Communication and the Communication and the TeamTeam

Communication Communication IssuesIssues

A common problem with most development A common problem with most development projects are communication issuesprojects are communication issues

These can be present in a number of waysThese can be present in a number of ways– Lack of communicationLack of communication

““I thought you knew where XXX was”I thought you knew where XXX was”

– No agreed, and communicated, standardsNo agreed, and communicated, standards““I thought the graphics were all JPGs”I thought the graphics were all JPGs”

– Communication leakageCommunication leakageDesigner: “The client told me to make the change!”Designer: “The client told me to make the change!”

Communication Communication PlanPlan

These can be addressed by These can be addressed by – Communicating basic project informationCommunicating basic project information

See project siteSee project site

– Agreeing suitable communication paths Agreeing suitable communication paths between team membersbetween team members

– Defining task responsibilities for teams and Defining task responsibilities for teams and team membersteam members

– Defining reporting responsibilities for teams and Defining reporting responsibilities for teams and team membersteam members

Who reports, to whom and whenWho reports, to whom and when

Communication Communication Plan -2Plan -2

Sign off responsibilities should also be agreed hereSign off responsibilities should also be agreed here– So that everyone knows who has final sign off on a So that everyone knows who has final sign off on a

project handover object project handover object

Communication paths are the definitions of which Communication paths are the definitions of which team members should be in communication with team members should be in communication with each other each other

Team members can be internal or external and Team members can be internal or external and include the clientinclude the client

They are commonly detailed in a communication They are commonly detailed in a communication plan and can include a communication diagramplan and can include a communication diagram

Communication Path Communication Path DiagramDiagram

Client

Account Mgr

Project Mgr/Producer

Creative LeadReports to PMOn exception

(or weekly)

Technical leadReports to PMOn exception

or weekly

Information ArchitectReports to PMOn exception(or weekly)

MIS ManagerReports to PMOn exception(or weekly)

QA LeadReports to PMOn exception(or weekly)

Copywriters Designers Database Architect

Programmers HTML coders

Network Admin Testers

The TeamThe Team

This can already be identified by this pointThis can already be identified by this pointIf not identified then key personnel need to be If not identified then key personnel need to be

found found Their roles and responsibilities have to be Their roles and responsibilities have to be

identifiedidentifiedIn many cases members of the team will In many cases members of the team will

share roles e.g.share roles e.g.– the technical lead could be the programmer on the technical lead could be the programmer on

a small projecta small project

In this case you are the team!In this case you are the team!

Typical Roles and Typical Roles and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilitiesCommon roles within projects includeCommon roles within projects include

DesignersDesigners

Information ArchitectInformation Architect

CopywriterCopywriter

Artist Artist

QA leadQA lead

TesterTester

Audio/Video/3d/Streaming Audio/Video/3d/Streaming EngineerEngineer

Media BuyerMedia Buyer

• ProjectProject Manager/ProducerManager/Producer

• Account ManagerAccount Manager• Technical LeadTechnical Lead• Creative LeadCreative Lead• Network ManagerNetwork Manager• Security ExpertSecurity Expert• ProgrammerProgrammer• Web integratorWeb integrator

Project Project Manager/ProducerManager/Producer

Responsible for:Responsible for:– Scoping ProjectScoping Project– Creating and maintaining Project PlanCreating and maintaining Project Plan– Allocating and managing resources (including Allocating and managing resources (including

team)team)– Managing budget and timescalesManaging budget and timescales– Handles contract/legal issuesHandles contract/legal issues

Main point of contact for Client and teamMain point of contact for Client and teamIf no one else does, the PM has to!If no one else does, the PM has to!

Account ManagerAccount Manager

Hangover from Advertising/Media agenciesHangover from Advertising/Media agencies

Liaises with Clients and understands their Liaises with Clients and understands their customer requirementscustomer requirements– Acts as client representative to Internal team Acts as client representative to Internal team

(usually PM and Creative lead)(usually PM and Creative lead)– Acts as team representative to ClientActs as team representative to Client

Liaises with Client over several projectsLiaises with Client over several projects

Mostly sales and marketing roleMostly sales and marketing role

Can be handled by PM on small projectsCan be handled by PM on small projects

Technical LeadTechnical Lead

Has the overall view of the technical aspect of Has the overall view of the technical aspect of a projecta project

Prepares technical strategy and briefs for PMPrepares technical strategy and briefs for PM

Manages the programming and technical Manages the programming and technical teamsteams

Allocates specialists (such as networking Allocates specialists (such as networking expert) for more specialised tasksexpert) for more specialised tasks

Essential for all but the simples of projectsEssential for all but the simples of projects

Creative LeadCreative Lead

Responsible for Creative concept and design Responsible for Creative concept and design for entire sitefor entire site

