1. What You Need To Know About Building Project Budgets
Estimating Web Projects
View the webinar recording

2. Intros
James Rutherford
James is responsible for client satisfaction and project success across
all of Mediacurrent's partnerships. James works closely with our
clients and project teams to ensure Mediacurrent's solutions align with
client business needs and to make sure that projects are on time and
on budget.
VP of Client Services
2
/in/jamesrutherford
jamesrutherford
@jamesrutherford

3. Intros
Rob McBryde
Rob is a 13 year veteran of website development, former small
business owner, and total Internet addict. He leverages his broad
business acumen, paired with a background in online marketing and
web design to provide strategic consulting for his clients. Rob stays
active in the Drupal community by serving as a member of the Drupal
Association and Los Angeles Drupal Meetup.
Senior Project Manager
3
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robmcbryde
@robmcbryde

4. About
4
Mediacurrent helps organizations build highly
impactful, elegantly designed Drupal websites that
achieve the strategic results they need.
● Single-source provider
● Specializing in Drupal since 2007
● Headquartered in Atlanta, GA
● Team of 70+ Drupal Experts including
development, design and strategy
● Clients include: Large Enterprise and
high-profile global brands

5. Style Guide
Agenda
Estimating Digital Projects
Setup For Success3
2
1
5
Execution to Fit Your Estimate
4 Conclusion
Q & A5

6. Estimating Web Projects1

7. 7
Estimating Digital Projects
In A Perfect World
● Discovery Engagement
● Detailed Document of Requirements
● Secured Realistic Timeline and Budget
● This almost never happens.

8. 8
In The Real World
● No or Limited Discovery
● Unknown Budget and Scope Variability
● Client expectations do not match budget.
● Timeline is too short for thorough Discovery.
● Etc.

9. 9
The Project Triangle
The three constraints of a project that need to be
defined to determine the project estimate:
● Scope
● Resources
● Schedule
Scope Resources
Schedule
Quality
Estimating Digital Projects

10. 10
The Project Triangle
Resources:
● # of team members working over a
period of time to complete the scope.
● Scope and Schedule often determine
the resources needed.
● Rate of resources times the timeline in
the schedule determine the cost of the
project.
Scope Resources
Schedule
Quality
Estimating Digital Projects

11. 11
The Project Triangle
Estimating Digital Projects
Schedule:
● Refers to the amount of time available
to finish the project (deadline driven).
● Or how long it will take to deliver the
defined scope (scope driven)
● Or the time available with the stated
budget limitations (budget driven).
Scope Resources
Schedule
Quality

12. 12
The Project Triangle
Estimating Digital Projects
Scope:
● What are we building and all relevant tasks
● Includes planning and research
○ User personas
○ Competitive analysis
○ Content audit
○ Functional specification
● Wireframes and Design Mockups
● Drupal Development, QA testing
● Weekly meetings / daily standups
● Project management tasks, Training
Scope Resources
Schedule
Quality

13. 13
The Project Triangle
Estimating Digital Projects
Scope:
● Often times, the scope if THE driving
factor in a project.
● Example: The sales department is
eager to have new functionality on the
site that will route leads to sales reps.
Scope Resources
Schedule
Quality

14. 14
The Estimation Process
● Estimate Discrete Requirements
● Apply Estimator Tool
● Internal review by multiple stakeholders.
● Check against Run Rate Estimator
● Review with Client Stakeholders.

15. 2 Execution to Fit Your Estimate

16. 16
Execution to Fit Your Estimate
It takes a village to raise an on-estimate project
● A solid estimate is only as good as it is executed.
● Poor execution of the project wrecks the budget
and or timeline.
● Each vendor team as well as the client have a
role to play.

17. 17
Everyone has a role to play in a successful project
It takes a village to raise an on-estimate project
We believe executing a budget to the estimated and
approved timeline and budget takes an all hands effort.
● Sales / Client Services
● Project Manager
● Project Team (Design, Strategy, Development)
● Client / Product Owner

18. 18
Everyone has a role to play in a successful project
After the project is complete
● Retrospectives and Applying Lessons Learned
● Communication retrospective internally
● Importance of communicating lessons
learned with clients
● Builds trust and gets opportunities to solicit
feedback.

19. 3 Setup For Success

20. 20
Setup For Success
What to know before approaching an agency
How to zero in on project details when seeking an estimate:
● Stakeholder feedback
● Understand open source development
● Prioritize critical features
● Establish maximum budget

21. Conclusion5

22. 22
Conclusion
Conclusion
● There is no bullet proof process to correctly
estimating all projects.
● Enterprise-sized web projects are inherently
complex and difficult to hit on target.
● Requires a team wide commitment to
excellent communication, understanding of
the KPI’s and project goals.

23. Q/A6

24. 24
Additional resources
How to Budget a Drupal Project
Understanding Pricing Around Drupal Services
A Discovery Phase: Starting a Project Off Right
Preparing for a Redesign
Resources

25. @Mediacurrent Mediacurrent.com
Thank you!
facebook.com/mediacurrent