Lecture 3 Managing your project How? Milestones Deliverables Meeting tutors

Managing Your Project What is involved? Team Methodology Plan Management Documentation

Team Check out what you have to work with Strengths & weakness Collectively & individually Capabilities Reliability Play to strengths Allocate roles and tasks

Methodology How will you approach the project? What methodologies exist? For the project For components Given constraints Which are appropriate Task Team Select an approach rationally

Methodology Some programming methodologies Waterfall Spiral Incremental Evolutionary Extreme ………… [See SE course]

Project Plan Define activities Schedule activities Describe plan Execute plan Execute Monitor Revise

Define Activities What tasks are needed? When will they be done? Allocate resources Who will do them What will be delivered? How will you know it is complete?

Tasks Review tasks Are they realistic? Are they a complete set? Are they essential or luxuries? …..

Don’t Forget Research Existing work Tools Documentation Project monitoring Producing deliverables Learning Evaluation & reflection Modification and extension Contingency

Describing Your Plan List details of tasks: What When Who Deliverables Dependencies Prior Post Describe overall plan: Gantt chart Schedule of tasks Deliverables Dependencies etc

Guidelines Keep it simple Minimise dependencies Make sure that it is clear: What should be delivered? When? Realistic Risks Identify Contingency

Risks Identify risks: Illness, incompetence … Technology Over-runs etc Outline plans to cope with risks: Reallocate task Re-plan project Etc.

Research to Support the Planning Identify tools Allow time to learn tools and techniques Allow time for experimentation and exploration

Research to support the project Investigate related work Analyse Strengths, weaknesses Structure, techniques, methodolgy … Investigate potential resources Assets: video, animation ….

The Role of Prototypes Help to refine the project definition and specification Inform the plan Confirm the choice of the tools to be used Part of learning the tools and techniques

Prototypes Experimentation Focussed Purpose What do you learn? Part of system Quick [& possibly dirty] Disposable?

Forms of Prototype Paper based Screen layout Storyboard Slide show Mock up Limited version

Refinement Aim to get it right first time ….. But you won’t! Allow time for Contingency Hope to use it to review the result, identify improvements and implement some of them

Managing the Project Monitor progress against the plan Identify divergences/threats/opportunities Remedial action Re-planning Modify plans Modify goals of project

Documenting your Project Management Describe the methodology Describe all the tasks Give an overview of the plan Discuss the risks

Milestones Complete project definition Draft complete project management by meeting in week 4

Meeting with Tutor See web site for schedule Compulsory for all members of team Discuss draft deliverable Review progress & tasks for next week AOB