Manages designers and artistsManages designers and artists

Also responsible for allocating resources for Also responsible for allocating resources for specialist design tasks, such as 3D or specialist design tasks, such as 3D or animation tasksanimation tasks

Liaises with technical lead, programmers and Liaises with technical lead, programmers and any technical specialist on feasibility of any technical specialist on feasibility of designsdesigns

Network ManagerNetwork Manager

Responsible for setting up, configuring and Responsible for setting up, configuring and administrating:administrating:– web servers, web servers, – email servers email servers – and any other agreed hardware necessary to and any other agreed hardware necessary to

fulfil the technical delivery of a projectfulfil the technical delivery of a project

Can also be responsible for registering Can also be responsible for registering domain names and setting up net linksdomain names and setting up net links

Can be the Database administrator in small Can be the Database administrator in small projectsprojects

Security ExpertSecurity Expert

Responsible for the creation of encryption Responsible for the creation of encryption plans and setting up financial transaction plans and setting up financial transaction securitysecurity

Should have experience in this are with Should have experience in this are with encryption technologyencryption technology

Can recommend strategies and productsCan recommend strategies and products

Often a network engineer, database Often a network engineer, database administrator or lead programmeradministrator or lead programmer

Usually the best paid of them all!!!!Usually the best paid of them all!!!!

ProgrammerProgrammer

Responsible for the development of applications Responsible for the development of applications on the site in a programming languageon the site in a programming language– Usually specialists in one of the followingUsually specialists in one of the following

Flash,Flash,

CGI,CGI,

JAVA, JAVA,

JavaScript, JavaScript,

SQL, SQL,

C/C++C/C++

– Usually has skills in two or more of aboveUsually has skills in two or more of above

Web IntegratorWeb Integrator

Responsible for the integration of visual Responsible for the integration of visual designs and backend programming designs and backend programming

Usually codes the final HTML pages, Usually codes the final HTML pages, integrating media and any client side integrating media and any client side programming into the pagesprogramming into the pages

Often the HTML guru and is the final person Often the HTML guru and is the final person in the process before hand off to QAin the process before hand off to QA

Often communicates directly with PM and Often communicates directly with PM and Technical leadTechnical lead

DesignersDesigners

Create the look and feel of a siteCreate the look and feel of a site

Create the initial Graphical templatesCreate the initial Graphical templates

Often now create the basic HTML page Often now create the basic HTML page using a tool such as Dreamweaverusing a tool such as Dreamweaver

Has to have an understanding of digital Has to have an understanding of digital design not just print/Fashion/graphical design not just print/Fashion/graphical designdesign

On small projects can be the Creative LeadOn small projects can be the Creative Lead

Information Information ArchitectArchitect

Responsible for Responsible for – Site ArchitectureSite Architecture– Site NavigationSite Navigation– Search/Data retrievalSearch/Data retrieval– Interaction design/User Experience PlanningInteraction design/User Experience Planning

Also responsible for error messages, Also responsible for error messages, legal/Terms of Reference, privacy legal/Terms of Reference, privacy messages, users technical needsmessages, users technical needs

CopywriterCopywriter

In knowledge based sites responsible for In knowledge based sites responsible for extraction of knowledge form the subject extraction of knowledge form the subject expertexpert

Creates new copyCreates new copy

Or Checks Client copyOr Checks Client copy

ArtistArtist

Responsible for turning the designers Responsible for turning the designers creations into Web formatcreations into Web format– Decreasing resolutionDecreasing resolution– Optimising imagesOptimising images– Cutting up screens Cutting up screens

Nowadays the designer often performs this Nowadays the designer often performs this tasktask

QA leadQA lead

Responsible for ensuring the site meets the Responsible for ensuring the site meets the scope and functionality requirements scope and functionality requirements specifiedspecified

Interacts with programmers and designers Interacts with programmers and designers during bug fixing to assist completion of during bug fixing to assist completion of the sitethe site

Responsible for giving final “go-live” OK to Responsible for giving final “go-live” OK to PM PM

TesterTester

Part of QA teamPart of QA team

Responsible for the testing of site to ensure Responsible for the testing of site to ensure it meets functional and scope it meets functional and scope requirements specifiedrequirements specified

On small teams can be the QA leadOn small teams can be the QA lead

Audio/Video/3d/ Audio/Video/3d/ Streaming EngineerStreaming Engineer

Responsible for the creation of any of the Responsible for the creation of any of the above content types for delivery to the above content types for delivery to the technical and creative leadstechnical and creative leads

Media BuyerMedia Buyer

Responsible for the advertising campaignResponsible for the advertising campaign– Both OfflineBoth Offline

Posters, Billboard, TV, RadioPosters, Billboard, TV, Radio

– And OnlineAnd OnlineWhat banner and other ads will run on the siteWhat banner and other ads will run on the site

What ads will be run for the site and whereWhat ads will be run for the site and where

– Responsible for any links to portals Responsible for any links to portals