What You Need To Know About Building Project Budgets

Estimating Web Projects

View the webinar recording

Intros

James Rutherford

James is responsible for client satisfaction and project success across all of Mediacurrent's partnerships. James works closely with our clients and project teams to ensure Mediacurrent's solutions align with client business needs and to make sure that projects are on time and on budget.

VP of Client Services

2

/in/jamesrutherford

jamesrutherford

@jamesrutherford

Intros

Rob McBryde

Rob is a 13 year veteran of website development, former small business owner, and total Internet addict. He leverages his broad business acumen, paired with a background in online marketing and web design to provide strategic consulting for his clients. Rob stays active in the Drupal community by serving as a member of the Drupal Association and Los Angeles Drupal Meetup.

Senior Project Manager

3

/in/robmcbryde

robmcbryde

@robmcbryde

About

4

Mediacurrent helps organizations build highly impactful, elegantly designed Drupal websites that achieve the strategic results they need.

● Single-source provider● Specializing in Drupal since 2007● Headquartered in Atlanta, GA● Team of 70+ Drupal Experts including

development, design and strategy● Clients include: Large Enterprise and

high-profile global brands

Style Guide

Agenda

Estimating Digital Projects

Setup For Success3

2

1

5

Execution to Fit Your Estimate

4 Conclusion

Q & A5

Estimating Web Projects1

7

Estimating Digital Projects

In A Perfect World● Discovery Engagement● Detailed Document of Requirements● Secured Realistic Timeline and Budget● This almost never happens.

8

In The Real World● No or Limited Discovery● Unknown Budget and Scope Variability● Client expectations do not match budget.● Timeline is too short for thorough Discovery.● Etc.

9

The Project Triangle The three constraints of a project that need to be defined to determine the project estimate:

● Scope● Resources● Schedule

Scope Resources

Schedule

Quality

Estimating Digital Projects

10

The Project Triangle Resources:

● # of team members working over a period of time to complete the scope.

● Scope and Schedule often determine the resources needed.

● Rate of resources times the timeline in the schedule determine the cost of the project.

Scope Resources

Schedule

Quality

Estimating Digital Projects

11

The Project Triangle

Estimating Digital Projects

Schedule:

● Refers to the amount of time available to finish the project (deadline driven).

● Or how long it will take to deliver the defined scope (scope driven)

● Or the time available with the stated budget limitations (budget driven).

Scope Resources

Schedule

Quality

12

The Project Triangle

Estimating Digital Projects

Scope:

● What are we building and all relevant tasks● Includes planning and research

○ User personas○ Competitive analysis○ Content audit○ Functional specification

● Wireframes and Design Mockups● Drupal Development, QA testing● Weekly meetings / daily standups● Project management tasks, Training

Scope Resources

Schedule

Quality

13

The Project Triangle

Estimating Digital Projects

Scope:

● Often times, the scope if THE driving factor in a project.

● Example: The sales department is eager to have new functionality on the site that will route leads to sales reps.

Scope Resources

Schedule

Quality

14

The Estimation Process● Estimate Discrete Requirements ● Apply Estimator Tool● Internal review by multiple stakeholders.● Check against Run Rate Estimator● Review with Client Stakeholders.

2 Execution to Fit Your Estimate

16

Execution to Fit Your Estimate

It takes a village to raise an on-estimate project● A solid estimate is only as good as it is executed.● Poor execution of the project wrecks the budget

and or timeline.● Each vendor team as well as the client have a

role to play.

17

Everyone has a role to play in a successful project

It takes a village to raise an on-estimate projectWe believe executing a budget to the estimated and approved timeline and budget takes an all hands effort.● Sales / Client Services● Project Manager● Project Team (Design, Strategy, Development)● Client / Product Owner

18

Everyone has a role to play in a successful project

After the project is complete● Retrospectives and Applying Lessons Learned● Communication retrospective internally● Importance of communicating lessons

learned with clients● Builds trust and gets opportunities to solicit

feedback.

3 Setup For Success

20

Setup For Success

What to know before approaching an agencyHow to zero in on project details when seeking an estimate:● Stakeholder feedback● Understand open source development● Prioritize critical features● Establish maximum budget

Conclusion5

22

Conclusion

Conclusion● There is no bullet proof process to correctly

estimating all projects. ● Enterprise-sized web projects are inherently

complex and difficult to hit on target.● Requires a team wide commitment to

excellent communication, understanding of the KPI’s and project goals.

Q/A6

24

Additional resources

How to Budget a Drupal Project

Understanding Pricing Around Drupal Services

A Discovery Phase: Starting a Project Off Right

Preparing for a Redesign

Resources

@Mediacurrent Mediacurrent.com

Thank you!

facebook.com/mediacurrent