Why is project management important for web development projects? Outline what skills are required.

According to BusinessDictionary.com, the definition of project management is: “An approach to management of work within the constraints of time, cost, and performance requirements.”

The term, according to the same web site, is also applied to “the body of knowledge concerned with principles, techniques, and tools used in planning, control, monitoring, and review of projects.”

Wikipedia states that “Web development is a broad term for any activity related to developing a web site for the World Wide Web or an intranet.”

The technology behind the web is constantly changing and evolving, and is one with which not everyone is familiar. In the interests of deadlines, efficiency and cost, it would be better to employ someone who is familiar with the online environment to manage projects with a heavy reliance on effective use of new technology. This may be someone with slightly less seniority, but who is able to make good use of social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace or Twitter, can blog and comment successfully in order to publicise the project to the target audience and can even suggest new places to seek that target audience, perhaps online interest groups or chatrooms/forums.

The basics of project management (finding out what do to, working out how to do it to budget and setting a completion date) can be learnt from someone more experienced and then adapted to the specific needs of the web development project. However it is to be delivered, it is important that a project comes in on time, on or even under budget and with the desired outcome. The project manager should ensure they are fully briefed by the client so that they have a clear understanding of what the client wants, the timescale and the cost the client is expecting. They should also ensure that the client is made aware of the capability of the web to maximise opportunity so that the design and implementation is as smooth as possible.

For instance, it may be possible to use the web to automate certain tasks which otherwise would have to be done by hand, perhaps filling in registration forms or assisting users in setting up targeted mailshots to send notification only when content matches certain keywords. This would make fulfilling the aims of the project less time intensive and produce faster feedback from users. If the aim was to induce a financial gain, this would therefore happen faster.

Careful use of the web can also have cost implication in time saving, fewer hours needing to be spent by an administrator doing things users can choose to set up for themselves, simplification of the behind-the-scenes running of the project.

The web also, by its very nature, reaches a wider audience than any hard copy mailshot could, leading to potentially higher exposure and better global performance for the client, internationally rather than merely nationally or regionally. However, this does raise issues with regard to control of the site and the increased cost of effective protection from spam attacks, bots and hackers.

Clear and continuous communication is vital so that the manager knows the client’s expectations in the above areas and whether they can be met or preferably surpassed by skilful use of web tools and design. Ideally, the client should have a draft plan of what they are hoping to achieve from the use of web development so that the specialist can work from there and build a more detailed set of parameters acceptable to both sides. This plan should be available at all times for both sides to refer to for clarity and should include a timetable of project stages and stated financial goals/budget as well as set dates for delivery of each stage or goal. A target audience should be established if this is appropriate, so that suitable language and references can be used.

Project management for web development projects is important because if a web site is poorly designed, or a Twitter feed badly managed and not updated, this can jeopardise the success of the project. A web site has to be secure to minimise the risk of it being hacked, in addition subscribers’ information must be held securely to boost their confidence in the service being provided. It should be designed to be easy to navigate, with all the necessary links accessible and clearly readable to both the casual visitor and the frequent user. This will encourage the casual visitor to become a frequent user, maybe spreading the word about the well designed site among their friends in turn. E-mail addresses must be monitored regularly to prevent spam and ensure a speedy reply to any questions or technical issues notified by users. Twitter and blog accounts similarly require monitoring and updating to minimise the chance of bots hijacking the feed. A proactive web development manager should ensure that the site administrator receives notification when new users subscribe and that suitable rules have been put in place to indicate the boundaries of good behaviour accepted on the site. If necessary a moderation role should be implemented to provide control over the site and ensure these guidelines are adhered to.

The team behind the project should include not only the project manager, skilled in web development, but where appropriate, (if the project is big enough or is expected to generate enough revenue to justify the personnel) a dedicated site administrator able to upload the appropriate content and make changes/updates as required. Ideally the client’s staff should be involved at all stages if a third party is undertaking the design and testing but if this is not possible and the project is to be designed, built and tested by the web development specialist and then handed to the client for day-to-day running, a hand over/training session should be arranged so that the client’s IT staff know what to expect and how to maintain the site.

