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Literature Review
Introduction
Six months prior to completing my A.S. in Software Programming & Analysis,
while also pursuing my graduate studies in Instructional System Design, I started
my own business. I knew both fields blended quite seamlessly and what I would
not learn from one degree, I’d eventually learn from the other. However, neither
degree fully prepares one to manage a web-based application, software, or
instructional design product. And yet, in the early part of 2005, I was managing
my first client project with minimal structure. When the opportunity arose to
choose a book to review, I found Web Project Management, Delivering
Successful Commercial Web Sites by Ashley Friedlein 1 was exactly what I was
missing and needing to better manage future business projects.
The following review is a summary of the content of the book with pertinent
discussions on it’s relevance to managing performance improvement projects. I
conclude with my reactions or thoughts on what appealed to me from the
reading and the author’s presentation of the material. Also, I’ve included a table
from the book as Appendix A. It contains an overview of the phases, work stages
and deliverables for each and therefore, serves as an excellent job aid for
anyone who intends to work as a web project manager.
1
Friedlein, A. (2001). Web Project Management: Delivering Successful Commercial Web Sites. CA: San Francisco, Morgan Kaufmann Publisher.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 2 of 13
Content Summary
The book is broken into three parts, despite the typo in the preface stating
it’s broken into four. The three parts are The World of the Web Project Manager,
The Method, and a Case study. The following is an overview of each part.
3
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pg. 40.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 4 of 13
Project Solution Project Content Design and Testing, Maintenance Review and
Clarification Definition Specification Construction Launch, Evaluation
and
Handover
Phase I: Preproduction can take up to 50% of the total project time and
budget. This is the hardest portion to sell or obtain buy in for; it does not provide a
tangible product and the client may find it’s a waste of time and money.
However, the author stresses the importance of planning to improve total delivery
time, overall quality, and save money in the long run.
This phase consist of the three stages; the project clarification, solution definition,
and project specification. The author simplified each stage quite nicely:
4
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pgs. 41-43.
5
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pg. 56.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 5 of 13
It is in these stages the project manager discovers the needs of the client,
refines the needs of the client and defines what will be done to complete the
project. Also, important to the success of the overall project is to obtain buy in
from key stakeholders, sponsors or champions. At the end of phase one all of the
data discovered, refined and defined should serve as the foundation for the
Project Specification document. This document will contain project objectives,
success criteria, functional, technical and content specifications, marketing
initiatives, project group credentials, assumptions, terms and conditions and
more. 6 Although the client may not see it in the same light, the project
specification document should be treated as a deliverable and it serves as the
groundwork and spring board into the next phase.
6
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pgs. 102-103.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 6 of 13
7
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pgs. 218-232.
8
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pg. 46.
9
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pgs. 237-248.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 7 of 13
10
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, Chapter 12.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 8 of 13
11
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pg. 9.
12
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pg. 12.
13
Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee. Primal Leadership. pg. 39.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 10 of 13
Projects”, essentially states the same, “Communication and Managerial Skills” 14,
except he addresses these as benefits to using project management techniques.
One could say it comes full circle; you need to have good communication and
business skills to manage projects which will in turn benefit the overall outcome of
a project.
14
Fuller, J. Managing Performance Improvement Projects, pg. x.
15
Fuller, J. Managing Performance Improvement Projects, pg. xi.
16
Fuller, J. Managing Performance Improvement Projects, pg.14.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 11 of 13
Personal Reaction
Given the timing, for reading this book, could not have been more
suitable and the topic more applicable to my current circumstances, I found the
reading very enlightening. So much so, I read the book - 302 pages, in two days. I
still managed to bathe, eat, sleep and even take a stroll through Paynes Prairie
State Preserve.
The author addresses a topic that few books in technology cover, that of
managing the planning and implementation of a project from start to finish. He
expressed his knowledge with an honest tone that conveyed confidence and
credibility. Breaking down the tasks of project management into natural phases
and stages of the software and web-development cycles allowed me to better
understand how both the planning of the project and planning of a program
intertwine. Given my programming experience it made sense to see it broken into
the appropriate phases. It was also clear to see how project management
techniques apply regardless of the product one develops, be it a software
application, web site, instructional product or performance improvement project.
Unlike many case studies I’ve read, this one was presented in the same
phases and stages illustrated as the road map for effective project management.
The author presented the case by explaining what happened and lessons
learned at each stage. This left little to the imagination and clearly depicted how
a real life scenario was handled each step of the way.
17
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pg. 59.
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 12 of 13
18
Friedlein, A. Web Project Management, pg. 47.
19
Service Level Agreements
Ms. E. Gomez EME6631, Spring 2006
Due: March 20, 2006 Dr. Bonnie Armstrong
A3 Literature Review Page # 13 of 13
References
Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., and McKee, A. Primal Leadership. Mass.: Harvard
Business School Press.