From the book lists at Adware Report:

All information current as of 22:58:47 Pacific Time, Monday, 7 March 2005. Developing Effective Websites: A Project Manager's Guide    by Roy Strauss / Patrick Hogan   Paperback:     Focal Press     July, 2001    US$20.43         Usually ships in 24 hours Click the button below to . . .      (which will add the book to your Amazon U.S.A. "Shopping Cart") . . . or use your browser's Back button to return to the search-list page.

---

Editorial description(s):

Book Info
(Focal Press) Gives readers tools to rein in Web projects, drawing on established software project management principles. Describes Internet technologies in plain language, helping readers develop expertise and the scope to see the big picture. Softcover. DLC: Multimedia systems.


From the Publisher
Every website project needs a manager. Developing Effective Websites describes Internet technologies in plain language and helps you see beyond your expertise to the big picture.


About the Author
Roy Strauss is a project manager of websites and multimedia projects, with over 15 years' experience developing Internet and CD-ROM applications for training and promotional purposes. His background includes new media development for Rand McNally, Encyclopædia Britannica, and Commodore Computers. He is currently President of Cedar Interactive (Deerfield, IL), where he manages websites and other interactive media projects.

Patrick Hogan is editorial director for the American Library Association's book publishing imprint. He has been both a client and project manager for web-based projects of the association. He is also a freelance writer on topics of business and information technology and coauthor of two books.


Book Description
Is your website project out of control?

Every website project needs a manager. Developing Effective Websites describes Internet technologies in plain language and helps you see beyond your expertise to the big picture. It does this by drawing on established software project and management principles.

Like any project, effective management of website development starts by understanding and balancing the constraints of time, resources, and tasks. You can deliver your project on time and on budget, by following a process that includes:

· Analyzing the requirements of users and your market
· Developing a workplan for the site and breaking it down to tasks
· Scheduling with Gantt and PERT charts and measuring slippage for more accurate revisions
· Estimating cost by the budget-first or design-first methods
· Using the team development process and covering all the necessary roles
· Aligning contractor and client interests to create a win-win relationship
· Following an iterative development process for designing, prototyping, and building out
· Applying software testing principles to website development
· Making hosting decisions and planning for maintenance

Practical techniques for managing a variety of projects from simple presentations to consumer web sites and applications (e-commerce, web-based training)

New chapters on web development tools & technologies and hosting options & solutions

Based on real-world experiences and current development techniques




Reader review(s):

Straightforward; sticks with sound PM principles, October 4, 2001
If you are managing small-to-medium web projects, or are managing vendors who are implementing a small-to-medium site, this is an ideal book. What I like about this book is that it sticks to the basics and doesn't pretend to be a "silver bullet" or "killer methodology".

What it does do is step you through web site development, starting with the most important part: requirements, and from there through the development and management of a project plan. Here is where the book shines because the project planning starts with a work breakdown structure (WBS), which is essential to a viable project plan. Only after the WBS has been developed does the author cover scheduling. This is a refreshing change from other "project management" books that [erroneously] jump right into scheduling. Another strong point is the author covers cost estimation in a thorough manner.

This book is also complete from a workflow perspective in that roles and responsibilities of the project team are defined, and all project milestones are covered, including testing and maintenance, which are not always covered in web project books in any great detail. I especially like the way the author addresses contractor/customer relationships. If you are reading this as either a customer or a consultant this part of the book will prove valuable for advice and insights. Another key point that I like is the iterative development approach taken. This reflects the way most web projects proceed, although some books portray such projects as a linear waterfall process that leads to false project assumptions.

This book and "Web Redesign: Workflow That Works" by Kelly Goto and Emily Cotler complement one another. I recommend getting both if your budget allows it. If you are faced with a large-scale web project this book may not fit your needs as well as "Web Project Management: Delivering Successful Commercial Web Sites" by Ashley Friedlein. Regardless, this book is well written and is a refreshing change from many I've read because it's based on tried and true project management principles that have been closely integrated into the workflow of website development.

Basic and abstract, July 3, 2003
I was a bit dissapointed with the book, it speaks in very general and abstract rather than actual terms. A fairly good introduction to who does what in a web project but did not provide any new 'truth', action points or an implementable project plan. The book is ok as basic introduction into the world of project management but if you have experience in managing web projects the book won't tell you anything new (except what people are getting paid on average).

Recommend Kelly Goto's Web ReDesign, Workflow that works for those who are looking for a book to compliment their current planning.

---

{end of page}

(Page code from the SEO Tools, Toys, and Packages site)