COMPUTER 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

Lesson 1: What is Project Management? (Continuation)

Phase 1: Problem Definition

One of the first steps in this phase is the conceptualization of the

project itself.

 This phase involves all the initial activities that will be needed
for the project.
 In video production, this involves the presentation of the script
and the resources need to the Executive Producer.

One of the first steps in the phase is the conceptualization of the project
itself. The idea has to be translated into a documented form and agreed
upon by the project team. In the problem definition phase, the project
team lays down the foundation of the project in terms of objectives,
scope, and acceptance criteria. In some cases, this phase also involves
justifying the project’s existence to the stakeholders whether the
project will proceed or not.

 Activities  Deliverables
- Conceptualization - Concept Paper
- Bread Scoping
- Creation of
Acceptance Criteria

Phase 2: Planning and Design

The project team also allocates enough resources for requirements.

Project designs are also created during this phase. Depending on its
nature, an IT project may require various types of designs. As part of
this activity, documents such as Functional Specifications are created
and agreed upon. Clients are involved in the decision-making process
COMPUTER 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

where possible, and the output documents are signed off to signify
agreement.

 This phase intends to prepare the essentials of the project even

before execution.
 For a large video production project, this stage would require
the establishment or design and creation of sets or backdrops.

 Activities  Deliverables
- Project Team - Project Team
identification and composition
mobilization - Project Timetable
- Detailed Project - Detailed Scope
Scoping (Functional
- Project Specifications, Use
Requirement Cases)
Analysis - Design Documents
- Project Designing (Web Design,
Database Design,
Phase 3: Development etc.

This is usually where most of the work is done. In this phase, the actual
codes or, in the case of video, digital output are put together by the
developer, applications are integrated, and databases are created.

 This phase is responsible for translating the scope and

agreements of the previous phases into working applications or
scenes (if the project involves video).
 For complex projects, the application being developed is broken
down into smaller programs called modules.

Each of these modules would need to have a specific development

schedule which will be reflected as a separate item in the timetable. As
the development phase which will be reflected as a separate item in the
COMPUTER 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

timetable. As the development phase winds down and nears

completion, all the separate modules are integrated to form the
application.

 Activities  Deliverables
- Code Development - Software for
- Module Testing Testing
- Module Integration

Phase 4: Testing

In this phase, codes are tested to make sure that they address the
defined user requirements and that they are bug-free.
 Activities  Deliverables
- Testing/Debugging - Acceptance
- Revisions Documents
- System for
Deployment
Phase 5: Deployment

Once the system has been accepted by the stakeholders, the project is
launched and exposed to the targeted users. These activities may range
from simple announcements informing users that the system is ready
for use, to migrating a system/website into live servers, to filling up a
database with content. Deployment may also include user training and
the creation of user manuals.
 Activities  Deliverables
- Migration - Live System/
- Training Website
- Documentation - User Training
- User Manuals
COMPUTER 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

 In video or movie production, deployment would constitute the

distribution of the product to different networks and/or
theaters.

Phase 6: Maintenance

 In this phase, the developers of the system should be able to

provide technical support for the users of the system.
 Video or movie products are also maintained in a way that
allows the output to be played in current media technologies
and for them to make use of new software technologies.

It is even possible that bugs may be discovered in this stage, thus,

developers need to fix them as they occur. Also, users may require the
developers to make changes to the system as needed.
 Activities  Deliverables
- Debugging of - Technical Support
newly discovered - Reports (Status of
errors the system, bugs,
- Monitoring the etc.)
system

 Video or movie products are also maintained in a way that

allows the output to be played in current media technologies
and for them to make sure of new software technologies.

‘Types of IT Project Life Cycles’

Throughout history, different methodologies in managing the project

life cycle have been presented. Each theory has given birth to various
life cycle models, each one attempting to represent the project in its
entirely.

 The Waterfall Model and the Systems Development Life Cycle

 The Spiral Model
COMPUTER 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

 The Rapid Application Development Model

‘The Waterfall Model and the Systems Development Life Cycle’

The software industry’s first popular project life cycle model was the
Waterfall Model. It tracked the life cycle of software engineering
projects and subdivided these into a number of distinct phases. These
phases, while overlapping each other in a timeline, were supposed to
function in a linear, uni-directional, and very predictable way. The
output of a previous phase would be clear prerequisites to the next
phase and so on. System requirements, Software requirement, Analysis,
Program Design, Coding, Testing, Operations

‘The Spiral Model’

The concept of the spiral model is based on the dynamic nature of

software developments. It aims to complete a portion of the project
that may be viewed as a representation of the entire project itself so
that user requirements may be reevaluated. The project progresses
with a larger piece of the requirements being implemented. This cycle
happens a number of times during the course of the project.
COMPUTER 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

Boehm’s Spiral Model of Software Development (Source: ICS Online

Website)

‘The Rapid Application Development Model’

Due to the nature of IT projects being relatively quick-to-require, quick-

to-accomplish projects, the need for a methodology that will allow
project teams to demonstrate the effects a project intends to make on
users brought about the birth of the Rapid Application Development
Model.

 Methodology that will allow project teams to demonstrate the

effects a project intends to make on users.

To demonstrate a system’s user impact, this model requires the project

team to create a stimulated system experience for the user’s evaluation.
For this purpose, a prototype is created.

 A prototype is a working or mock-up model of the system.

‘The Project Team Structure’

The different types of IT projects require different team structures and

compositions. Various requirements demand various sets of roles and
skills. But there is one role that will always be there no matter what type
of IT project you are implementing: the project manager.
COMPUTER 10: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

 Positions in an IT project team need to be filled by individuals

qualified for the expectations that come with each role.
 Each member needs to fulfill his/her responsibilities in order to
make sure that the project is delivered on time and with an
emphasis on quality.

‘The Project Manager’

His/her responsibilities include making sure that all tasks are

accomplished on time, that qualified people are assigned to roles where
they can contribute the most, and that the project does not lose track of
its objectives. Finally, the PM needs to make sure that the output meets
project expectations.

 The project Manager or PM is the person who is expected to

control all aspects of the project.
 In video production, this is the director.