Production Phase

To this point, we've been discussing the pre-production planning for the production and post-production phases. We're past that now, and work has begun on production.

So, during the production phase, what can you do?

Keep performing reality checks. Talk to the technical people and the art staff frequently to make sure that everything is being done on schedule. When work falls behind, spend time together to figure out what you can do to make up for the delay. "We'll make it up in QA," are the last words you want to hear. Nobody makes up for it in QA and succeeds in the eyes of the customer.

Learn to recognize red flags. Anything that impacts your schedule has to be addressed sooner, not later. When anything crops up that looks like a danger to your schedule, you have to take immediate action. Incorporate it into the adapted plan.

Planning doesn't mean "sit down and think about it." Planning always has to be done in conjunction with the team. Discuss the red flag with your technical director, your art director, with QA and marketing. Keep everyone informed about the danger, and what's being done about it. Then, follow up with an update later. Are we back on schedule? Is the red flag becoming paler?

Don't forget marketing and the schedule for your demo; make sure marketing remembers what the schedule and spec are, and that changes are at the expense of the schedule. Stay on top of the release date with QA and operations. Make sure sales is clear on the ship date.