This presentation was made for the purpose of Software Freedom Day in Far Eastern University Manila

1. PLANNING AND MANAGINGPLANNING AND MANAGING
DRUPAL PROJECTSDRUPAL PROJECTS
Software Freedom DaySoftware Freedom Day
Far Eastern University ManilaFar Eastern University Manila
Ivan James A. FermanejoIvan James A. Fermanejo

2. Agenda:Agenda:
The Role of LimitationsThe Role of Limitations
Putting Down Your Concept On PaperPutting Down Your Concept On Paper
Project Management Methodologies andProject Management Methodologies and
DrupalDrupal
Taking the Lifecycle into Account on PaperTaking the Lifecycle into Account on Paper
Project Manager Tasks Beyond DevelopmentProject Manager Tasks Beyond Development
Othe Task for Project ManagerOthe Task for Project Manager

3. WHO AM I?WHO AM I?

4. Role of LimitationsRole of Limitations
““It's not what you start in life, it's what youIt's not what you start in life, it's what you
finish”finish”
-- Katherine HepburnKatherine Hepburn
Limitations are necessary thing to be aware ofLimitations are necessary thing to be aware of
when you're planning a project.when you're planning a project.
Set the expectation right.Set the expectation right.
Know much time you have to devote to projectKnow much time you have to devote to project
is the first step.is the first step.

5. Puting Down Your Concept on PaperPuting Down Your Concept on Paper
Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of difficulty:Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of difficulty:
1.1. is “I have an idea for a web site, but I haven’t totallyis “I have an idea for a web site, but I haven’t totally
decided on the concept”.decided on the concept”.

6. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
2. is “I have an outline of what this web site is, and I might2. is “I have an outline of what this web site is, and I might
have an idea of what the title is. I have a domain namehave an idea of what the title is. I have a domain name
registered.”registered.”

7. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
3. is “I already have a site that I built a long time ago in3. is “I already have a site that I built a long time ago in
Dreamweaver / Frontpage,but I can get the content outDreamweaver / Frontpage,but I can get the content out
in straight text files. I don’t want to improve it thisin straight text files. I don’t want to improve it this week,week,
but I’d like to migrate to a new site.”but I’d like to migrate to a new site.”

8. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
4. is “I built my site a long time ago, and it has a lot of4. is “I built my site a long time ago, and it has a lot of
content that I want to move,content that I want to move,like a photo gallery or all oflike a photo gallery or all of
my blog posts going back to 2001.”my blog posts going back to 2001.”

9. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
5.5. is “I have a site that I need to migrate, and it had ais “I have a site that I need to migrate, and it had a
custom design. I’d like tocustom design. I’d like to recreate that in this newrecreate that in this new
system.”system.”

10. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
6. is “I have an idea for a new community site, I’m going6. is “I have an idea for a new community site, I’m going
to have some users, and I’ll start with some content.”to have some users, and I’ll start with some content.”

11. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
7. is “I want a new community site. I have lots of content7. is “I want a new community site. I have lots of content
that needs to be served dynamically, I’m going to have athat needs to be served dynamically, I’m going to have a
lot of users, and I want them to be able to do six differentlot of users, and I want them to be able to do six different
things to communicate with each other. “things to communicate with each other. “

12. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
8. is “I have a community site already. I’d like to move8. is “I have a community site already. I’d like to move
over all of the content that I have now. I’d like to moveover all of the content that I have now. I’d like to move
over all of the users that I have now. Also, I want to addover all of the users that I have now. Also, I want to add
mapping, geolocation, feeds from different sites, andmapping, geolocation, feeds from different sites, and
private messaging.”private messaging.”

13. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
9. is “I have three different sites that I want to move over to Drupal.9. is “I have three different sites that I want to move over to Drupal.
They all need to work with the users I have now, but I don’t want toThey all need to work with the users I have now, but I don’t want to
change any of the passwords. Users are going to be able tochange any of the passwords. Users are going to be able to
interact with each other in 10 different ways. I have a lot of contentinteract with each other in 10 different ways. I have a lot of content
now, but I don’t want to move over all of it, so I need to decidenow, but I don’t want to move over all of it, so I need to decide
what to move and what needs to be recreated in the new site. I’mwhat to move and what needs to be recreated in the new site. I’m
also tired of my current design, so I want to do something new.”also tired of my current design, so I want to do something new.”

14. Here’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale ofHere’s what I think of as the 1 to 10 scale of
difficulty: (cont...)difficulty: (cont...)
10. is the same as number 9, with the addition of10. is the same as number 9, with the addition of
“I need it to happen in three weeks. Or maybe“I need it to happen in three weeks. Or maybe
tomorrow. Can I build this today?”tomorrow. Can I build this today?”

15. Lifecycle of A ProjectLifecycle of A Project

16. Step 1: DiscoveryStep 1: Discovery
●
What do I want?What do I want?
●
What does it need to do?What does it need to do?
●
What does it look like?What does it look like?
●
Who’s participating in this project?Who’s participating in this project?
●
Who are the decision makers?Who are the decision makers?
Product of Discovery is aProduct of Discovery is a PROJECT PLANPROJECT PLAN

17. Step 2: Information ArchitectureStep 2: Information Architecture

18. Step 3 - DesignStep 3 - Design

19. Step 4 - Development andStep 4 - Development and
ImplementationImplementation

20. 5. Content5. Content

21. 6. Deployment/Launch6. Deployment/Launch

22. 7. Maintenance7. Maintenance

23. Project Management Methodologies and DrupalProject Management Methodologies and Drupal
Drupal Tasks That Use
Waterfall
Drupal Tasks That Use
Agile
Discovery Documenting the project
plan, timeline planning
Brainstorming
Information Architecture Functional requirements Wireframes
Design (Very little about design
work fits with waterfall)
Creating design layouts
Development Only on a high level
matching of functional
requirements
Building out all of the
features in a
site, creating the site.
Content Staging Deciding which content is
added
Active work works best in
sprints
Quality Assurance Matching with functional
requirements
Not as effective
Deployment/Launch Checklists for launch Not as effective
Maintenance No methodology preference No methodology preference

