Project Management – it’s easy, right? Just apply a bit of organisation and common sense and anyone can do it! That’s often the feeling amongst operational managers. Whilst in essence there is some truth to it, like a lot of things, it’s easier said than done.

Projects are distinct, time-boxed pieces of work and require a different mindset to operationally managing business as usual. In addition, quite often projects get extended, go over timescale and over budget due to the tendency for operational managers to get on with the day-to-day job, and back-burner the project.

Website project management is one area where this happens time and time again. I have seen it happen so many times where a business doesn’t want to pay any extra for project management or adequate testing, and this has resulted in more expense, a poor-quality product with errors, and ridiculously long timeframes from inception to launch.

The main things to consider when looking to project manage website builds are:

• Does operational management have the time?
• Does operational management have the skills to organise and complete the following:
  • Storyboarding
  • Features
  • Calls to Action
  • Content writing
  • Build & configuration
  • Videos and photography
  • Themes
  • Testing

If the answer to either of the questions above is “No”, then it is imperative to employ the skills of a project manager if a successful website build and launch is to be achieved.

Website builds are best project managed utilising an agile project management approach, with iterative development of the site.

It is virtually impossible to fully specify a site and follow a rigid plan in one hit, and such an approach invariably ends in huge delays and potentially, nothing being delivered.

It is a far better approach to initially specify, as a minimum viable product, a good site with good functionality, with the user experience at the forefront and then develop further functionality in an iterative way over time.

Websites automatically lend themselves to this kind of approach, and in turn as new functionality and features are added, the site continues to appear fresh and continuously develop over time, rather than being a static product, with a specified end date.

Project Management is key to delivering a quality product on time and on budget, as the skill is in coordinating and organising a variety of skilled specialists in terms of developers, graphic designers, videographers, photographers, SEO experts, content writers and testers, whilst ensuring that everyone delivers their components to the right quality, at the right time, to get the most efficient product delivery possible.

In every case, this only happens when a Project Manager with the correct skill base and time is appointed to look after the website build. I would encourage anyone investing in a website build to carefully consider the project management element to ensure a successful outcome.

If you’re considering new website builds

or have never had one before, contact us for advice and guidance on the best way forward, and how to achieve a cost-effective and quality delivery. After all, it’s worth the investment as it is your shop window to the world!