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Chapter 2: Project Planning
Learning Objectives:
Important aspects of the Web project planning process
How to develop project goals based on visual-spatial thinking
Strategies for writing a scope of work
Developing a project schedule based on goals and tasks
Developing a site maintenance plan
Planning issues for working with professional clients
Summary:
Planning requires identifying the site’s audience, purpose, context,
project goals, tasks, scope of work, schedule, and site maintenance
issues.
Initial planning involves analysis of the rhetorical aspects of a
project, which include purpose, audience (target users), as well as
contextual issues and constraints. Drafting general planning goals is
an important part developing an early concept of the project.
Visual-spatial thinking can help developers revise planning goals that
are aligned with user perceptual needs and habits. It is a usercentered design approach that focuses on the user at every point of the
design process.
Developing a written scope of work is essential to project planning. It
identifies the specifications for a project, including target users,
statement of purpose, context, project summary, specific goals, content
inventory, technical requirements, design requirements, and other
important issues to guide later development and design tasks.
A project schedule, or timeline, provides details about what work must
be accomplished, when, and what specific deliverables are required at
various phases of the work.
Developing a site maintenance plan involves three important steps: (1)
identify maintenance issues; (2) develop a site maintenance matrix; and
(3) write the site maintenance plan.
A site maintenance matrix identifies essential maintenance issues or
tasks, page/file names, frequency of updates, estimated duration, and
resources required for keeping a Web project updated.
A written site maintenance plan should include the purpose, content
providers, responsible parties, summary of resources needed, site
maintenance schedule and period, and any applicable service charges.
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Professional client projects involve incorporating specific needs,
goals, and design aesthetics that satisfy the client and users.
A professional project proposal includes a written scope of work,
project schedule, site maintenance plan, and itemized costs.
Web projects are typically billed using one of three billing methods:
single-fee, per-page fee, and hourly fee. Specific fees should be
researched and benchmarked to ensure the use of competitive rates. Fees
are calculated based on labor, equipment, utilities, and profit.
Exercises at www.prenhall.com/baehr:
1. Select a Web site and examine any pages to determine the site’s purpose,
mission, intent, and any legal or other important notices. Most of this
information can be found on the site’s home page or by following a link
from this page. Perform an analysis of the site’s audience, purpose,
and contextual issues or constraints. Use Table 2-2 to record the
findings. Afterwards, return to the site and make note of any content
or visual information that appear to contradict the findings.
2. Select a Web site that seems to favor the use of visual information over
textual content. Then, using Figure 2-1, answer as many questions as
possible about the site’s design. Determine how effective the site
appears to be in terms of planning for the visual-spatial thinking
habits of its users. What suggestions for planning a redesign of the
site should be considered based on these findings?
3. Based on the findings from Exercise #2, develop a list of goals and
specific tasks that address the suggestions for planning a redesign of
the site. Use Table 2-4 to record these goals and tasks. Verify that
each list of task will successfully achieve each goal identified.
4. Research the Internet to find at least two Web sites that have a similar
purpose to a current project you are developing. Perform an analysis of
the rhetorical situation and identify specific features of the site that
address specific user needs, values, or characteristics. Then, identify
any specific features that seem to be used consistently between the
sites.
5. Select a Web site that uses a page last updated feature or has timesensitive content. Select a single page in the site and identify
specific content that may require periodic updates or changes. Then,
estimate the frequency and time required to update each item on the
list. Develop a site maintenance matrix for your findings.
6. Review the list of guidelines for Designers on Clients and Clients on
Designers. Working in a small group, brainstorm other suggestions based
on work each group member has in working on professional projects,
whether Web-based or not. Pick one perspective, either Designers on
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Clients or Clients on Designers and make a list of the group’s
collective lessons learned.
7. Using the Internet, visit three separate Web development consulting
business sites that list services and fees for performing site
maintenance. Compare and contrast the services
Additional Exercises:
8. Select any Web site and using Figure 2-2, identify any contextual issues
found in each of the four categories: legal and ethical issues,
cultural and social issues, usability and accessibility issues, and
technical issues. How might these contextual issues have influenced
decisions made in the design or development of the site?
9. Select a Web site that seems to favor the use of visual information over
textual content. Assume the role of a review team that has been tasked
with making recommendations for a redesign of the site. Using Table 2-
3, select two visual-spatial concepts and answer the respective
questions. Make a list of suggestions for redesigning the site that
would be good planning objectives.
10.Select a Web site of a non-profit organization or a site for a
professional organization in your field of study. Browse the site and
identify any time-sensitive content that may need to be changed,
altered, or updated on a frequent basis. Using Table 2-6, identify the
tasks, page name, and estimate the frequency, time required, and other
resources that may be necessary.
