Scoping projects to avoid stress, headaches and angry clients

scoping projects
to avoid stress, headaches and angry mobs

2013 - @LISASABINWILSON

Wednesday, February 20, 13

Lisa Sabin-Wilson
•DESIGNER SINCE 1998
•DEVELOPER SINCE 2007
•AUTHOR: WORDPRESS FOR DUMMIES
•CO-OWNER: WEBDEVSTUDIOS



scoping....



a very important phase in
every project you do
design &
development


If you do not have a Scoping
Phase for every single
project - prepare your self
for stress, headaches and
upset clients.



Eliminate
Assumptions
• Saves time
• Reduces headaches
• Avoids hard feelings
• Happy client
• Happy developer



Set
Expectations
Early
• Keeps project realistic
• Keeps projects on time
• Avoids miscommunication
• Happy client
• Happy developer



Document
Project
Requirements
• Ready reference point for all
• Eliminates “he said/she said”
• Provides a work ﬂow
• Happy client
• Happy developer



NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOES
PROJECT

HTTP://NYAJ.COM
DATE CLIENT
JULY 2012 NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOES

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S
PROJECT

HTTP://NYAJ.COM
DATE CLIENT
JULY 2012 NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S

As the developer - YOU
have to take charge of the
scoping phase.



WE BUILT A SITEMAP - WHICH WAS HELPFUL...
BUT IT WASN’T ENOUGH 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


WE HAD A 16 PAGE STATEMENT OF WORK
BUT IT STILL WASN’T ENOUGH 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


PSD Files Acquired.
DESIGN APPROVAL DONE!



A TOTAL OF 26 DIFFERENT PAGE VIEWS/LAYOUTS
BELIEVE IT OR NOT ... THIS WAS STILL NOT ENOUGH 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


at this point?
it is really tempting to dig
right in and start
developing this bad boy.



the sooner you get it done...

the sooner you get paid.
the sooner you can update your portfolio.
the sooner the client is happy.



right?



What they wanted... ?

LISA NEEDS TO START DEVELOPMENT NOW
BECAUSE
WE WANT THIS DONE & LIVE IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS.



What they needed... ?
STOP ... TAKE A BREATH ...

LISA NEEDS TO DEFINE THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
IN A WAY THAT TAKES QUESTIONS OUT OF THE ENTIRE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.



eliminate
remove
obliterate assumptions.



as a developer - I can
make assumptions with
the BEST of them



assumptions are based on
a persons own frame of
reference.



what i see in my head will
be different from what you
see in your head.



interpretations will vary.



For example . . .



THE LANDING PAGE
THERE IS A LOT GOING ON HERE 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


i made some assumptions
:(



THE LANDING PAGE
MORE PHOTOS? IT’S A SIDEBAR CAROUSEL - IT FLIPS THROUGH STAFF PHOTOS

THE LANDING PAGE
THE REALITY .... THE CLIENT’S INTENTION ? ... 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


THE LANDING PAGE
THE REALITY .... IT’S A SLIDESHOW/CAROUSEL OF PHOTOS IN THE MAIN BODY

a sidebar carousel
is HUGELY different
than a slideshow in the
main content area.



if i had gone with my
initial assumption without
discovering the clients
intention ...



i would have wasted time.



i would have presented
incorrect work to the
client.



i would risk the client
losing conﬁdence in me.



especially if i had made
my next assumption . . .



THE LANDING PAGE
REMEMBER THIS? 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


THE LANDING PAGE
JOIN OUR EMAIL CLUB - - LINKS TO A PAGE WITH A SUBSCRIPTION FORM - RIGHT?

THE LANDING PAGE
NOT EXACTLY - CLICK IT AND IT OPENS INLINE - NO NEW PAGE LOAD. 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


THE NAVIGATION MENU
LINKS TO INTERNAL PAGES? 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


THE LANDING PAGE
NOPE! IT CONTAINS A FLY OUT MENU WITH SUB NAVIGATION 2013 - @LISASABINWILSON


none of this was indicated

•INITIAL REQUIREMENTS
•STATEMENT OF WORK
•SITE MAP
•PSD FILES



a smart developer

•RECOGNIZES GAPS
•ASKS QUESTIONS
•SEEKS ANSWERS
•REQUIRES CLARIFICATION



i have not always been a
smart developer
•WASTED HOURS UPON HOURS
•FRUSTRATING BACK AND FORTH
•LOST MONEY
•FRUSTRATED CLIENTS
•SCOPE CREEP
•NEVER ENDING PROJECT



SCOPE CREEP
where the requirements of the
project keep piling up and up
and up - before, during and
after the project schedule.



when you have your hands
on the approved design
ﬁles - get into the mind of
the user



you know ....

the person who is actually
going to use the web site



you will do yourself and
your client a favor if you
start asking questions
like...



what
happens
when I click
this?



how many photos
are loaded into this
carousel?

what happens when i
click “more photos?”

does clicking on an
individual photo take
me anywhere?


asking questions like
these gives the client
the chance to correct
your assumptions...

“oh no, that’s not for those photos ...
it’s for the main photos on the left!”



so then you can
clarify....

•HOW MANY PHOTOS?
•ARE THEY LINKED TO ANYTHING?
•ARE THESE POSTS WITH
FEATURED IMAGES?
•DOES THIS HAPPEN ON OTHER
PAGES?
•OR JUST THE HOME PAGE?



wherever
there is an
action
indicated ...
clarify it


Never be
afraid to...
ask questions
get clariﬁcation
correct your assumptions



Scoping
helps you
determine
which plugins to use
custom plugin development needs
theme framework or custom



Doing so
shows ...
initiative
motivation to do it right
conﬁdence
thoroughness



but wait ....

don’t stop at simply having
the conversation



document it.



make it part of the
contract.



YOU DO HAVE
YOUR CLIENTS
SIGN A CONTRACT, RIGHT???



before you lay down one
single piece of code - get
your client to sign off on it.



ﬁnd a
method you
prefer - but
deﬁnitely
document it


•AUDIO: RECORD THE CONVERSATION
•OLD SCHOOL: SPREADSHEET
•CONCEPT SHARE
•HTTP://WWW.CONCEPTSHARE.COM
•CAGE APP
•HTTP://WWW.CAGEAPP.COM



whatever method you
choose to use - make sure
you document the process



Documenting each
element in the project
added approximately
2 hours.



if it wasn’t documented
...
it didn’t happen



The End.
Questions?

THAT’S ME AT WORDCAMP PHILADELPHIA 2012 -
I WON THE SPEAKER COSTUME CONTEST!



Scoping projects to avoid stress, headaches and angry clients

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Scoping projects to avoid stress, headaches and angry clients