Syllabus

Project management techniques including;  11 ATAR / 12 GEN

• user/client requirements / scope
• plan of action
• time management strategies
• resource requirements
• evaluation

Project management considerations including; scope, time, resources, client brief 12 GEN

 Background

Project management is thinking carefully about how to achieve a short term goal. Then it involves considering what techniques you can use in order to achieve it. This project management information is based on the idea of creating a digital product for a client.

User Requirements / Client Requirements / Scope

• Who is going to use this digital product? (this is the user)
  • When are they going to use it?
  • How are they going to use it?
  • What are they expecting to see with this type of product?
Who (the client) is paying you (the graphic designer) to make it.
• Where is the client going to put this product?
• When will they use it?
• What do they want to see in the product?
• What are their exact requirements for this product? (they are paying you, so it must be what they want)
• Scope is the start and finish of your work on this product.
• Scope means the parts you need to do.
• Scope means what is in your control to do. What is the scope that others need to do in this project?

Plan of Action

• Given the scope from above, decide what to do next.
• Consider the client requirements.
• Consider the user needs.
• Make a plan for how to make this digital product.
• Make a list of what tasks you need to do.
• Make an action plan
• Take your action plan back to the client and discuss it. Action Mapping is a trendy consideration.
• Make a revised action plan which includes what the client really wants.

Time Management Strategies

• Understand what a time deadline is.
• keep a list of deadlines for each of the parts of creating your digital product
  • eg brainstorm = 1 hour
  • eg create rough designs = done by Tuesday of this week
  • eg complete client discussions on rough designs = done by Wednesday
• agree to the deadlines
• if you don't agree with the deadlines, you need to renegotiate with the client
• allow for a bit of extra time in your own deadlines, just in case something slows you down
• break down the large project into smaller projects, each with their own deadlines
• now the important one - focus on one task at a time and get that one finished.
• don't be distracted - this is called procrastination and total avoidance of what you should be doing to achieve your deadline
• learn from mistakes - if you don't meet a deadline, analyse it to find out why it didn't work

Resource Requirements

• What does the design of this product need?
• What is it going to look like?
• Is it a poster that needs to be A4 or A3 or A2 size?
• What do you need to plan for it?
• What do you need to actually make it?
• Make a list of the exact things needed for this product; What software can you use to make it? Do you have to print it out? Upload to the internet?
• Do you have the skills to make it? Do you need help?
• Have you got the correct hardware and software to make it happen?
• Do you need a better camera for video?
• Can you get the video off your smartphone onto the computer?
• Can you edit the video? What software is needed for that?

Evaluation

• You have finished.
• Time now to have a very close look at your product.
• Does it meet the needs of the task?
• Does it need to be changed?
• Who is going to evaluate it? You? Your friends? A client?
• Have you got time to change it?
• If you were to do a similar product again, What would you change? How could you make it better?
• Write a review of how you would do it better next time.

For you to do.

 1. Use these techniques in completing your tasks for AIT.

2. For time management strategies; identify your procrastination activities. Is it playing video games, watching TV ? Make a list.

3. Make a very quick, rough and ready action plan for how to build a 4 page website for an Aunty's Fitness Club.

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