Web Project Management Todcon2008

Web Project Management Strategies for chaotic web projects

A Web Project…
Building a few web pages for a client in town
Developing a simple web application that collects client information
Extensive Content Management System

The Chaos
Developer working out of their basement from 12-7am
Designer that doesn’t answer email
Client that wants to change something every other day
Content that hasn’t been written
Server hosting that is unreliable at the moment due to twitter outage

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

Triple Constraint
Scope
Time
Cost

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

Dealing with the “what”
Project sponsor (client) asks for something that needs to be built
Meet with client 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 month would be perfect”
“Oh and can we have video?”
“And a live chat?”
“We would also like our users to sign in and have customizable features.”

Learn a little from software engineering
Understand clearly what you are doing
Risk management
Client management
Version control

Define what you are doing.

Break the project into manageable blocks

What is the critical path?

Clarity

Developers

Identify resources
Who do you sub-contract with?
What can they do?
Did you ask them?
Do you know or have you seen?
Is there a line of communication between you and your resources even when not working together?

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)?

Get the project sponsor 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.

Learn how to use version control software.

Use a process that works for you.

Other methods?
GTD
Waterfall
Agile/Extreme

About me
Jesse Rodgers
Member of the Special Projects Group at the University of Waterloo
Blog: http://whoyoucallingajesse.com
Email: [email_address]

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Web Project Management Todcon2008

by Jesse Rodgers on Jun 09, 2008

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Web Project Management Todcon2008 — Presentation Transcript