Managing a Dot-Com …collaboration is the key John DiElsi

John DiElsi2 “It’s easy to get good players. Getting ‘em to play together, that’s the hard part.” Casey Stengel

John DiElsi3 INBS 540 Website Management People Process

John DiElsi4 What Is It? originally available at one site popularity caused distribution to many eventually settled at many sites business focus on building repeat customers used banners for publicity browsers encouraged to visit site

John DiElsi5 A Circus!!

John DiElsi6 Distributing Information media natural (mountains, cave walls, sand) manufactured (clothing, paper, billboards, instruments, monitors, TVs, ) communication tools natural (smoke, sand, charcoal, etc.) manufactured (ink, paint, pencil, keyboards, cameras, electron beams, etc.)

John DiElsi7 Distributing Information concerns/issues using the media distributing information duplicating information protecting the creator rights quality of product information channels transforming the information for the media

John DiElsi8 The Web as Media compare to software, advertising, traditional projects development schedules changes during implementation phase pricing models standards for development process team roles, specialization project manager responsibilities

John DiElsi9 Can you do it all? time to collect information to organize information to display information quality of information collected of organization of information of display of information

John DiElsi10 Design: An Art and a Science must follow rules, guidelines compare to building architecture strategic values long-range goals tactical values short-range goals

John DiElsi11 Strategic Values branding easy identification with service/site impact/news fresh, new – to attract new visitors and retain old ones audience/community give audience what they want competitive make site more attractive than competitors

John DiElsi12 Tactical Values design goals  visual experience content what site has to say production how site is put together utility what visitors can do on site

John DiElsi13 Why Design It Right good design cannot guarantee success; poor design will make it difficult usability an important factor why build a site? save money make money provide information, news publicize cause

John DiElsi14 Saving Money – Reducing Support Costs FAQs print/mailing costs of catalogues tracking packages phone center, help line direct capture of data; database

John DiElsi15 Making Money – Sales and Distribution decreased cost to process order replacing expensive procedures web advertising – careful!! disintermediation travel car sales office supplies

John DiElsi16 Solving the Business Problem must know business objectives before using site effectively to meet them best solution not always one using most technology – need strategic planning must know marketing goals before knowing how web can be used to improve it budget comes last

John DiElsi17 Align Business Goals With Usability business goals make money? sell product directly? support distribution/sales channels? marketing goals increase strength of brand design goals attractive, aesthetic

John DiElsi18 Site Business Goals raison d’etre design can’t begin until designers understand why site exists knowing how site contributes to bottom line cues designers to design decisions each design element should support goal

John DiElsi19 Business Models Commercial Site sell products goals: help users choose products speed users through process help develop trust

John DiElsi20 Business Models Advertiser Paid Sites goals: provide content that keeps users returning -- “stickiness” provide outlet for advertisers paid by impressions integrated design increases ad impressions 2 masters -- the user and the advertiser

John DiElsi21 Business Models Corporate Sites promote business and brand goal: increase revenue via branding reduce costs  improve communication between channels and consumers  reduce call center intake

John DiElsi22 Business Goals and Usability Testing must know business goals to create aligned design use goals to develop usability tests

John DiElsi23 How much is quality? wide cost range for creating websites Estimation, timeline based on personnel number of pages complexity of pages features  expensive functionality – database, shopping cart, etc.  expensive content – media used, expert advice, etc. web price index  

John DiElsi24 Communication is the Key client-contractor relationships internal or external client broad expertise (business, tech, design)

John DiElsi25 Client Team client team members project leader (producer, team leader, …)  coordinates efforts of client organization  liaison to developer decision maker(s)  needs information webmaster(s)  manages/maintains site hosting

John DiElsi26 Client Team client team members contentmasters  responsible for providing content other content contributors  writers, photographers, artists, designers, etc. timely coordination important

John DiElsi27 Types of Developer Teams proprietors individual or small group only interested in creating site not much interest in administrative aspects partnerships more serious about developing sites usually start with small projects

John DiElsi28 Types of Developer Teams boutiques larger partnerships (10+ people) that includes administrative and sales personnel many design-oriented jobs or some technically-oriented jobs agencies multidisciplinary; go after larger jobs usually outsource many design functions look for accounts rather than single jobs

John DiElsi29 Development Team formal teams more productive IT or advertising often vie for site control classification of team members core  key personnel for all kinds of web development  examples: producer, designers extended  personnel not always needed or have cross-functional roles  examples: programmer, network engineer special  have skills not part of core or extended team  examples: audio engineering, security specialist

John DiElsi30 Developer Team management development team client liaison creative design team writers, illustrators technical hardware support network support programming

John DiElsi31 Building a Team identify necessary skills assessing skills of personnel other considerations critical deadline? risks interpersonal skills cross-functional capabilities

John DiElsi32 Building a Team professional motivation task-oriented  motivated by work self-oriented  motivated by personal success, recognition interaction-oriented  motivated by presence, actions of co-workers

John DiElsi33 Building a Team work habits programmers  solitary, usually work alone  ask about risks, concerns designers  usually perfectionists  keep on task writers  solitary  must know who audience is, project objectives

John DiElsi34 Leading a Team provide motivation and support balance timeline with budget keep goals in mind don’t let personal attributes get in way of completing project

John DiElsi35 Management Musts set clear guidelines production guide that documents who does what, when, how create project site for development team and client link to development site work with client collaborate

John DiElsi36 Outsourcing hire outside resources or form strategic partnerships use web to find contractors check backgrounds check quality of work if use outsourcing firm, ask for client referral list

John DiElsi37 Business Cycle periods of uneven workload can be due to lack of new jobs too many jobs delay in communication between client and developer can be affected by e-commerce failures

John DiElsi38 The Business Goes Home at Night very risky, labor intensive business must be good to survive generally creative but low profit in smaller companies, team members many have multiple tasks must know company strengths and go after customers that need those strengths

John DiElsi39 False Economies of Web Design can adapt text, graphics from print pieces more people, faster job no planning involved, just try things and see what works documentation is waste of time and effort

John DiElsi40 False Economies of Web Design anyone can design site; just need someone to implement design ask for price quotes and get ideas for free maintenance is easy and fun; can do it ourselves site producer not really that important

John DiElsi41 Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk communication key to success focus on process, not deliverables good process is adaptable deliverables just show progress made by process

John DiElsi42 Web Development websites require frequent change, as do development tools developers must be open to learning from clients, customers, other developers structured process is important being aware of landscape is critical

John DiElsi43 “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Winston Churchill