1. Communication and the Team

2. Communication Issues A common problem with most development projects are communication issues These can be present in a number of ways –Lack of communication “I thought you knew where XXX was” –No agreed, and communicated, standards “I thought the graphics were all JPGs” –Communication leakage Designer: “The client told me to make the change!”

3. Communication Plan These can be addressed by –Communicating basic project information See project site –Agreeing suitable communication paths between team members –Defining task responsibilities for teams and team members –Defining reporting responsibilities for teams and team members Who reports, to whom and when

4. Communication Plan -2 Sign off responsibilities should also be agreed here –So that everyone knows who has final sign off on a project handover object Communication paths are the definitions of which team members should be in communication with each other Team members can be internal or external and include the client They are commonly detailed in a communication plan and can include a communication diagram

5. Communication Path Diagram

6. The Team This can already be identified by this point If not identified then key personnel need to be found Their roles and responsibilities have to be identified In many cases members of the team will share roles e.g. –the technical lead could be the programmer on a small project In this case you are the team!

7. Typical Roles and Responsibilities Common roles within projects include Designers Information Architect CopywriterArtist QA lead Tester Audio/Video/3d/Streamin g Engineer Media Buyer Project Manager/ProducerProject Manager/Producer Account ManagerAccount Manager Technical LeadTechnical Lead Creative LeadCreative Lead Network ManagerNetwork Manager Security ExpertSecurity Expert ProgrammerProgrammer Web integratorWeb integrator

8. Project Manager/Producer Responsible for: –Scoping Project –Creating and maintaining Project Plan –Allocating and managing resources (including team) –Managing budget and timescales –Handles contract/legal issues Main point of contact for Client and team If no one else does, the PM has to!

9. Account Manager Hangover from Advertising/Media agencies Liaises with Clients and understands their customer requirements –Acts as client representative to Internal team (usually PM and Creative lead) –Acts as team representative to Client Liaises with Client over several projects Mostly sales and marketing role Can be handled by PM on small projects

10. Technical Lead Has the overall view of the technical aspect of a project Prepares technical strategy and briefs for PM Manages the programming and technical teams Allocates specialists (such as networking expert) for more specialised tasks Essential for all but the simples of projects

11. Creative Lead Responsible for Creative concept and design for entire site Manages designers and artists Also responsible for allocating resources for specialist design tasks, such as 3D or animation tasks Liaises with technical lead, programmers and any technical specialist on feasibility of designs

12. Network Manager Responsible for setting up, configuring and administrating: –web servers, –email servers –and any other agreed hardware necessary to fulfil the technical delivery of a project Can also be responsible for registering domain names and setting up net links Can be the Database administrator in small projects

13. Security Expert Responsible for the creation of encryption plans and setting up financial transaction security Should have experience in this are with encryption technology Can recommend strategies and products Often a network engineer, database administrator or lead programmer Usually the best paid of them all!!!!

14. Programmer Responsible for the development of applications on the site in a programming language –Usually specialists in one of the following Flash,CGI,JAVA,JavaScript,SQL,C/C++ –Usually has skills in two or more of above

15. Web Integrator Responsible for the integration of visual designs and backend programming Usually codes the final HTML pages, integrating media and any client side programming into the pages Often the HTML guru and is the final person in the process before hand off to QA Often communicates directly with PM and Technical lead

16. Designers Create the look and feel of a site Create the initial Graphical templates Often now create the basic HTML page using a tool such as Dreamweaver Has to have an understanding of digital design not just print/Fashion/graphical design On small projects can be the Creative Lead

17. Information Architect Responsible for –Site Architecture –Site Navigation –Search/Data retrieval –Interaction design/User Experience Planning Also responsible for error messages, legal/Terms of Reference, privacy messages, users technical needs

18. Copywriter In knowledge based sites responsible for extraction of knowledge form the subject expert Creates new copy Or Checks Client copy

19. Artist Responsible for turning the designers creations into Web format –Decreasing resolution –Optimising images –Cutting up screens Nowadays the designer often performs this task

20. QA lead Responsible for ensuring the site meets the scope and functionality requirements specified Interacts with programmers and designers during bug fixing to assist completion of the site Responsible for giving final “go-live” OK to PM

21. Tester Part of QA team Responsible for the testing of site to ensure it meets functional and scope requirements specified On small teams can be the QA lead

22. Audio/Video/3d/ Streaming Engineer Responsible for the creation of any of the above content types for delivery to the technical and creative leads

23. Media Buyer Responsible for the advertising campaign –Both Offline Posters, Billboard, TV, Radio –And Online What banner and other ads will run on the site What ads will be run for the site and where –Responsible for any links to portals