Project Analysis & DesignProject Analysis & Design
Analysis & Design PhasesAnalysis & Design Phases
Why Analysis and Design?Why Analysis and Design?
Why are the analysis and design stages so Why are the analysis and design stages so important?important?
Determines the success or failure of a project. Determines the success or failure of a project.
Discovers many issues that can pave the way for Discovers many issues that can pave the way for success.success.
Prevents a company from developing a poor project Prevents a company from developing a poor project and wasting resources and time.and wasting resources and time.
Don’t let the word analysisDon’t let the word analysis
put you to sleep!put you to sleep!
Thinking is a form of CreativityThinking is a form of Creativity
To live a creative life, To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of we must lose our fear of being wrong. being wrong. - -
Joseph Chilton PearceJoseph Chilton Pearce
Perhaps imagination is only intelligence Perhaps imagination is only intelligence having fun! George Scialabbahaving fun! George Scialabba
Aha Moments!Aha Moments! If at first the idea is not If at first the idea is not
absurd, then there is no absurd, then there is no hope for it!hope for it!
Albert Albert EinsteinEinstein
Now on to the phases!Now on to the phases!
FYI - What usually occurs first?FYI - What usually occurs first?
Request for a Proposal (RFP) from a potential Request for a Proposal (RFP) from a potential client and your Proposal to the client.client and your Proposal to the client.
http://www.tamingthebeast.net/articles/webdevhttp://www.tamingthebeast.net/articles/webdevelopmentproposal.htmelopmentproposal.htm
Marketing and sales are an important part of Marketing and sales are an important part of this initial step.this initial step.
Overview Of AnalysisOverview Of Analysis
Analyze whether the project is a worthwhile Analyze whether the project is a worthwhile endeavor.endeavor.
Determine the website requirements for a Determine the website requirements for a successful site.successful site.
Create a work plan to accomplish the project.Create a work plan to accomplish the project.
Experts use other terms:Experts use other terms:
Some experts call the analysis and design phases:Some experts call the analysis and design phases: DiscoveryDiscovery –Understanding the target customers and –Understanding the target customers and
their needs, and conceptualizing the business and their needs, and conceptualizing the business and customer goals for the website.customer goals for the website.
ExplorationExploration – Generating several rough initial – Generating several rough initial website design, of which one or more will be chosen website design, of which one or more will be chosen for further developmentfor further development
RefinementRefinement – polishing the navigation, layout, and – polishing the navigation, layout, and flow of the selected design.flow of the selected design.
IdeasIdeas
It is better to have enough ideas for some It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all. right by having no ideas at all.
Edward Edward BonoBono
Inputs for Analysis PhaseInputs for Analysis Phase
Selected Trained TeamSelected Trained Team Request from ClientRequest from Client Clients Documents such as Web Site Design Clients Documents such as Web Site Design
FormForm
Analysis Analysis
Who is the customer?Who is the customer? What does the project entails?What does the project entails? Who will be the audience?Who will be the audience? What are the customer objectives?What are the customer objectives? What are the audience objectives?What are the audience objectives? Why is the project needed?Why is the project needed? What will this project help the client achieve?What will this project help the client achieve?
What do we analyze?What do we analyze?
Analyze audience characteristicsAnalyze audience characteristics Perform technology analysisPerform technology analysis Identify resources/constraintsIdentify resources/constraints Identify/outline content/tasksIdentify/outline content/tasks
Gathering InformationGathering Information
1.Company/Client1.Company/Client 2.Industry2.Industry 3.Strategy/Marketing/Branding3.Strategy/Marketing/Branding 4.Current Site4.Current Site 5.Competition5.Competition 6.Audience6.Audience 7.Products/Services7.Products/Services 8.Other8.Other
Analysis Tasks – Work PlanAnalysis Tasks – Work Plan
Define objective of the Define objective of the project project
Define Audience Define Audience Analysis Analysis
Define Content Outline Define Content Outline Identify Software for Identify Software for
Creating Website Specs. Creating Website Specs. Develop PERT ChartDevelop PERT Chart Create Gantt ChartCreate Gantt Chart Evaluation PlansEvaluation Plans
Determining Primary ObjectivesDetermining Primary Objectives
Objectives could be increase traffic, Objectives could be increase traffic, decrease calls for information, sell decrease calls for information, sell more products. more products.
