Our method of operations differs from most other web designers and related services in that we follow a client lead work process. That is, everything about how we work on projects from the earliest planning stages through to completion will involve our clients. One of the first things we do, upon initiating project discussions is establish a dedicated, private workgroup on our site. This becomes the documentation work space for the project about all communications between team members and facilitates the sharing of files; usually eliminating the need for encryption. Such a methodology helps resolve failures in communications, misunderstands, or confusion that can also impact upon project development. Notifications, via both feeds and e-mail, are available to all team members whenever new postings are made within this workgroup.

During initial conversations, we ask our clients to set an anticipate project budget amount. That is, what they expect to spend to see this project through to completion. Conversations of this type help us identify a number of risk factors associated with project development very quickly. These conversations help identify common risk factors associated with project development:

For example, these early conversations will help identify unreasonable or unrealistic expectations in so far as costs, time, or quality on the part of clients. This also helps bring hidden assumptions on the part of team members (ourselves, partners, or clients) to light so they can be managed. In most cases, these risk factors can be mitigated through a negotiation process where alternative solutions are examined. Where they cannot be resolved, this process of identifying them early on will allow everyone to go their separate ways very quickly.

Diagram used in this article is copyrighted © 2009  by Irene M. Kraus is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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This diagram is intended to summarize the more common risk factors affecting the scope of a project as documented in training materials used by Ms. Kraus course work on Project Management and eBusiness Information Systems Management.