You need to start by knowing what “on track” looks like. In today’s world of Agile development processes it is all too easy to get caught up in the ever-growing list of ‘nice to haves’ and ‘wouldn’t it be great if’s’.
It helps to think of the project as having distinct phases. During the initiation phase, a brief should be developed that details the project’s scope (What is my minimum viable launch product?), cost (for the MVP and some extras?) and what is realistically achievable (What can happen after launch?).
In the planning phase, a project roadmap highlights what needs to be done, how to achieve it and a timeline. This helps to ensure all stakeholders buy into what you are trying to achieve. You should be sure to allocate some time in here to allow for extras, or be aware that extras may be at the expense of initially planned functionality.
During the execution phase, plans become action, delivering website assets and building the infrastructure and functionality that means the difference between a good and great website. It runs parallel with the monitoring and controlling phase that keeps the project on track. You should aim to get constant updates and releases, be involved in the development process. Remember to store and prioritize all those ideas you have along the way, don’t let them get in the way of the schedule unless they are ‘gamechangers’.
Once the testing of the product is complete, it is time for launch – get it live! You can always add features and tweak things in additional phases. Remember that prioritized list of items you made? Now is the time to look again at it!
Onyx Digital has years of experience in taking projects efficiently through different phases and knows how to steer a course around issues that can cause time management problems. Often, this is when stakeholders expand the initial scope after the project begins or it takes longer to approve content than originally planned for. So, we always develop a robust plan and timeline and ensure stakeholder commitment to the approval process from the start. We recommend launching with the minimum viable product and then adding new components and functionality after the website is up and running.
Once the project kicks off, an experienced project manager monitors the quality and delivery of assets. They also keep you appraised of all stages of the web site’s development and its progress along the timeline to final delivery.