Determine the primary objective—the Determine the primary objective—the most important reason for launching most important reason for launching this site. this site.
Make sure the client agrees. Then create Make sure the client agrees. Then create the rest of your list, prioritizing your the rest of your list, prioritizing your objectives into second and third levels of objectives into second and third levels of importance. importance.
Audience/Desired ActionAudience/Desired Action
Describe a typical user Describe a typical user coming to your site. coming to your site. How often is the user How often is the user online and what does online and what does s/he generally use the s/he generally use the web for? How old is the web for? How old is the user and what does s/he user and what does s/he do for a living? do for a living?
Audience/Desired ActionAudience/Desired Action
What is the primary tasks or action the user What is the primary tasks or action the user should take when coming to your site? should take when coming to your site? (purchase, become a member, search for (purchase, become a member, search for information, etc.) information, etc.)
Audience/Desired ActionAudience/Desired Action
What are the key reasons why the target user What are the key reasons why the target user chooses your company’s products and/or chooses your company’s products and/or services? (cost, service, value, etc.)services? (cost, service, value, etc.)
How many people (as far as you can tell) How many people (as far as you can tell) access the site on a daily, weekly or monthly access the site on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? How do you measure usage? Do you basis? How do you measure usage? Do you forecast usage to increase over the next year forecast usage to increase over the next year and by how much?and by how much?
TechnologyTechnology What is your target What is your target
platform and browser (if platform and browser (if you know)?you know)?
Are there specific Are there specific technologies (Flash®, technologies (Flash®, DHTML, JavaScript, DHTML, JavaScript, Real Audio, etc.) you Real Audio, etc.) you would like to use in the would like to use in the site? site? If so, how will they If so, how will they enhance the user enhance the user experience? experience?
Technology (not needed now)Technology (not needed now) Will you have database Will you have database
functionality (dynamic content functionality (dynamic content generation, search capabilities, generation, search capabilities, personalization/log-in, etc.)?personalization/log-in, etc.)?
Will you have a need for Will you have a need for secured transactions (e-secured transactions (e-commerce)? commerce)?
Will you require other specific Will you require other specific programming needs programming needs (personalization, search (personalization, search capability)? capability)?
Reasons for RedesignReasons for Redesign What are the main reasons What are the main reasons
you are redesigning your you are redesigning your site? (New business model, site? (New business model, outdated site, expanded outdated site, expanded services, different audience, services, different audience, etc.etc.
What are your primary What are your primary online business objectives online business objectives with the site redesign? with the site redesign? (Increased sales, (Increased sales, marketing/branding marketing/branding awareness, reduce customer awareness, reduce customer service calls, etc.)service calls, etc.)
Content for RedesignContent for Redesign
Describe visual elements or content which should be utilized Describe visual elements or content which should be utilized from your current site or marketing materials (logo, color from your current site or marketing materials (logo, color scheme, navigation, naming conventions, etc.).scheme, navigation, naming conventions, etc.).
How will the content of this site (along with functionality and How will the content of this site (along with functionality and navigation) expand or differ from your current site? navigation) expand or differ from your current site?
Do you have an existing sitemap for the outgoing site Do you have an existing sitemap for the outgoing site structure? structure?
Current SiteCurrent Site
Do you feel your current site promotes a Do you feel your current site promotes a favorable user experience? Why? Why not?favorable user experience? Why? Why not?
What specific areas of your current site do you What specific areas of your current site do you feel are successful? Why are they successful?feel are successful? Why are they successful?
