we have video?” “And a live chat?” “We want social media”

“I would like a web site that looks like (insert newsworthy site of the week)”

“Next week would be perfect”

“Oh and can we have video?”

“And a live chat?”

“We want social media”

Identify risks What could cause this project to be delayed or fail? What will you do about them? How much will it cost (time/money)?

What could cause this project to be delayed or fail?

What will you do about them?

How much will it cost (time/money)?

Break Project down

Two week chunks

Critical path

# S: (adj) agile, nimble, quick, spry ( moving quickly and lightly ) "sleek and agile as a gymnast"; "as nimble as a deer"; "nimble fingers"; "quick of foot"; "the old dog was so spry it was halfway up the stairs before we could stop it" - http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=agile

# S: (adj) agile, nimble, quick, spry ( moving quickly and lightly ) "sleek and agile as a gymnast"; "as nimble as a deer"; "nimble fingers"; "quick of foot"; "the old dog was so spry it was halfway up the stairs before we could stop it"

- http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=agile

Agile process

Agile process

Get involved Use Basecamp or excel or a word document Break down the project for the sponsor (and you) Provide time estimates for each phase Follow-up with daily/weekly updates on progress Share information.

Use Basecamp or excel or a word document

Break down the project for the sponsor (and you)

Provide time estimates for each phase

Follow-up with daily/weekly updates on progress

Share information.

Learn how to use version control software.

Learn how to use version control software.

Track the project.

Track the project.

Issue tracking Document milestones Track conversations, changes, rationale Generate reports (if you want) Control your scope.

Document milestones

Track conversations, changes, rationale

Generate reports (if you want)

Control your scope.

Bugz

Use a process that works for you.

Use a process that works for you.

About me. Jesse Rodgers Associate Director, VeloCity -- University of Waterloo Blog: http://whoyoucallingajesse.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/jrodgers Email: [email_address]

Jesse Rodgers

Associate Director, VeloCity -- University of Waterloo

Blog: http://whoyoucallingajesse.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jrodgers

Email: [email_address]