Comparing Project Management in Various Industries

Management of projects differs in various industries. While the Web is a new medium, and it may seem like project developers need to reinvent the wheel, project management principles from established industries can apply to it.

Envision building a house. What kinds of factors impact that process? Are some factors unavoidable? In comparison, the Web is a much more controlled framework to build upon. Servers crash and news events can cause certain sections of the Internet to bog down. Still, how do these circumstances compare to the havoc an ill-timed blizzard can wreak upon a construction site?

Similar to constructing a skyscraper, developing a software database application can involve planning for a multitude of conditions. Many Web sites are static and uncomplicated. As time goes on, many more are offering interactivity reminiscent of the most sophisticated software applications. All of these processes can move forward within a rapid application development environment, with deadlines looming and financial limitations causing concern.

Whether one is building a mall off the interstate or on the information highway, many of the same engineering methodologies apply. The Web project manager can build upon these methodologies and refine them to produce effective Web sites that are scalable for future enhancements.

Exercises

Compare Web Project Management to Construction Project Management

a)When building a Web site versus a house, what processes do you feel are similar?

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b)When building a Web site versus a house, what processes do you feel are different?

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Compare Web Project Management to Software Development Project Management

a)When building a software application versus a Web site, what processes do you feel are similar?

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b)When building a software application versus a Web site, what processes do you feel are different?

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Exercise Answers

This section gives you some suggested answers to the questions in Lab 8.2., with discussion related to those answers. Please post any alternative answers to these questions at the companion Web site for this book, located at http://www.phptr.com/phptrinteractive.

Answers

a)When building a Web site versus a house, what processes do you feel are similar?

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Answer:This may not have been an easy question for everybody to answer, but hopefully the following discussion will help you understand how building these two very different entities are very similar.

Most of the time when someone first approaches you to develop a site, they have a good idea that the Web is important for their application, but many clients don't understand how they are going to get from the analysis stage to implementation.

I often use the analogy that building a Web site is similar to building a house. I ask the client what steps he or she might expect to go through when building a house. The following are some questions that come to mind:

How many rooms do I need?

How do I want the house to look?

What kind of appliances and conveniences do I want?

What colors do I like?

How long is it going to take?

How much is it going to cost?

How many of you have ever built a house from scratch before with a builder? What kinds of things were you hoping he or she could do for you to guide you through the project? And who would you think you'd have on board when building your house? Most likely the team would consist of an architect, general contractor/project manager, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and perhaps interior decorators.

After the architect puts together the plans, the general contractor will review how many people he or she will need to complete the house, how much it will cost, and when it will be complete. Delays can be caused by client availability to approve work completed or the client running out of funds. Therefore, plans need to be made for those kinds of eventualities.

In Web site design, instead of plumbers, carpenters, and electricians, your project team will consist of graphic designers, programmers, writers, and editors. Instead of the number of rooms, the client needs to determine how many sections he or she needs and how he or she wants the site to look. What type of functionality is required? How long is the Web site construction process going to take and how much is it going to cost?

b)When building a Web site versus a house, what processes do you feel are different?

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Answer:There are obviously many differences between building a Web site and building a house. But in terms of project management, there are some key differences, as outlined in the following discussion.

Obviously, we're working in a different medium. When estimating project cost, the construction industry must incorporate the cost of materials and labor rates, whereas labor rates, site licenses, and software purchases tend to be the only consideration when costing a Web site.

One always runs the risk that no matter what has been agreed upon by the client and contractor, other opinions will be given from people outside the project loop that conflict with the original plan. These opinions can confuse the client. This is why project management is important, because if one follows the appropriate steps in the project life cycle, there is documentation that keeps track of approvals. Therefore, if a spouse or best friend or second cousin once removed hates the site, the burden of the changes still falls upon the client. Just as if someone says they want to paint a room yellow and then they come back and say they want it sky blue pink, who pays for the painter's time? The burden shouldn't fall on the general contractor.

But because Web site design is a new field, sometimes clients do not understand the labor involved with making changes.

Answers

a)When building a software application versus a Web site, what processes do you feel are similar?

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Answer:The engineering process is the same, as programming events are defined and flowcharted. Multiple conditions need to be tested before implementation.
b)When building a software application versus a Web site, what processes do you feel are different?

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Answer:A Web site requires a graphical user interface that many software applications do not need to address. Therefore, the graphic design and approval process add complexity to the project. Also, the writing and editing requirements can be much more involved.

The biggest difference between a software application and a Web site is that most Web sites are deliverable to the masses. Most Web sites are built to be seen across platforms and to carry a message about a product or service. A software application is a tool that can be used in a more controlled environment. It doesn't necessarily have to reach across all system configurations.

Self Review Questions

In order to test your progress, you should be able to answer the following questions:

1)Which of the following scenarios could cause a contractor to stop work in the software development environment:

  1. _____ Rainy weather
  2. _____ Server hard drive crash
  3. _____ Nonremittance of scheduled payment
  4. _____ Sick employees
  5. _____ Labor strike
2)Which of the following scenarios could cause a contractor to stop work in the construction industry:

  1. _____ Rainy weather
  2. _____ Server hard drive crash
  3. _____ Nonremittance of scheduled payment
  4. _____ Sick employees
  5. _____ Labor strike


Exploring Web Marketing and Project Management
Exploring Web Marketing and Project Management
ISBN: 0130163961
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2000
Pages: 87

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