24. Taking the Lifecycle into Account onTaking the Lifecycle into Account on
PaperPaper
Why you are building this?Why you are building this?
What it’s going to do?What it’s going to do?
When will each stage of the cycle be complete?When will each stage of the cycle be complete?
When did they need to be completed?When did they need to be completed?
What needs to happen within each phase?What needs to happen within each phase?
Who’s going to do this?Who’s going to do this?

25. What’s a Project Plan?What’s a Project Plan?
is a document that speaks to the purpose andis a document that speaks to the purpose and
methods of a project.methods of a project.
It defines what’s at stake in the project, who the mainIt defines what’s at stake in the project, who the main
stakeholders are, the scope of the timeline and thestakeholders are, the scope of the timeline and the
outcomes of the project.outcomes of the project.
It also breaks down what happens in what order andIt also breaks down what happens in what order and
who’s both responsible and involved for each phase.who’s both responsible and involved for each phase.
It is a client-facing document because it’sdesigned toIt is a client-facing document because it’sdesigned to
create alignment between everyone involved.create alignment between everyone involved.

26. Project Manager Tasks BeyondProject Manager Tasks Beyond
DevelopmentDevelopment
Kickoff MeetingsKickoff Meetings
Discovery MeetingsDiscovery Meetings
Information Architecture/Design MeetingsInformation Architecture/Design Meetings
Development MeetingsDevelopment Meetings
CheckinsCheckins
Milestone Closing MeetingsMilestone Closing Meetings
Launch MeetingsLaunch Meetings
Post-Project DebriefsPost-Project Debriefs

27. Kickof MeetingsKickof Meetings
What are we building?What are we building?
Who will be working on it?Who will be working on it?
Who’s responsible for which part?Who’s responsible for which part?
What’s the project cost?What’s the project cost?
When will it be done by?When will it be done by?
Bonus question: What’s driving this project?Bonus question: What’s driving this project?

28. Discovery MeetingsDiscovery Meetings
What are some other sites you like?What are some other sites you like?
What features do they have?What features do they have?
What do you not like?What do you not like?
What message do you want to convey through design aboutWhat message do you want to convey through design about
your site?your site?
What are some examples of this that you’ve seen on the Web?What are some examples of this that you’ve seen on the Web?

29. Information Architecture/DesignInformation Architecture/Design
MeetingsMeetings
Is everything where it’s supposed to be?Is everything where it’s supposed to be?
What’s missing?What’s missing?
Out of these three designs, what elements do you like best?Out of these three designs, what elements do you like best?
Is this the final design, or do we need another round ofIs this the final design, or do we need another round of
revisions? Based on the estimates, we’re X dollars through therevisions? Based on the estimates, we’re X dollars through the
design phase. Adding another round of designs will increasedesign phase. Adding another round of designs will increase
the budget of the entire project by Y. Is this something that youthe budget of the entire project by Y. Is this something that you
want to do?want to do?

30. Development MeetingsDevelopment Meetings
What am I working on?What am I working on?
What’s next?What’s next?
What things will be/are a blocker?What things will be/are a blocker?

31. CheckinsCheckins
This is what we are working on.This is what we are working on.
This is what’s coming nextThis is what’s coming next
What do we need your help on?What do we need your help on?
How’s your content coming?How’s your content coming?

32. Milestone Closing MeetingsMilestone Closing Meetings
Here are all of the tickets we closed in this project.Here are all of the tickets we closed in this project.
Here’s where this is on the development site.Here’s where this is on the development site.
Does this need to be added to the next phase, or is thisDoes this need to be added to the next phase, or is this
complete?complete?
If we change this, it will add X amount of time to the project. IsIf we change this, it will add X amount of time to the project. Is
this OK, or what else needs to be dropped to make thisthis OK, or what else needs to be dropped to make this
happen?happen?

33. Launch MeetingsLaunch Meetings
Everything is done according to what we talked about before.Everything is done according to what we talked about before.
What small changes need to be made?What small changes need to be made?
All of our content is here accurately.All of our content is here accurately.
We’ve tested our work on the production site and we’re readyWe’ve tested our work on the production site and we’re ready
to take this project live.to take this project live.

34. Post-Project DebriefsPost-Project Debriefs
This is usually an internal design/development/projectThis is usually an internal design/development/project
management meeting because candid feedback is the mainmanagement meeting because candid feedback is the main
goal of this meeting.goal of this meeting.

35. Other Tasks for Project ManagersOther Tasks for Project Managers
Creating User StoriesCreating User Stories
Implementing Tasks and Task Workflow Tasks That Make upImplementing Tasks and Task Workflow Tasks That Make up
MilestonesMilestones
Tasks That Make up MilestonesTasks That Make up Milestones
Bad DaysBad Days

36. ResourcesResources
BookBook
A Definitive Guide to Drupal 7, B. Melancon et. al., ApressA Definitive Guide to Drupal 7, B. Melancon et. al., Apress
ImagesImages
various web pages searched in Googlevarious web pages searched in Google

37. QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

38. Thank you!Thank you!
ivanfermanejo@aol.comivanfermanejo@aol.com //
admin@drupalpilipinas.orgadmin@drupalpilipinas.org
+63917-851-1746+63917-851-1746