digital project success
DESCRIPTION
A few hints and tips for groups and individuals carrying out digital projectsTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Digital Project Success: Turning Vision into Execution
!
Shawn Day Digital Humanities and the Study of Literature
8 May 2014
![Page 2: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
![Page 3: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Objectives of this Talk‣ You’ve Got a Great Idea ‣ You’ve Just Got Funded ‣ So … What do you do
next?
![Page 4: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Shape of this Talk!
12 Observations/Reflections on Digital Project Success ‣ Planning Projects ‣ Setting Goals ‣ Managing the Digital Challenge ‣ Tools
![Page 5: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Who has taken a course or training in Project Management?
![Page 6: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Project management as a whole is iterative
Evaluate Design
ImplementMonitor
![Page 7: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Considering the User
in order to
in order to
Study /Consider the likely Audiencefor your Research Product - Potential Users
Set Project Goals and Create a Project Plan
Manage the Project and Achieve those Goals
![Page 8: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
#1 : Why the End belongs at the Beginning‣ The importance of finishing ‣ The importance of finishing well ‣ The importance of knowing what finishing means ‣ The importance of planning for what happens 'after you
finish' !
‣ Build into Budget / Funding
![Page 9: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
#2 : Set Project Goals & Create a Project Plan‣ It’s important to define exactly what the project aims to
achieve: ‣ What will be achieved? ‣ Under what conditions? and; ‣ With what partnerships will it succeed? ‣ Rank your goals in terms of importance. ‣ In case time, money, or both run out, what is most important?
![Page 10: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
The Project Plan Should Contain:‣ Project phases ‣ In case limited resources prevent you from accomplishing all
that you plan to, the most important and/or easiest work (in the earliest stages) will still get accomplished - remember our priorities?
‣ A timeline showing how things come together: ‣ What and when, including dependencies ‣ —> The GANTT Chart
![Page 11: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
GANTT
![Page 12: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
#3 : Establish a Project Charter‣ Put it on paper; ‣ A Formal statement of work: ‣ Objectives ‣ Possibly values in a forward thinking project; ‣ Where will the project be at the end?; ‣ Allow for change as project progresses; ‣ ideally should be organic and fluid
![Page 13: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
#4 : Don’t Reinvent the Wheel‣ Again before you start... ‣ Take a good look around - Environmental Scan ‣ Good digital project managers don’t re-invent ‣ They adapt and innovate ‣ They Learn from others experience
!
‣ Steve Jobs: !
"Good Artists Copy - Great Artists Steal!"
![Page 14: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
#5 : Write it down - Document!‣ Not everyone interprets or recalls the same initial or
subsequent project discussions in the same way! ‣ When groups involved, it’s crucial to have memos of
understanding ‣ > but these make great sense for individuals too!
‣ Write out your objectives and turn to them throughout; ‣ Revise and document why revised; ‣ As simple as a project or group blog/wiki.
![Page 15: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
#6 : Make Steps Small and Achievable‣ Divide the project into discreet and manageable tasks; ‣ Identify all tasks that need to be performed for a
particular activity: ‣ divide tasks into component parts; ‣ Be realistic about the time an activity will take; ‣ Break down tasks into reasonable time-units; ‣ no point in setting unrealistic goals ‣ Leverage the Tools
![Page 16: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
#7 : Stay Fluid and Work the Plan ‣ Perhaps the most crucial part of project management is
an ongoing process involving: ‣ Flexibility: know when to stop and change plans; ‣ Adherence: know when to stick to the plan; ‣ Communication: know who needs to know what when; ‣ Damage Limitation: when things go wrong how to fix them.
![Page 17: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
#8: Have a Plan B (and C…) Things Go Wrong‣ Delays often arise because time estimates are too short.
That’s why you plan for project phases. ‣ On the other hand, internal deadlines are useful for
keeping forward momentum, especially on any long-term project.
‣ Revisit the project plan often and decide when to revise the plan and when to stick to it.
‣ Remember that Project planning is iterative … just like user testing!
![Page 18: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
#9 : Release Early, Release Often‣ Learn from your users; ‣ Catch the unanticipated; ‣ "Many eyes make all bugs shallow" ‣ Late release with late discovery can leave no Plan B
![Page 19: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
#10 : Tear Up the Funding Proposal‣ Make the Plan fit the purpose ‣ Not to diminish the initial effort in putting it together ‣ There’s a reason funding agencies ask for particular bits of
info ‣ Make them work for all purposes ‣ But don’t mistake one tool for another
![Page 20: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
#11 : Communicate‣ Regularly ‣ Routinely ‣ Transparently ‣ Emerging Tools ‣ Slack ‣ Trello ‣ Use the ones people actual use
![Page 21: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
People have different communication styles and preferences
Asynchronous (delayed) Synchronous (instantaneous)
in writing ‘live’
does not necessarily break concentration
requires interruption from work
allows time for reflection easier to keep track of discussions
Find an appropriate mix of the two and appropriate tools for each.
![Page 22: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Some simple communication toolsAsynchronous (delayed) Some of both Synchronous
(instantaneous)
Email!Online forums!
Word Docs! Wikis
Google Docs! Google +!PiratePad
Instant Messaging! VoIP (like Skype)!
Meetings!Chatting at someone’s desk
Over the phone
![Page 24: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Slack www.slack.com
![Page 25: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
# 12 : Keep an Eye on the Big Picture‣ All the projects you will be working on will reside in a
larger context of digital projects worldwide ‣ What is the current expectation by potential users? ‣ What new communities may benefit from your resource? ‣ What other projects will yours be in dialogue with? ‣ Digital arts and humanities projects in Ireland and the UK ‣ how will these projects fit together? ‣ what interoperability and synergies can be achieved?
‣ In the rapidly changing environment of the web ‣ how do new technologies affect your project plan? ‣ changing expectations of users?
![Page 26: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
![Page 27: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Thank YouShawn Day - [email protected] - @iridium
!
The Library/Institute for CollaborativeResearch in the Humanities
http://qubdh.co.uk
![Page 28: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
The Conceptualisation(re)process after Funding ‣ Take a look at process at TAPoR2 ‣ Why? A very robust Digital Humanities Project … and an
exercise in User-Centred Design !
‣ Objective -> Scan -> Stories -> Scenarios -> Use Cases -> Wireframes -> Prototype -> Test -> Iterate -> Document -> Release -> Repeat!
![Page 29: Digital Project Success](https://reader033.vdocuments.net/reader033/viewer/2022060107/554997bbb4c9050c708b4722/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Digital Project Management Tools‣ Defining ‣ Planning/Documenting ‣ Compiling ‣ Managing ‣ Executing ‣ Learning/Reviewing