11.Review the list of guidelines for Designers on Clients and Clients on
Designers. Working in a small group, identify lessons learned from
previous projects or work with professional clients not on the list.
Discuss your findings with other teams.
Chapter Test Questions at www.prenhall.com/baehr:
True/False
1. Planning a Web site project involves identifying the site’s audience,
purpose, context, project goals, tasks, scope of work, schedule, and
site maintenance issues. [TRUE]
2. Planning goals need not involve visual or spatial considerations, which
only play an important role later in the development process. [FALSE]
3. User-centered design is an approach to designing and developing products
that consider users needs and preferences. [TRUE]
4. An example of a social contextual issue in Web development is to provide
legal disclaimers and copyright statements for samples. [FALSE]
5. Technical issues to consider in planning a Web project might include
browser type, operating system, hardware, software, and Internet
connection speed users have. [TRUE]
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6. Development goals should be set to provide users with multiple ways of
solving problems, finding content, and performing tasks on the site.
[TRUE]
7. A site maintenance plan describes work involved to maintain a Web site
project after it is published. [TRUE]
8. When working with a professional client, it is best to have at least two
points of contact to discuss project outcomes and issues. [FALSE]
9. It is important to meet the project schedule, deliver the product as
ordered, and to avoid making any changes to either of these items.
[FALSE]
10.Three methods of billing for Web site development include: single-fee,
per-page fee, and hourly fee. [TRUE]
Short answer (answers may vary)
1. What are some contextual issues to consider in the planning phase of a
Web project? Answer: Legal, ethical, cultural, social, usability,
accessibility, and technical issues.
2. What is the function of a scope of work? Answer: A scope of work
identifies the specifications for a project, including target users,
statement of purpose, context, project summary, specific goals, content
inventory, technical requirements, design requirements, and other
important issues to guide later development and design tasks.
3. Briefly explain why providing clients with visual forms or samples of
work might be useful. Answer: The best way to help clients visualize a
design, concept, or layout is to provide them with a visual
representation, such as a screen shot or prototype of the site.
4. What elements are included in a professional project proposal for a Web
site project? Answer: A professional project proposal includes a
written scope of work, project schedule, site maintenance plan, and
itemized costs.
5. Briefly explain how visual-spatial thinking can assist developers in the
planning process. Answer: Visual-spatial thinking can help developers
revise planning goals that are aligned with user perceptual needs and
habits. It is a user-centered design approach that focuses on user
needs throughout project development.
Additional Chapter Test Questions:
True/False
11.Planning a Web site project involves site’s audience, purpose, context
and project goals alone. [FALSE]
12.Planning should involve visual or spatial considerations, which play an
important role later in the development process. [TRUE]
13.Usability-ordered design is an approach to designing and developing
products that consider users needs and preferences. [FALSE]
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14.An example of a legal contextual issue in Web development is to provide
legal disclaimers and copyright statements for samples. [TRUE]
15.Social issues to consider in planning a Web project might include
browser type, operating system, hardware, software, and Internet
connection speed users have. [FALSE]
16.Identifying what functions users need to perform on a site is an
important planning goal that addresses the concept of problems solving.
[TRUE]
17.A site maintenance matrix identifies tasks, files, frequency, required
time, required resources. [TRUE]
18.When working with a professional client, it is best to have a single
point of contact to discuss project outcomes and issues. [TRUE]
19.It is important to meet the project schedule, deliver the product as
ordered, and to be flexible to meet client needs and expectations.
[TRUE]
20.Three methods of billing for Web site development include: single-fee,
up-front fee, and hourly fee. [FALSE]
Short answer (answers may vary)
6. What some examples of legal and ethical contextual issues a Web site
might consider in the planning phase? Answer: Copyright, citation,
intellectual property, use of proprietary or sensitive information,
accuracy of data and information graphics.
7. What content is typically included in a site maintenance plan? Answer:
Purpose statement, content providers, responsible parties, resources
needed, schedule, and costs.
8. Briefly explain why selecting a single point of contact to interact with
a client is important. Answer: It will help ensure consistency and
accuracy in the exchange of information between design team and client.
9. What are a few examples of visual forms of work you might provide to a
client to illustrate a concept? Answer: Sample page layouts, graphic
features, design theme, screen shot, or site prototype.
10.Briefly explain why a written scope of work is essential to project
planning. Answer: It identifies the specifications for a project,
including users, purpose statement, contextual issues, project summary,
goals, content inventory, technical/design requirements, and other
important issues that serve as guidelines for work on the project.
