Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks

Buisness Process Management (BPM)

Buisness Process Management (BPM)

Project Planning Processes

This is a attempt to document my general project management processes. Initially it will be narrowly focused on website projects at a high level and over time will be fleshed out based on various market segments and project scenarios.

[b]Primary Phases In Sequence[/b]

[b]1.0 - Discovery[/b] This is the project phase where facts and information are gathered. This is purely a data collection task. No Planning occurs during this phase. Discovery Documentation (see attached example- coming soon)

[b]2.0 - Planning[/b] The goal of this task is to take all discovery information and map out a plan, including site mapping, page mapping, wireframes and process planning.

Site Mapping - Detailed breakout of pages/sections in outline form (see attached example- coming soon)

Page Mapping - Each page/section in the site map should have a detailed page map (see attached example - coming soon)

Wireframes - These are completed based on the Page Mapping (see attached example - coming soon)

Process and Interaction Mapping - This phase involves the analysis and description of specific processes that need to exist on the site or known customer interaction scenarios. (see Process and Interaction example below)

[b]Drupal Planning [/b]

Content Types - Listing of all content types with fields

Taxonomy - Categories and grouping from content

Views - Think of displayed views of content types in various forms

Panels - Think complex page layouts - often the front page and major sectional pages

[b]Design Planning [/b]

Design Planning - Using the information above, and the wireframes, plan initial comps internally determining what graphic elements need to be created for the client. At this phase we identify color schemes and tone through discussion with the client. [i]Process and Interaction Example i.e. "I am George and I am looking for a new belt for my daughter who rides in rodeos. I do a search for cowboy clothes, which is a keyword targeted by the site in a google adwords campaign. As a result of my search I see the ad in the sidebar for that keyword. I click on the link which takes me to a targeted landing page on the site which encourages me to either browse by categories or search for a specific item. The page is very focused on helping me find what I am looking for. I am not being presented with the home page, but rather an interior page. I click to search for belts after not finding them in the category listings. I hit search and am then presented with a list of companies with belts as a keyword. I select the second one down on the list. I read the description and then click the link out to the advertisers website. This link opens in a new windows, thus allowing me to return to the dicretory site."[/i]

[b]3.0 - Spin-up[/b] This is the initial spin up of a new site in Drupal. Standard options are set, server settings are initialized and account is setup in development environment.

[b]4.0 - Build[/b] This is the general build phase. Here user scenarios are implemented into the build of the site, performed in stages or iterations.

[b]5.0 - Test[/b] This is the testing phase where user stories are tested and processes are analyzed.

[b]6.0 - Bug Fix[/b] This is where the site starts bug fixing with the client.

[b]7.0 - Launch [/b] This is the launch phase.

[b]8.0 - Project Close [/b] This is the phase where all billing is closed up and project is archived or pushed to Project Maintenance

[b]9.0 - Project Maintenance[/b] This phase has multiple tasks under it based on weeks following the close of the project. These tasks are for tracking the on going maintenance of the project, including site updates and security patches.

Computers

Powerline Communicaitons

http://www.homeplug.org/

Open Source

Furniture

Various furniture projects that inspire me or I plan to try to build.

• http://shop.datafurniture.com/

Sustainable Living

Notes and thoughts on sustainable living that I want to put in action or explore.
Future book sections will include:

• Solar Power Generation
• Wind Power Generation
• Gardening
• Composting
• Recycling
• Urban Planning
• Energy Saving Ideas