Lecture 4: Main Build Lecture 4: Main Build ManagementManagement

Damien MarkeyDamien Markey

Lecture 4: Main Lecture 4: Main Build ManagementBuild Management

How to start a buildHow to start a build

Assembling the team Assembling the team – Designer Designer – Developer Developer – Database developer Database developer – System administrator System administrator – Project manager/ProducerProject manager/Producer

Roles/Responsibilities/TasksRoles/Responsibilities/Tasks

How to start a How to start a buildbuild

First taskFirst task– Re-evaluate scope and planRe-evaluate scope and plan– Has it changed due to any of the following: Has it changed due to any of the following:

the results of the prototype labthe results of the prototype labclient requested changesclient requested changesMarket changesMarket changesTechnology changesTechnology changes

If so, re-scope and/or re-plan the project If so, re-scope and/or re-plan the project within the new boundarieswithin the new boundaries

How to start a How to start a build - 2build - 2

Merge the visual designs and prototype Merge the visual designs and prototype layoutslayouts– Create a graphical template of main site Create a graphical template of main site

pagespages– Go through “Cut up” of graphical template to Go through “Cut up” of graphical template to

create the HTML templatescreate the HTML templates– These can be agreed and delivered to These can be agreed and delivered to

designers in batches to speed up productiondesigners in batches to speed up production

Co-operative Co-operative Development PracticeDevelopment Practice

Create, agree and publicise file-naming Create, agree and publicise file-naming convention for the contentconvention for the content– Common ones areCommon ones are

Section_pagename_date_time.XXXSection_pagename_date_time.XXXAuthor_pagecode_date_time.XXX (where Author_pagecode_date_time.XXX (where pagecode is the unique identifier of a page on a pagecode is the unique identifier of a page on a site)site)

Agree page sign in and out proceduresAgree page sign in and out procedures– Avoid two people working on the same pageAvoid two people working on the same page

Co-operative Co-operative Development Practice -2Development Practice -2

Create, agree and publicise folder structure Create, agree and publicise folder structure for the sitefor the site– Common examples includeCommon examples include

Images directoryImages directory

Script directoryScript directory

HTML directoryHTML directory

ASP page directoryASP page directory

So everyone knows where to find and store So everyone knows where to find and store files they needfiles they need

The TeamThe Team

This can already be identified by this pointThis can already be identified by this pointIf not identified then key personnel need to be If not identified then key personnel need to be

found found Their roles and responsibilities have to be Their roles and responsibilities have to be

identifiedidentifiedIn many cases members of the team will In many cases members of the team will

share roles e.g.share roles e.g.– the technical lead could be the programmer on the technical lead could be the programmer on

a small projecta small project

In this case you are the team!In this case you are the team!

The Team - 2The Team - 2

Roles within the team are in 1 of 3 categoriesRoles within the team are in 1 of 3 categories– EEssential Rolesssential Roles

Roles without which it would be impossible to Roles without which it would be impossible to deliver even a small scale projectdeliver even a small scale project

– SSecondary rolesecondary rolesRoles that can be useful (even necessary) in mid to Roles that can be useful (even necessary) in mid to larger scale projectslarger scale projects

– EEXXpert rolespert rolesSpecialist roles that are needed on large or niche Specialist roles that are needed on large or niche area projectsarea projects

The ESX RulesThe ESX Rules

Some examples of ESX rolesSome examples of ESX roles– Essential – Project ManagerEssential – Project Manager

Is required to scope and plan a projectIs required to scope and plan a project

– Secondary – ProgrammerSecondary – ProgrammerCan be needed to code JavaScript/ Flash/ CGI scripts but Can be needed to code JavaScript/ Flash/ CGI scripts but would not be needed on a brochure sitewould not be needed on a brochure site

– Expert – Security ExpertExpert – Security ExpertWould be needed on a project for an online bank but not on a Would be needed on a project for an online bank but not on a children's play sitechildren's play site

Larger projects can require Secondary/Expert Larger projects can require Secondary/Expert skills skills

Typical Roles and Typical Roles and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilitiesCommon roles within projects includeCommon roles within projects include

DesignersDesigners

Information ArchitectInformation Architect

CopywriterCopywriter

Artist Artist

QA leadQA lead

TesterTester

Audio/Video/3d/Streaming Audio/Video/3d/Streaming EngineerEngineer

Media BuyerMedia Buyer

Project Project Manager/ProducerManager/Producer

Account ManagerAccount Manager

Technical LeadTechnical Lead

Creative LeadCreative Lead

Network ManagerNetwork Manager

Security ExpertSecurity Expert

ProgrammerProgrammer

Web integratorWeb integrator

Project Project Manager/Producer (E)Manager/Producer (E)

Responsible for:Responsible for:– Scoping ProjectScoping Project– Creating and maintaining Project PlanCreating and maintaining Project Plan– Allocating and managing resources (including Allocating and managing resources (including

team)team)– Managing budget and timescalesManaging budget and timescales– Handles contract/legal issuesHandles contract/legal issues

Main point of contact for Client and teamMain point of contact for Client and teamIf no one else does, the PM has to!If no one else does, the PM has to!

