Our beliefs in project management

March 3, 2008

What’s wrong with projects and project management?

They say that projects most often fail due to lack of communication. While we take no issue with this statement we think it fails to capture an underlying problem with project management as a practice in the real world. In our experience, projects fail because they go from a cycle of little to no process (or the wrong process) to over-managed, hyper-processed efforts (a reaction to things going wrong). Companies and employees get whiplash getting jerked back and forth between this lack of process to fully disciplined project management. Either way, the common problem is a lack of results.

We focus on the results you are trying to achieve, and believe that the right level of process becomes apparent by maintaining that focus. Our method keeps your project on track using the right PM to balance the right level of tactics, tools and process for your project.

Advantages of exceler8 Project Management

focus on results not just on process as many trained or typical PM’s often do
small company with big company professional skills, knowledge and experience
deep web marketing and publishing background working on everything from small sites to major web network
involved in projects for major corporations at all levels from participant, sub-team leader and team leader
hands-on initial management of your project by company leaders - then ongoing management and oversight of selected long term PM
we back-up your project and assigned PM when they get busy or sick and also take management chore off your table
We can be your outsourced ‘expert’ partner - able to assist your business across many online marketing and publishing disciplines

Core competence

Finding the leading-edge of human performance and technology to produce amazing results.

Methodology

The right resources
The right tools
The right knowledge
A singular focus
A collaborative mind set

How we manage projects
We haven’t seen a web project yet that didn’t have a beginning, middle and end! At times projects are that simple, at other times more complex, even if they share these fundamental characteristics. Here’s the process we follow on more complex web projects:

Beginning

Determine technical requirements

Budget calculator

Draft work plan

Middle

Project plan

Wireframes / site-map

Program, develop, design

End

Quality Assurance

Measure

Tools

The basics: phone, email, IM, Skype
Basecamp as main project management tool (we provide this as part of our service)
MS Excel or Google Docs
MS Word or Google Docs
Time tracking via Freshbooks (our resources)

Business Terms

We bill in two-week increments and expect prompt payment within seven business days
We do not invoice you for out-of-pocket expenses such as travel - this must be paid directly by your business
We offer tiered rates so you don’t pay for something you don’t need (basic project manager vs. senior project manager)
Occasionally we need small up-front funds to secure freelance talent for your project in which case we need you to provide these funds. We find this can often be avoided because of our two-week billing cycle that helps us compete for top talent.
We do travel but we charge extra for on-site work unless it’s one-time or occasional and we reserve the right to not travel (or charge extra) due to conflicts with other project commitments.