Breaking down the scope

When you’re planning your project, you don’t just guess. You’re careful, thorough, and focused on the details.

Starting point: The kick-off meeting

Meet with your team, your client, and anyone interested in the project, and have a clear and motivating first meeting. You’ll need to:

Define the project’s goals and objectives
Understand the client’s vision (even if it’s a little cloudy)
Talk about the audience, because they’re the real stars

The wishlist: Identifying features and requirements

After understanding the basics, decide on your features. This is where you work out what to include, what to hold back on, and what’s just pie in the sky. Think about:

User roles and permissions, not everyone should have full access.
Functionality that aligns with the end goal (keep it relevant)
How it will work with other systems, no application is an island.

The timescale: Estimating timeframes

Now, onto a rather slippery slope – timelines. Estimating how long your team will need to bring this masterpiece to life is both art and science. Consider the following:

Break the project down into smaller tasks.
Give yourself a little extra time for surprises.
Set milestones and check-in points (keep that ship on course!)

Budgeting: Planning your finances

Talking about money may not be the most comfortable conversation, but it’s a have-to-have chat. When figuring out the costs, take into account:

The size and complexity of the project
Hourly rates (fair is fair, but skilled sailor ain’t cheap)
Unexpected costs, things often come up (prepare for pirates!)

Resources: What you’ll need

A good sailor needs the best gear to navigate. Make sure you have:

Hardware that can handle code
Software that makes life easier, not harder
Brain power – yes, that’s a resource too!