Managing Web Projects - The Whole Shebang

posted at 08:26:03
By Flipping Heck!

Posted In
Project Management

Update: I've re-worked this post as I noticed all of the links were broken - sorry for any inconvienience caused.

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So, we've come to the end of the road

Still, we've had fun along the way, haven't we (that was a rhetorical question by the way )

In this last post in the Managing Web Projects series, I'll take a brief look back at what we've covered and then offer a few more hints and tips to help all you budding freelancers out there - aren't I nice?!

Managing Web Projects #1 - The Brainstorm

This is where it all began with a brain dump into FreeMind, I'll admit that it doesn't cover every aspect of the Web Development process but it's a jolly good starting place!

The mind map tries to organise the different areas into silos which could then be used to formulate a work-flow.

Managing Web Projects #2 - The Workflow

The website work flow diagram takes the mess that was the Brainstorm and organises it into a logical flow of what (in an ideal world) should happen when during the life-cycle of a project.

The workflow diagram then lead me to write the rest of the processes in a (hopefully) logical order.

Managing Web Projects #3 - The Pitch

The pitch could be considered the most important part of the web development process. Pitch badly and you won't get the work so the rest of the project flow is useless!

In this post I discuss some tips and techniques for successful pitching such as using (or not) your notes properly and pitcing your pitch at the right level.

Managing Web Projects #4 - The Quote

Here I discuss how to work out your hourly rate as a freelance web developer (and how not to to over or under-charge!) and how to send out your quote; Professionalism counts - don't hand it to them scrawled on a soggy beer mat!

Managing Web Projects #5 - The Contract

All I'm going to say about this one is never, never, never, never do work for anyone (not even your Aunty May) without even a basic contract.

Consider yourself told!

Managing Web Projects #6 - The Technical Requirements Specification

One of the most important aspects of the Project Management life-cycle. It specifies what you're going to build and how it's going to work.

If you don't write even a basic Technical Requirements specification you run the risk of being stuck in the never ending cycle of project creep - you have been warned!

Managing Web Projects #7 - Sourcing the team and Managing the Project

This entry offers advice on working out how many team members you need and what to do when you hire them. Don't worry if you're a one-man-band, this post offers some insights into project management and some useful tools.

Managing Web Projects #8 - The Design Process

Here we take a brief look at the process of designing a website (a full book in itself), what you need to consider and how to track the many changes that are bound to happen.

Managing Web Projects #9 - The Development Process

Again, worthy of its own book! We take a look at the development of a website, the tools to use, bug-tracking and design integration.

Managing Web Projects #10 - Testing the Product

Don't you just hate it when you visit a website and half the functionality is broken? Or maybe you're a Mac owner who can't access half the websites on the Internet because no-one bothered to test them on OSX?

I suppose you could just slap an "In Beta" sticker on the site.... or maybe you could test it? Here we consider how to test and what to test for before you release the site on the unsuspecting public.

Managing Web Projects #11 - The Change Request Form

At some point your client's bound to turn around and say "I want..." so here we discuss tracking the changes, and when to turn around to your client and say "No"!

Managing Web Projects #12 - Sign-off and "Delivery"

Here we talk about why you should get a formal sign-off from a client (hint, you can't get sued) and what it should include.

We also discuss how to roll your website out to the big-wide-world.

Managing Web Projects #13 - Invoicing the client

Hoorah! It's pay day!

This post discusses when and how to invoice your client and what you should include on your invoice.

Managing Web Projects #14 - Maintenance Contracts

In this final post, the topic of website maintainance is discussed. For some developers it's the most boring job in the world, for others it's their main source of income.

Here we talk about why providing maintenance updates is an excellent value added service and how to go about managing them so you, and the customer, don't lose out.

Phew! It's been quite a journey hasn't it?

I've tried to cover as many aspects of the development process as I can, most of it coming from my personal experience being a web developer for the past *ahem* years - yes, I was there when the dot.com bubble burst.

Web 2.0 fever is striking the internet world and there's nothing to say that the bubble won't burst again. Hopefully the advice I have put forward in the "Managing Web Projects" series will help you stay afloat in any turbluent times ahead.

I'd also like to think that the processes I have mentioned will help you deal with clients and staff and hopefully take the stress out of a job that ~~can be~~ is immensely enjoyable.

This series is by no means meant to be all encompassing, but I think I've touched on all the main aspects of web development that wil affect all of us at one point or another. If you have any suggestions or comments about this series, please feel free to add them to the relevant entries, post them below or sent me an email using the link at the top of the page.

Hopefully you've enjoyed my (admittedly light-hearted in parts) take on the world of web developement and if you only take a few things away from this series, hopefully it's this:

If it can go wrong it probably will so have processes in place to deal with it.

Just because a customer wants it doesn't mean they have to have it.

A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on. Document everything and get it signed!

Always write a technical requirements specification - no matter how brief. You're client knows what they're getting and you know what you're meant to deliver. That way there can be no arguments.

The customer isn't always right. If they are a pain in the backside, are they worth working with?

Test, Test and Test again. There's nothing more damaging to your reputation (and your client's) by releasing something that breaks when a user enters an invalid email address.

Finally, beware of undercharging. When quoting always add leeway for problem code, problem clients and general problems. You don't want to be out of pocket.

And now, to help you on the road to becoming the next 37 Signals or Fog Creek, here's a list of useful resources for the new web developer and old-hand alike:

Webmaster World - A friendly forum with topics on web development, project management, SEO and more.

A List Apart - An excellent resource for all things web covering design, accessibility

Web Monkey - An oldie but a goodie. It may not be updated much anymore but the article archive is a goldmine of information.

ASP Index, Hotscripts, DHTML Central and Planet Source Code - Why re-invent the wheel when there are so many great free scripts already out there?

Project Management Institute - eBusiness Specific Interest Group - A group dedicated to Project Managers in the Tech fields

ProjectManagement.com - Another excellent resource for wannabe PM's

Business Link - Advice for small business owners in the UK

Small Business Association - Advice for small business owners in the USA

Starting and Running a Web Business - A Squidoo lense on running a web-based business with some useful links

The above is just a sample of the wonderful resources out there for web developers, designers and project managers - please feel free to add more in the comments!

I'd like to finish off the series with a little request. I'm thinking about releasing this as an e-book, are there any kind readers out there willing to proof-read it and write a testimonial for me? You'll be linked to and receive a free copy of the finished book. Please contact me using the link at the top of the page if you're interested :)

Thanks for reading and I hoped you enjoyed the series.