Account Manager Account Manager (S)(S)

Hangover from Advertising/Media agenciesHangover from Advertising/Media agencies

Liaises with Clients and understands their Liaises with Clients and understands their customer requirementscustomer requirements– Acts as client representative to Internal team Acts as client representative to Internal team

(usually PM and Creative lead)(usually PM and Creative lead)– Acts as team representative to ClientActs as team representative to Client

Liaises with Client over several projectsLiaises with Client over several projects

Mostly sales and marketing roleMostly sales and marketing role

Can be handled by PM on small projectsCan be handled by PM on small projects

Technical Lead (E)Technical Lead (E)

Has the overall view of the technical aspect of Has the overall view of the technical aspect of a projecta project

Prepares technical strategy and briefs for PMPrepares technical strategy and briefs for PM

Manages the programming and technical Manages the programming and technical teamsteams

Allocates specialists (such as networking Allocates specialists (such as networking expert) for more specialised tasksexpert) for more specialised tasks

Essential for all but the simples of projectsEssential for all but the simples of projects

Creative Lead (E)Creative Lead (E)

Responsible for Creative concept and design Responsible for Creative concept and design for entire sitefor entire site

Manages designers and artistsManages designers and artists

Also responsible for allocating resources for Also responsible for allocating resources for specialist design tasks, such as 3D or specialist design tasks, such as 3D or animation tasksanimation tasks

Liaises with technical lead, programmers and Liaises with technical lead, programmers and any technical specialist on feasibility of any technical specialist on feasibility of designsdesigns

Network Manager Network Manager (S)(S)

Responsible for setting up, configuring and Responsible for setting up, configuring and administrating:administrating:– web servers, web servers, – email servers email servers – and any other agreed hardware necessary to and any other agreed hardware necessary to

fulfil the technical delivery of a projectfulfil the technical delivery of a project

Can also be responsible for registering Can also be responsible for registering domain names and setting up net linksdomain names and setting up net links

Can be the Database administrator in small Can be the Database administrator in small projectsprojects

Security Expert (X)Security Expert (X)

Responsible for the creation of encryption Responsible for the creation of encryption plans and setting up financial transaction plans and setting up financial transaction securitysecurity

Should have experience in this are with Should have experience in this are with encryption technologyencryption technology

Can recommend strategies and productsCan recommend strategies and products

Often a network engineer, database Often a network engineer, database administrator or lead programmeradministrator or lead programmer

Usually the best paid of them all!!!!Usually the best paid of them all!!!!

Programmer (S)Programmer (S)

Responsible for the development of applications Responsible for the development of applications on the site in a programming languageon the site in a programming language– Usually specialists in one of the followingUsually specialists in one of the following

Flash,Flash,

CGI,CGI,

JAVA, JAVA,

JavaScript, JavaScript,

SQL, SQL,

C/C++C/C++

– Usually has skills in two or more of aboveUsually has skills in two or more of above

Web Integrator Web Integrator (E)(E)

Responsible for the integration of visual Responsible for the integration of visual designs and backend programming designs and backend programming

Usually codes the final HTML pages, Usually codes the final HTML pages, integrating media and any client side integrating media and any client side programming into the pagesprogramming into the pages

Often the HTML guru and is the final person Often the HTML guru and is the final person in the process before hand off to QAin the process before hand off to QA

Often communicates directly with PM and Often communicates directly with PM and Technical leadTechnical lead

Designers (E)Designers (E)

Create the look and feel of a siteCreate the look and feel of a site

Create the initial Graphical templatesCreate the initial Graphical templates

Often now create the basic HTML page Often now create the basic HTML page using a tool such as Dreamweaverusing a tool such as Dreamweaver

Has to have an understanding of digital Has to have an understanding of digital design not just print/Fashion/graphical design not just print/Fashion/graphical designdesign

On small projects can be the Creative LeadOn small projects can be the Creative Lead

Information Information Architect (S)Architect (S)

Responsible for Responsible for – Site ArchitectureSite Architecture– Site NavigationSite Navigation– Search/Data retrievalSearch/Data retrieval– Interaction design/User Experience PlanningInteraction design/User Experience Planning

Also responsible for error messages, Also responsible for error messages, legal/Terms of Reference, privacy legal/Terms of Reference, privacy messages, users technical needsmessages, users technical needs

Copywriter (S)Copywriter (S)

In knowledge based sites responsible for In knowledge based sites responsible for extraction of knowledge form the subject extraction of knowledge form the subject expertexpert

Creates new copyCreates new copy

Or Checks Client copyOr Checks Client copy

Artist (E)Artist (E)

Responsible for turning the designers Responsible for turning the designers creations into Web formatcreations into Web format– Decreasing resolutionDecreasing resolution– Optimising imagesOptimising images– Cutting up screens Cutting up screens

Nowadays the designer often performs this Nowadays the designer often performs this tasktask

QA lead (E)QA lead (E)

Responsible for ensuring the site meets the Responsible for ensuring the site meets the scope and functionality requirements scope and functionality requirements specifiedspecified

Interacts with programmers and designers Interacts with programmers and designers during bug fixing to assist completion of during bug fixing to assist completion of the sitethe site

Responsible for giving final “go-live” OK to Responsible for giving final “go-live” OK to PM PM

Tester (E)Tester (E)

Part of QA teamPart of QA team

Responsible for the testing of site to ensure Responsible for the testing of site to ensure it meets functional and scope it meets functional and scope requirements specifiedrequirements specified

On small teams can be the QA leadOn small teams can be the QA lead

Audio/Video/3d/Audio/Video/3d/Streaming Engineer (X)Streaming Engineer (X)

Responsible for the creation of any of the Responsible for the creation of any of the above content types for delivery to the above content types for delivery to the technical and creative leadstechnical and creative leads

Media Buyer (X)Media Buyer (X)

Responsible for the advertising campaignResponsible for the advertising campaign– Both OfflineBoth Offline

Posters, Billboard, TV, RadioPosters, Billboard, TV, Radio

– And OnlineAnd OnlineWhat banner and other ads will run on the siteWhat banner and other ads will run on the site

What ads will be run for the site and whereWhat ads will be run for the site and where

– Responsible for any links to portals Responsible for any links to portals