This is so completely cool! Take 10 minutes to view this video and then think of the possibilities.
Rework the Project Charter and Run Projects
Just when we thought we got the Project Charter figured out, the book Rework, by Jason Fried & David Heinemeir Hansson, debunks ‘Planning as Guessing’. In fact, they go on to say, “Unless you’re a fortune-teller, long-term business planning is a fantasy. There are just too many factors that are out of your hands: market conditions, competitors, customers, the economy, etc. Writing a plan makes you feel in control of things you can’t actually control.”
They advocate, “…you have to be able to improvise. You have to be able to pick up opportunities that come along. Sometimes you need to say, ‘We’re going in a new direction because that’s what makes sense today’.”
Before you stress they do add this: “Now this isn’t to say you shouldn’t think about the future or contemplate how you might attack upcoming obstacles. That’s a worthwhile exercise. Just don’t feel you need to write id down or obsess about it. If you write a bit plan, you’ll most likely never look at it anyway. Plans more than a few pages long just wind up as fossils in your file cabinet.”
Seems to me, some planning-or having some sort of ‘general guide’ is a good thing….just as good as knowing when to make adjustments.
And Seth Godin doesn’t even want us to call ourselves Project Managers, he prefers the title: Project Runner.
Bicycles Built for Two
The overall project plan support, and are, supported by the Instructional Design [ID] documents as they are constructed in much the same way. Similar to a couple riding a bicycle built for two the overall project plan balances with the ID design document as both work in tandem moving the project forward.
While the design document is composed of learning objectives, key points of content and concepts along with processes and activities. The project plan works with the design document via the initiating and planning stages [creating project charter & identifying stakeholders].
Both ‘riders’ of the tandem bicycle might take turns riding in the front or back of the bicycle or even propelling the bicycle solo, for short periods of time. Yet, a bicycle built for two arrives at its destination [the specified project stages of completion], fastest and in best form, when both riders are working in unison.
The instructional design process is similar to the project management process in that both spend a vast portion of their life span in the analysis and planning stages. Just as one may ‘plan and plot’ the path for a long bike ride, adjustments to the bike, changes in weather, and even detours can cause riders to change course and make adjustments yet the bicycle [and riders] do arrive.
The similarities are that it is all about the journey, not the destination. Both the Instructional Designer and Project Manager are headed to the same destination-project completion.
Content in Context
Just like a carpenter, web designers need to know when to use the right tools. A big part of designing is problem solving. No, I should re-phrase that, a big part of living is problem solving and we need more of these skills in life.
So, in a recent query I received, Brenton wanted to develop a blogging site comparable to this site.
WordPress will make your websites and you might want to look into making css code out of your PSD [PhotoShop Documents]. Check it out.
Design Sucker!
I am the first to admit it: I am a sucker for great design! And can you believe this? It makes me want to get a little dog, just so I can have the crate. Humm, I wonder if you could build a terrarium in there? This is so fabulous.
Building iPhone Apps
For the last few weeks, on Mondays, I get myself over to the new Ford Building on the Smith College Campus. Now, I’m the first to admit, I am not a programmer. However, as a designer I’m intrigued with development and thus am assisting Lou Franco with ‘testing’ some chapters of his soon-to-be-published book.
Lou has the patience of a saint. St. iPhone or St. Xcoder is how I like to refer to him. He is a great teacher! In class, he sometimes tends to run through code pretty quickly when he is showing examples.
Some of the stuff we cover in our workshop goes over my head….Lou does move thru the information. But I am happy-no, I am joyous to say, I get most of it! I mean, come on everyone has an idea for an iPhone app. A few that have just recently come to mind:
- A Shit List App: something you could interface with that would assist you in being sure others met your criteria for being on your Shit List. And, of course, there would be some type of meter or rating system. Maybe it could even connect with your Contact list? Humm…..the possibilities. [Note: this is obviously a bit of a joke here. Then again, who knows….maybe there is something to this. Humm.].
- Then there is this behavioral app I’m working on….I can’t reveal the name just yet….let’s just say the market is for parents to use when their child isn’t behaving in the manner the parent prefers. This one is still in development stages.
- And then, an app to help you ‘know’ what types of organic foods are currently ‘ripe and ready-to-pick’. This needs to coordinate with locate organic farmers and dovetail with their crop growth charts….however, I firmly believe there is a need for this. Especially, as we grow more conscious of the foods we eat, where we buy those foods and in getting the freshest possible foods-locally.
If you have an idea for an iPhone app [or iPad app for that matter]. Leave me a comment….maybe we can get started on one. After all, I have a classroom full of Techie-Developers all of whom I am sure would love to develop a iPhone app.
