Tag Archives: Series

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (6) Determine the possible pitfalls in the project in advance

After a "French break", we pick up the rules for Internet projectmanagement. Today a general rule, which provides safety early in the project:

Determine the possible pitfalls in the project in advance

A project can ‘collapse’ in many different moments. That is, of course, exactly what you want to prevent. To have a ‘flexible’ project it is important, even before the start of the project, to map out where you can may get into trouble.

Previously I wrote an article (in Dutch) about Internet pitfalls. They are already eight possible pitfalls which you could identify in advance and for which you can set up countermeasures. However, there are many more potential pitfalls.

Start by creating a matrix with possible ‘bumps’ that you may expect in the project, estimate the probability that it is actually going to happen and define and adopt countermeasures.

If you already have thought about countermeasures in advance you can save two birds with one stone: you create awareness of the potential dangers involved in the project and you can quickly anticipate as a trap actually pops open.

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (5) Dare to ask

Already number 5 of the rules for Internet projectmanagement, today a rule that applies to every person in a project:

Dare to ask

A known ruling is "there are no stupid questions". That is all the more true for Internet projects. Too often we thought that something would turn out fine even though it is not quite clear. That can apply to both the sponsor as the contractor.

The sponsor often thinks that the supplier will do a good job, because "they have the experience and knowledge." And that is often exactly the reason why a supplier doesn’t keep on asking for more information: he is ‘supposed’ to understand the needs. Here a good relationship can get disturbed: ambiguity and misunderstanding. Suppliers will start to interpret what they think was meant and that often leads to products of which the client says: But that’s not what I wanted at all!

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to ask. Is something not immediately obvious? Ask! Did you make or build something? Ask for confirmation! Questions are free and asking questions is not stupid. It will prevent a lot of miscommunication. For everyone!

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (4) Keep Focus

Today, just before the Dutch holiday Sinterklaas a new gift, Part 4 of the rules for the Internet-project management:

Keep focus

Ever heard of ongoing understanding? That is the understanding of what you are getting during a proces. In particular, a client can have this ongoing understanding. He or she starts off with relatively the slightest amount of knowledge about the project and will grow knowledge the most rapidly. And with growth come new insights. And with the new insights, new desires …

It is fine, even good, that new needs arise. Important, however, is to place these new requirements well. Make sure that you continue to focus on the objectives that had you have committed to at the beginning of the project.

Make sure you place the new insights in it, but keep the focus. Dare to say “no” to certain things if they move. Write them down, do them later, or integrate them, but keep the focus. Losing your focus means you lose control over the project.

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (3) Know what you want to achieve

I am working on the drafting of rules for Internet projectmanagement (see explanation at rule no 1). How far we will get we’ll have to see. Today, in any case, part 3:

Know what you want to achieve

Too often internet projects fail because a client does not know what he wants to achieve with the appliance or website. "I want a beautiful new site, with which we are first in Google." The client, however, has no idea of what he exactly wants.

Will he be selling on the web? If the website a folder on the web? Does he want to attract potential customers through the web? Will he earn through advertisements? These are only a few of a lot of questions that you can and should ask yourself in advance. Is it not clear what you want, please don’t start building, it will never be what you want…

Rules on Internet projectmanagement: (2) Know what you can forget

Volume 2 of the rules for Internet projectmanagement which was originally based on the book "100 Golden rules for project management":

Know what you can forget

There are very many methodologies to do project management all of which hundreds if not thousands of rules and guidelines. For example, I make a lot of use of the Prince II – methodology. This methodology provides a variety of guidelines. But are all these guidelines really necessary? No, as far as I am concerned.

It is important for each project to see which guidelines apply to the specific project. Is it not useful for the progress of the project? Let it be! Nothing so much annoying as an unnecessary rule or directive. This rule applies to all types of projects, but also for Internet projects. In a ‘fast world’ too many obstacles are killing.