Whether the project manager stands as the head of a team or works alone, their role is still the same: to oversee. To oversee the project’s development, from a plan, through the tender stage, if appropriate, to contract award. To appoint the most suitable people to assist in the achievement of the client’s goals, in the given timescale. To oversee the team’s efforts in developing the project, to supervise people, testing and content and to ensure that the client is informed at every stage of the process. To keep control of the budget, report to the client when anything other than what has been agreed occurs and to provide accountability for the client’s financial outlay on demand. To oversee that any targets the client wishes met are achieved within the timescale specified and that this does not compromise any other area of the project brief. To ensure that any specification or programme given in the contract or project brief is adhered to – or to provide good reasons why this cannot be so. In addition, the project manager should be a middleman between any third party and the client, dealing with the day-to-day issues of running the project, liaising with others and addressing queries, problems and potential delays as required. Their role must encompass reviewing progress and discussing any potential problems with the client as soon as possible. This is where a good knowledge of the web will pay off, because it may be that the web can assist in providing a workround, with which the client may not be familiar. The web development manager should be fully aware of where the web can save the client resources, time and money and be pro-active in ensuring that good value is delivered by the advanced use of technology to speed and simplify all aspects of the work.

If the project is lengthy, large or complicated, it would help in the creative side of building the client’s web presence if the project manager had access to a web or graphic designer to consult on design issues, as well as a professional planner to ensure that time lines stated by the client were achievable with the allocated resources. On smaller projects it may be that the project manager has to perform all these functions alone, or work with the client’s specialists in those areas. If they are designing the website from scratch the ability to write clearly and concisely is vital, in order to communicate the immediate purpose of the web site and its constituent parts as soon as the home page is loaded.

The project manager should also have good administrative skills or appoint someone who does to keep track of the paperwork associated with carrying out the project. A large project will generate a significant amount of filing: the contract, letters, reports, certificates, photographs and technical specifications, all of which should be indexed/registered and logically filed to allow for easy location if proof of any particular decision or action is required.

A full programme of testing, to agreed and fully certifiable, contractually binding standards, should be carried out before the site goes live, whether this is an intranet or an external website. This testing regime should include a means of recording both the client’s and project manager’s satisfaction with any decisions made at this time, a clear note of any defects found and remedy suggested or carried out. The testing should preferably be with a cross-company sample of users who would be expected to access the site when live. For instance, when Atkins, the civil engineers, rolled out a new intranet site, they invited each office location to nominate representatives to attend a series of feedback forums where the initial layout of the home page, frequently used links to appear there and users’ expectations were discussed in detail. A dummy version of the homepage was then made available to these users to test run and a more developed version was subsequently rolled out across the company after a test period of three months. Following additional feedback from all users in the year since rollout, more amendments have been made to the look and functionality of the front page. The Hot Links list has been expanded, all divisions now have a one click link to their home page at the top of the corporate page and the tabs indicate general areas of company-wide interest. Presently work is focussing on the Projects and Bids tab, the contents of which will shortly be split into two, giving another Knowledge tab as well as information on Projects and Bids on a dedicated tab. This illustrates another of the skills necessary for effective web development project management, the ability to react to feedback and make appropriate changes.

The project manager should be able to work with a variety of media for the web site including video, audio and all forms of the written word from the 140-character limit required by Twitter up to formal press releases which can be circulated to local and national press as required. At all times clarity and simplicity of function should be borne in mind to make the site as accessible as possible. This assists not only those with recognised disabilities but also those whose machinery may be experiencing technical or connectivity issues. A viral video using a site such as YouTube could be considered if the target audience is likely to be regular users of that site. Or light-hearted applications such as a tag cloud or graphs of biggest site users could be employed as needed. There are many proprietary applications already available which would allow for such diversions.

