Managing Web Projects #1 – The Brainstorm
This is the first in a series of posts I will be writing about managing the full life-cycle of web projects. I am really interested in any feedback you may have so please feel free to comment or email me.
For the first step in this series I mindmapped all of the parts of web development that I could think of, right from requirements capture to invoicing.
I’m now planning to go through this and order the mindmap into a “best practice” workflow – what needs to be done first, what can be done concurrently etc.
If you think I’ve missed anything out, please let me know.
Look out over the next couple of days for part two in this series – The Website Workflow.
View more about Managing Web Projects here
Katy is always trying to be more productive one day at a time! Whether it's analogue, digital, motivational or psychological who'll try any system that will help her get things done and get organised.
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“How about content _development_? At my job, actually getting content generated to fill out a site is pretty much impossible. Heck, I can’t get product descriptions for things we’re trying to sell online…”
“That’s a really valid point Robert.
Whilst I have a section for Content, I have assumed that this is all provided by the client in a timely fashion (ideally before the project’s kicked off).
When doing the workflow (which I’ve just started on) a lot of stages are dependant on having the content there – such as page design as this could vary depending on the content.
Basically if the client can’t provide the content (or at least the format of the content) then the whole process is at a standstill.
An important point to note is that if you are relying on Client delivered content, get it (and the deliverable date) in the contract so that you’re not the one penalised for late delivery, and they know it’s all their fault.
I’ve spent many a late night trying to fix an entire website because the client changed their mind on the content and its format – never again!”
“Thanks for the Freemind project file – Do you use Freemind/mindmaps extensively throughout the project cycle ? I use Freemind during the initial phases of a project, and then after that I build upon a Excel export from the Mindmap file – Never was able to manage the whole thing in Freemind. After a while, I use Freemind mostly for brainstorming sessions.”
“I have to admit, I’ve just started using electronic mindmaps, I usually just grab some big sheets of paper and scrawl all over them.
In terms of during the project, I have used various tools such as Micorsoft Project, but at the moment use essentially a paper-based list system.
I have been looking at the Gantt Project (an Open Source version of MS Project) and will probably give this a whirl for my next big client. More information on open Gannt can be found here at http://ganttproject.sourceforge.net/“
“I was aware of Ganttproject, but I seem to be one of those who fall into the trap, where you keep using something because you paid for it – MS Project is the only product scheduling tool that I have used to date. One of the main reasons is because our clients are comfortable with MS Project plans. I am more a fan of MS Excel, and try to somehow manage to juggle between Excel and MS Project. Our IT team has written some good Excel macros that will populate an MPP file with data from Excel, which I email to my clients, and all are happy.
I am also trying to see how I can successfully integrate Project Excel Outlook Freemind into my GTD workflow (which I am a novice at). But that could be fun.
I have gone mostly paper for now, but would still like a digital version, that is in sync
As far as brainstorming, I am not sure if I am the only one that feels, I wish I had a 40inch monitor to capture the entire Mindmap or notes.
“
“There are a lot of clients who will only use MS Project and that’s final.I used to use Project extensively when I was managing large projects and teams (I even got sent on a training course to learn how to use it “”properly””) but I find now that I seem to spend more time working on the MS Project file than the actula project itself so I gave up on it!I’ve seen some really nifty things done with Excel (such as Gantt charts and project dependency lists) but again, I feel like I’m spending more time setting all that up than actually “”getting things done”””
“Great website very informative, I was trying to download from “”I’ve put up the mindmap in 4 formats:”” but there is a dead link.I now am wishing to hear your thoughts on SEO / SEM / PPC.”