Importance of a Project Plan and Specifications for Website Projects

10 September 2005

Importance of a Project Plan and Specifications for Website Projects

This is perhaps one of the most crucial stages of a given website project.

From experience it is clear that at the outset, the parties only have a vague understanding of how
the website will eventually look. This leaves the designer in a precarious situation in which he
has to agree to deliver work that has not yet been specified!

We always advise clients to agree in writing a project plan and to further incorporate the same in
to a formal written agreement. The written agreement can address other key areas of importance
such as ownership of the Intellectual property rights in the design, warranties, indemnities,
timescales, maintenance/ support, payment plans etc.

The website owner will want a detailed account of the proposed concept of the website and what
exactly the designer will do. The design delivered by the design supplier can then be measured
against the project plan. This works in the favour of both parties in that they both know where
each of them stand. Both parties often complain that this stage takes up a lot of time and effort
which could be better spent designing!

Having said that, it is very difficult for the parties to agree to a set of keep performance
indicators or other tests upon which to assess whether the designer has complied satisfactorily
with his obligations. In an ideal world, for the customer he would want acceptance and payment to
be conditional upon his satisfaction! Designers will of course strongly resist such a provision.

It is quite normal for a project plan to set out key milestones/ stages of development  linked to
regular consultation meetings, followed by a sign-off of a given design or template upon which the
theme of the remainder of the website can be developed.

Remember- some time and effort in planning a project well at the outset will avoid any
disappointments in the future and it will ensure that both parties work happily together,
preserving and building upon their business relationship.

Izaz Ali