To summarise, in addition to the established project management skills of control of time, cost, and performance constraints, the web development project manager should also have the following attributes:

    *          A familiarity with the web and a variety of media
    *          Good all-round communication
    *          Administration, planning, design and people management skills
    *          The ability to organise testing of the site, to ensure the client’s needs have been met
    *          A prompt reaction to feedback

 

 

 

 

© Danie Jones 11-2009



Please comment accordingly, suggesting any amendments, additions, removals or rephrasing as you think fit.

Now, I'm a graduate myself, and I know I have other graduates and students on my list, so speak up and let me know your views.

I recently received a letter from my own alma mater begging for money. As in, a donation to some unspecified cause to do with the continued funding of the University. It's not the first time they've done this, but they have become, shall we say, more persistent in recent times, especially as I have refused to let them have a contact phone number.

When I graduated in the early 90s, student grants were still in operation, although if parents had a good enough income they were expected to pay the student's way through University. So it was a case of giving several thousand pounds a year to the academic institution, plus rent for a room, food, books, all the usual stuff that all students have to have. Those with grants had some of those costs met or reduced, and of course some students had part time work as well as studies.

Suddenly I find myself being asked to give yet more money to this place which hasn't done that much for me since I left. And which has already received several thousand from me during the course of my education there. Plus I have a house to run and two people to feed, all on less money than I was earning nearly 5 years ago in the south east, when I only had a one-bed flat and myself to worry about.

For reasons best known to it, it refuses to address me using the degree letters it gave me the right to use. Graduating was supposed to give me a leg up on the career ladder, so please someone explain why on earth I'm still a humble admin all these years on? Surely I should now be benefiting from the heady combination of a degree plus experience??

All this made me think, and you know what happens when Danie starts thinking, eh? Grand ideas of epic simplicity and mild feelings of *if-only-the-Government-would-implement-that*.

As I understand it, presently all students in this country end up graduating about £25,000 in debt. They aren't required to start paying it back until they're earning a certain annual salary (and I admit I don't know what that figure is). But surely, if that model works for current and recent graduates, what's to stop a similar scheme being implemented for all graduates of the last few years who earn over twice that sum, meaning that they are then required to pay a small percentage back to their University, as it would appear that their degree has allowed them to rise higher up the career ladder than others.

That would still allow those of us who haven't managed to scale the dizzy heights of super-salaries just yet to continue to strive for that goal, without being left out of pocket, whilst ensuring that the Universities do get reimbursed by their star students. Even better if the money could go to the same course the graduate had attended, thus ensuring that similar students were able to benefit. Once I'm earning a superior amount I wouldn't mind donating a little bit back, but just not right now when month length and amount of disposable income are often incompatible.

Your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen?

Been arguing with this from the phone all day, eventually gave up and decided it would have to wait until I got back to my PC.

My friend was telling me yesterday that a colleague of hers tried to get her 17 year old son his first passport 3 weeks before they went to France en famille for the first time.

a) she hadn't realised that he couldn't still travel on her passport (he's 17 YEARS not 17 MONTHS...).
b) she thought she could get it done at once by turning up at the nearest Passport Office (the only place you can do that is at Passport Office HQ in London, I believe).
c) you are seriously telling me he's 17 and he's NEVER TRAVELLED ABROAD WITHOUT HIS PARENTS???? (that rattling sound is my mind boggling).

Once I'd calmed down, retrieved my disbelief from whatever stratospheric location it had flown to and stopped grumbling about people who don't do their research before they travel, I realised the topic would be a great one for a poll.

So...

Poll #1451017 Travel Poll
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 23

What age were you when you first left your country of birth? (for a holiday, job or emigration)

Do you have multi-purpose ID or separate documents?

How many countries have you visited? Tell me some of them iin your comment.

If you could live in another country, would you? Comment and tell me which country and your reasons.

Do you speak any foreign languages?