What shortcomings exist with the current site What shortcomings exist with the current site and what three things would you change on and what three things would you change on the site today, if you could?the site today, if you could?
How Do You Schedule the Project?How Do You Schedule the Project?
PERT CHARTS AND GANT CHARTSPERT CHARTS AND GANT CHARTS Most importantly, you can tweak and adjust Most importantly, you can tweak and adjust
these tasks and scheduling charts throughout these tasks and scheduling charts throughout the project.the project.
What are PERT Charts?What are PERT Charts?
PERT and Gantt Charts are fancy to-do lists!
Microsoft Office calls a PERT Chart a Network Diagram – a sequence or logic diagram showing task dependencies. (one task depends on another one in order to be completed)
PERT Chart Shows you:PERT Chart Shows you:
What tasks must be carried out What tasks must be carried out Where parallel activity can be performed Where parallel activity can be performed The shortest time in which you can complete a project The shortest time in which you can complete a project Resources needed to execute a project Resources needed to execute a project The sequence of activities, scheduling and timings The sequence of activities, scheduling and timings
involved involved Task priorities Task priorities The most efficient way of shortening time on urgent The most efficient way of shortening time on urgent
projects.projects.
How to use it: Hold a brainstorming
session with the project team to capture all component tasks needed to complete the project.
Document the tasks on small note cards.
How to create a Pert Chart: Identify the first task that
must be completed. Place the appropriate card at the extreme left of the working surface.
Identify any other tasks that can be started simultaneously with task #1. Align these tasks either above or below task #1 on the working surface.
How to create a Pert Chart: Identify the next task that must
be completed. Select a task that must wait to begin until task #1(or a task that starts simultaneously with task #1) is completed. Place the appropriate card to the right of the card showing the preceding task.
Identify any other tasks that can be started simultaneously with task #2. Align these tasks either above or below task #2 on the working surface.
Continue this process until all component tasks are sequenced.
Don’t let the CHARTSDon’t let the CHARTS
drive you mad!drive you mad!
What is a Gantt Chart?What is a Gantt Chart?
Gantt Charts are bar Gantt Charts are bar charts that depict how charts that depict how long a task is scheduled long a task is scheduled to take, when it can start to take, when it can start and when it must be and when it must be finished. finished.
Gantt Chart shows you:Gantt Chart shows you:
The overall sequence of tasks.The overall sequence of tasks. Whether tasks are progressing on schedule Whether tasks are progressing on schedule
and being completed on time.and being completed on time. Measures the progress of individual tasks.Measures the progress of individual tasks. Show what needs to be done and when.Show what needs to be done and when. When the tasks are grouped by the team When the tasks are grouped by the team
member, highlights each person's member, highlights each person's responsibilities. responsibilities.
Gantt ChartGantt Chart
When a project is under way, Gantt Charts When a project is under way, Gantt Charts help you to monitor whether the project is on help you to monitor whether the project is on schedule. schedule.
If it is not, it allows you to pinpoint the If it is not, it allows you to pinpoint the remedial action necessary to put it back on remedial action necessary to put it back on schedule.schedule.
You can also create a Gantt Chart in Excel.You can also create a Gantt Chart in Excel.
Analysis Phase CompleteAnalysis Phase Complete
Formal agreement is then signed with the Formal agreement is then signed with the client client
Output of Analysis PhaseOutput of Analysis Phase
Analysis Design specification document – Analysis Design specification document – work plan that includeswork plan that includes
Vision/treatment for solutionVision/treatment for solution Goals and ObjectivesGoals and Objectives Content such as photos, text, Content such as photos, text, audio, videoaudio, video Pert Chart and Gantt ChartPert Chart and Gantt Chart Team RolesTeam Roles
Now to Discovery…Now to Discovery…
Working through the phases of analysis and Working through the phases of analysis and design (or Discovery, Exploration & design (or Discovery, Exploration & Refinement ) is a vitally important part of the Refinement ) is a vitally important part of the web design and development.web design and development.
