The production process within a Web development operation is a coordination between various stages of project execution, right from gathering specifications up till the project delivery. Needless to say project implementation forms the core of the entire process and it’s foundation is laid at the very beginning when the specifications are produced.
Specification delivery in our view is a level that is at par with actual project execution in importance, if not more. And this is also the stage where a client is required to play a significant role. Much akin to a script writer within the context of movie making. Just as a good script results in a fine movie if other aspects of it’s making go well, well thought specifications are responsible for giving a Web project it’s intended direction.
This article, written from the perspective of a Web company, seeks to suggest clients a certain sequence to follow while writing specifications for a project. Most of it is commonsensical but important nonetheless.
1 – Start with a pencil and a pad:
Write down the entire functionality of your project as if you were writing an essay. Visualize how you want the final product to be and put that on paper. So many clients get intimidated because they feel they are not technical and they make the mistake of letting the Web company take decisions which should have been taken by them. Just because they are not Net sauvy they feel that a Web company is most ellible to advise them on their online presence. Nothing can be farther from truth. Technical aspect of a Website steps in only once the theme and purpose of a Website is defined. And no Web company can define the purpose of a Website more than it’s owner. Just like an architect can bring in his expertise to design a house only when the prospective resident defines the type of house that would be most suitable to him.
So, do not be put in a corner because you are not Net sauvy. Go ahead and define the kind of online presence you want in a bold manner so your Website has YOUR stamp and not the stamp of your vendor Web company.
And remenber, it’s your business and a Web company is only putting her skills to give you an online presence. You are still the boss.
2 – Be clear about your goals:
There is a lot that can be done with Web technologies. We’d venture to say, there are unlimited facilities that you could provide the visitors to your online presence. It’s very easy to fall in the trap of all the bells and whistles and get digressed from what the final product is all about. As a veteran Web firm we have seen quite a few projects which were well intentioned and had a good future but could never take off because the client simply got bisotted with the deluge of options that were available and lost track.
Even if you have a project in mind that does offer a scope to accomodate the most hi – fi Web gadgets, we would recommend that you go slow and divide your project in phases. This will enable you to launch early with less investment and later on proceed with other phases after your site has had time to digest the initial ones. In other words, go slow and steady.
Here we’d point out that the most reputed and visited Websites like Google, Hotmail, Rediff took this course which is both sensible and affordable, not to mention easy on the users.
Always remember that at all times your Website should be seen as promoting your services and NOT Web technology. So whether it’s a simple static Website or a heavy duty one, it should never appear to be overladen with Web gadgets which may overshadow the basic purpose of the site.
3 – Make a list:
Once you have defined what you need as mentioned in point # 1, go ahead and explore your competitors’ Websites and also do an independent research on the Net so you can determine which functionalities meet your present needs in an optimal manner. For example, do you really want your shopping cart to be as detailed and complex as Amazon’s ? While Amazon’s shopping cart grew in complexity over a period of time and in line with the gradual increase in traffic, your site may not require such detailed application initially. You may do well to reserve the funds to market your site and let it generate some revenue so you may be jutifiably ready for further upgradations to your site.
Same goes for other gadgets like 3d virtual tour of your office or a Flash presentation with handsome and costly models. If you have a modest shop on the subway selling flowers then your initial choice should be a simple and attractive Website with directions to your shop and maybe a facility for the users to order through your Website with orders arriving through email, being delivered and payment collected manually. It would be unwise to invest in an online accounting system integrated with your Website just because a flower shop at the nearest five star hotel has it.
Therefore start small and give your site time to outgrow the functionality it is started with.
So, make a list of available Net gadgets which would be most suitable for your immediate needs for a Web presence. Rest assured that whatever you want can be implemented with Web technologies and a simple browsing session on the Net with your goals in mind would put you in a position to interact intelligently with your Web vendor.
Take Web gadgets as you need them. Not otherwise.
4 – Write precise specifications :
Do you know the best way you can exasperate your lawyer ? By providing him confusing and conflicting details about your case.
And the best way to put off a project manager at a Web company is to ask him to copy www.xyz.com.
Each business has different owners and a business when run by an interested owner is fully doused with the methodology and the mind of it’s CEO. So, even if you have the same business as that of other CEO that you covet, it would not be wise on your part to copy their Website.
Let us stress here that it is perfectly possible to copy a Website by looking at it’s functionality but it would just mean painful and a banal effort for your Web vendor and for you a product that does not possess the personality of your business and your own business sense. All that this kind of a cookie cutter Website would possess would be your money and is sure to fail.
So, draft your own specifications based on the information that you gather as suggested under points 1, 2 and 3. Do take inspiration from your competitors but ONLY inspiration.
When you’d get down to writing specifications following such practical guidelines, you would yourself be surprized at the clarity and precision of those. And your Web vendor, pleased with such straight forward directions, may not only go an extra mile to implement them but would think twice before giving you an irresponsible suggestion. This obviously puts you in a position of command.
Now would then be the right time to discuss your requirements with your Web company and seek their advice and suggestions on solutions that you have in your specification draft. You would now be ready to interact with your Web company at par and inspite of the technical jargon that might seem Greek to you, your position with them would still be that of a person in command. You would be able to extract very balanced solutions from your chosen Web company due to your own homework.
Rest Would follow easily and in no time a refined specification draft would emerge which would leave you in a position to direct the very Web company who till now you thought should direct you.
