Delivered for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources as part of the briefing and launch of the 2014 eCommerce voucher scheme in Dublin Castle

1. MANAGING DIGITAL
PROJECTS

2. Near Future
Strategy Advisors
+353 86 2300702
keith@nearfuture.io
www.nearfuture.io
Keith Bohanna

3. Digital Is Critical
! You cannot leave it to
chance
! Or hope the web developer
will manage it
! It won’t just work out

4. Lets set the scene
In most digital projects
(websites, mobile apps,
websites and databases/
software)….

5. The client
! Don’t know what they want
! Don’t know how to
communicate it
! Never understand what a
developer is talking about

6. there’s more
! Don’t really want to do web
stuff
! Can’t give it time
! Have unrealistic
expectations

7. The Web Developer
! Doesn’t know what the client
wants
! Is mediocre in the first place

8. The Web Developer
! Is either a graphic designer
or a geek
! Neither think/communicate
like a normal person

9. What can we do about this?

10. “Web Developer” Means Nothing
Undefined
Unregulated
1

11. graphic designers

12. software developers

13. mobile apps developers

14. web developers

15. What do they look like?
! 2 to 4 people minimum (mix
of design & tech skills)
! In business for a couple of
years
! Relevant portfolio

16. CHOOSE THE
WRONG ONE
AND….

18. Tender Process
Consistency &
Common Sense
2

19. Tender Process
! You need a functional spec
! And a shortlist – at least 4
! In document give interview
date

20. Assessing responses
! Did they answer each of
your questions?
! Are their responses clear?

21. Interviews
! Allow an hour
! Ask for a 20 minute
presentation
! Watch their cohesion as a
team – push them

22. Interviews
! You need to meet the
people who will directly
work on your project

23. Web Dev!
Co!
Relevant!
Portfolio!
Project!
Your Client
Project!

24. Web Dev!
Co!
Relevant!
Portfolio!
Project!
Individual!
dev.!
Your Client
Project!

25. Web Dev!
Co!
Relevant!
Portfolio!
Project!
Individual!
dev.!
Your Client
Project!
Muppets!

26. Web Dev!
Co!
Relevant!
Portfolio!
Project!
Contract!
dev.!
Your Client
Project!
Muppets!

27. Web Dev!
Co!
Relevant!
Portfolio!
Project!
Individual!
dev.!
Your Client
Project!

28. TRUST YOUR
INSTINCTS
30

29. Trust Your Instincts
! If their work is substandard
then that is what they will
deliver for you

30. Trust Your Instincts
! If you don’t understand
them now then you never
will

31. KISS by Steven Wright
You can’t have
everything.
Where would you put
it?
3

32. KISS
! Everything takes longer
than planned
! Most projects contain things
that customers do not care
about

33. KISS
! The more there is the more
complex the project gets
! The more likely it will run
over time or budget or just
not work

34. KISS
! What to Do?
! Force stripping back to the
basics
! It saves cash, time and stress

35. Content by me
Content takes bloody
ages
4

36. Content
Good content takes
longer than that
4

37. Content
! Plan for it from day one
! Consider getting a
freelance content writer in
! Sort out photos and
permissions early

38. The Commercials
Be fair, be clear
5

39. Commercials
! Building good digital
(website/app) takes time
! That needs to be respected
and paid for properly
! Daily rate €400 to €600

40. Commercials
! Set 2 to 3 key milestones
and payment structure
against them

41. Commercials
In a simple project maybe:
! Signed off design
! Material portion of site/
app tested and signed off
! Final completed project

42. Finally
Communicate.
Constantly.
Clearly.
6

45. MANAGING DIGITAL
PROJECTS
The End