CSC 560 TEAM PROJECT

Project Overview

This project provides students the experience in the methodology and the collaborative process for Web site engineering. Your team will function as a Web consulting group which has been contracted to develop a business case and Web solutions for a client. The end product is a full document and the implementation of the proposed web site.

The project should include the following components:

Develop a business case for consumer-oriented Internet commerce. It can be a dot.com case or a click-and-brick case.
Analyze client requirements--strategies, customers/users, content, process, functions, and image.
Provide an information architecture of the web site.
Design site layout, content presentation, user interface, and transaction processing.
Implement your proposed site. The completeness of your site will depend on the complexity of your proposal, and the team's experience and size.
Your web site may include transaction processing that access databases, such as order placement and payment processing. For non profit sites, this may mean membership registration and other database driven functions. While this is not a required element, it is suggested you learn how to do this.
Prepare a technical feasibility report.
Prepare a pro forma budget for implementation.
Propose evaluation criteria to measure the success of the web site.

Milestones and Deliverables

For each team project deliverable, list each team member's contribution. It is expected that some team members will devote more time and effort to certain but not all deliverables. However, the contribution of each member (10% of the course grade) should balance out over the entire project. In another words, a team member needs to take on a "fair" amount of responsibility throughout the project, as judged by other team members, in order to earn a satisfactory grade for contribution. Each deliverable should provide information about the contribution of each team member.

Each team should create a project Web site at the assigned web server listed below and publish each deliverable timely to the site in a directory of "project_deliverables". For this class, I want each team to set up a web site on www.freeservers.com." All deliverables should be posted on your freeserve site by 11:59 pm on the due day. Send the URL for each deliverable via email to the instructor. . Late posting will result in deduction of points.

Deliverable A: Team Organization Statement

Form a project team of five to six members.
Each team should have members performing roles of project lead, analyst, designer, technical support, media/graphic design, programmer, and scribe. Each member is required to participate in the development of the prototype web site and project presentation.
Email the instructor a 1- or 2-page memo describing the names, skills, experience and responsibilities of each member in the team and post the deliverable online. Post the URL in the team Discussion room.
Due: Week #2 (April 4)

Deliverable B: Business Case Statement

Post a 1-2 page statement about the client's business case.
Present the proposed site's value proposition, business models (sources of revenues), market competitions, intended customers, and the rationale for using Internet solutions. If the project involves several phases, discuss each phase and focus analysis on the immediate phase. For multi-channel strategies, discuss how online and off-line channels work in your case.
Tips: A real-life scenario provides more learning experience.
Due : Week #3 (April 11)

Deliverable C: Requirements Analysis and Specification Document

Prepare an analysis of goals and message, content, structure and interpretation, sensorial design, and market testing.
This document should include a draft of (a) the information architecture, and (b) the process flow for transaction processing (catalog, order creation, order capture, payment authorization, order fulfillment)--either a DFD (data flow diagram) or a flow chart showing the detailed process flow.
Due: Week #5 (April 25)

Deliverable D: Detailed Design

Perform content and interface design
Create content
Integrate look and feel--sketches of layouts, graphics and template.
Accommodate advertising
Revise information architecture chart.
Perform low fidelity (paper) prototyping. (optional)
Post a document of revised information architecture chart, draft page layouts/templates, page description, ERD and data tables, and sources of content.
Due: Week #7 (May 9)

Deliverable E: Technical and Budget Feasibility Report

Determine technical solutions and requirements for hosting web site and maintenance. Explain rationale for your choice of ISP service.
Prepare a pro forma budget for project implementation, including technology, planning, programming, production, promotion and maintenance. Show one-time and continuing
Propose at least five criteria for measuring the success of this web site. Explain the rational for selecting these criteria.
Due: Week #9 (May 23)

Deliverable F: Project Web Site and Documentation

Implement the proposed web site.
Perform response time and usability testing.
Publish the results and project documentation.
List team members' names and tools used in creating the prototype.
Due: Week #11 (June 3)

Deliverable G: Project Documentation

Make necessary revision of all deliverables.
Post final project documentation on the CLEGA course server.
Provide a complete set of project documentation in a 3-ring binder.
Include a copy of your web site in the final document.
Keep a copy of the project files and deliverables for your own record.
Due: Week #11 (June 3)

Evaluation Criteria

This Team Project will count toward 35% of your course grade, 10% for individual contribution, and 25% for group work. Individual scores will be based on the detailed list of responsibilities and contribution of each team member, as well as the results of peer evaluation. Group work will be graded upon the completion of the project. During the term, the instructor will provide written or verbal feedback about each deliverable. Each team should arrange to meet with the instructor if there are any questions or concerns. Late submission of each deliverable will result in deduction of points for all team members.

The final project and documentation will be evaluated according to the following criteria (total = 100 points)

Team effectiveness -- leadership, clarity of roles and responsibilities, cohesiveness, involvement and collaboration efforts (Deliverable A, minutes, a detailed list of each member's responsibility and contribution, and peer evaluation) 10 points
Clarity of project scope and objectives (B) 10 points
Completeness of analysis (C) 15 points
Consistency and creativity in design ( D ) 15 points
Sound technical and budget solutions (E) 10 points
Complexity of solution and successful demo of prototype web site (F) 25 points
Completeness and quality of documentation (online project site, and Deliverable G) 15 points