Will be interested to read your responses because I've been travelling in Europe and latterly North America for my entire life, but as I found out, not everyone has that chance. I first started travelling accompanied by teachers but without my parents on school trips around the age of 10, and travelled alone regularly from about 14 or so when I was visiting my school exchange penpal in Northern France. Admittedly my parents would take me to the ferry terminal and hers would meet me as I disembarked the other end but I still made the crossing on my own.

I'm fully expecting, however, that a number of my US pals will say they have never left their country - you guys have enough places to *just be* without having to go anywhere whereas with this squitty little overpacked island I live on, if you want to get anywhere you have to leave it at some point. Manhattan, eat your heart out...

OK, my, multi-national f-list. I need your input here.

Felice and I have been bemoaning the crap state of our sporting facilities in this country, especially given that London's hosting the Olympics in less than 4 years' time.

What sort of facilities do you have in your country? What arrangements are there for top athletes to train and concentrate only on training, not having to worry about supporting their families because all that's taken care of by someone else?

Is it an academy-style thing where they go away for intensive weekends or do they live somewhere special right on top of the training facilities so they don't have to pay out for travel all the time? If you still need school learning as well as sport, is that catered for?

Your answers, please...

</div></div>
Am now delightfully distracted from my paperwork thinking about what goals I wish to pursue...thanks!!
www.43things.com/

news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8040000/newsid_8045200/8045254.stm

This one made me laugh...a difficult thing these days!

Stormy, are you listenng? Not so much hen-pecked as budgie-pecked.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090820/tuk-goldfish-survives-loo-flush-dba1618.html

Awww, bless...if he can survive that then in my humble opinion, my boys can survive green goo for now. Next weekend I have an extra day, ptl, will have to see if I can find enough time and good weather to clean out the pond a bit in that time.

Of course there are other things that I want to accomplish next weekend as well, ie post, paperwork, job applications and so on but I think some outside time may be a requirement if I can manage it.

This is for all the penpals out there:

** Decline of the blue box **
In villages, towns and cities across America, residents are waking up to find the familiar blue mailbox at the end of the road is gone.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_8205000/8205052.stm >

Come on you, guys, e-mails are great but a PROPER LETTER IS BETTER!

Felice and I had a newsy airmail letter from my 80 year old aunt today and learned more about her than we managed by talking to her for several weeks when she was last over here...

Proof, if proof was needed.

OK, job hunting yet again.

Where do I find me a job which allows me to use the following skills:

proof reading
formatting
research
an eye for detail
writing
databases
addresses

without having to deal with the rest of the world wanting me to organise their typing/filing/IT issues/whatever?


Any/all ideas for having an uncluttered work life welcome, before I kill someone in my current place for being a) LAZY, b) stupid enough not to know how to operate technology c) disturbing me for the nth time in 8 hours...

It struck me earlier that an awful lot of recent Formula 1 drivers are sons of former drivers: Villeneuve, Hill, Rosberg, Piquet and Nakajima spring to mind.



In my opinion most of them used 'daddy's name' to blag a ride rather than having much natural ability of their own.



Do you think this is true? Is this the same in other sports?

dear little furball

I first saw this on the Yahoo site, but my forward to the blog failed :( found it on the Belfast Telegraph site eventually :)))

I've made some amendments to my profile again...

Yeah, I know, PIMP, PIMP :)

(I am a TART! I love tweaking my profile!)

What does everyone think? Is there anything I should take out, anything I should leave in, anything you would like me to add?

This is a distinctive 12 year aged whisky from the Scottish island of Islay (pronounced 'I-la').

The predominant smell on opening the taster bottle is a smoked, burnt out fire. Then citrus, sharp, maybe medicinal.

Amber colored, medium body, the smoke hits nose and palate first from the glass.

The sharpness follows, leaving the mouth zinging with the smoke, as if breathing in over a bonfire.

An acquired taste and one I intend, as a beginner, to compare and contrast with the more well-known Highland and Speyside singletons as well as the blended whiskies on the market.