455proj.htm

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.
Each web site must 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.
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 (15% 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 member should have some programming responsibility for the final project.

Each team should create a project Web site in the assigned project account and publish each deliverable timely to the directory of "project_deliverables". For example, the URL for team green19's deliverable C should be: "http://ectweb2.cs.depaul.edu/green19/deliverables/deliverableC." Send the URL for each deliverable via email to the instructor. Please note that ASP accounts are on the ECTWEB server and ASP.NET 2.0 accounts are on ECTWEB2 server. Modify the above URL accordingly.

DL Teams: Each DL team should schedule at least two consultation meetings with the instructor about project progress, one meeting for Deliverable C (between weeks 4 and 6) and one meeting for Deliverable D or prototype (between weeks 5 and 7).

Deliverable A: Team Organization Statement

Form a project team of four to six members.
Each team should have members performing roles of project lead, analyst, designer, technical support, media/graphic design, programmer, and scribe. Each team member is required to participate in the development of the prototype web site and project presentation. Each member should perform multiple roles
The Team organization statement should include a statement of mutual agreement regarding communication methods, commitment to timely completion of tasks, and right to release members who do not contribute to the project.
Email the instructor an 1- or 2-page memo describing the names, skills, experience and responsibilities of each member in the team and post the deliverable online.
Due: Week #2

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 the 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.
Due : Week #3

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) information architecture for the site, and (b) the detailed flow chart for transaction processing (catalog, order creation, order capture, payment authorization, order fulfillment)-- a flow chart showing the detailed process steps.
Due: Week #4

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 #5

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 web usage and business success of this web site. Explain the rational for selecting these criteria.
Due: Week #8

Deliverable F: Project Web Site and Presentation

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.
Present the project prototype in class. Each team member should have a speaking part.
DL teams are also required to make in-class presentation by at least one team member. If there is schedule conflict, the team should arrange a different date for presentation with the instructor.
Indicate the tools and technology used in developing this project.
Provide details about the environment for site testing (i.e., browser type and version, and display setting).
Due: Week #11

Deliverable G: Project Documentation

Make necessary revision of all deliverables.
Revise Deliverable A or provide a revised task responsibilities at the end of the documentation.
Post final project documentation on the ectweb2 course server.
Provide a complete set of project documentation in a 3-ring binder.
Include presentation materials and a copy of your web site in the final document.
Provide the complete URLs for the project site and deliverable site, and password.
Provide a list of responsibility of each member for the deliverables and the final project.
List the programming responsibility of each member of the final project.
Keep a copy of the project files and deliverables for your own record.
Due: Week #11

Evaluation Criteria

This Team Project will count toward 40% of your course grade, 15% 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 in class or during office hours regularly. Late submission of each deliverable will result in deduction of points.

The final project and documentation will be evaluated according to the following criteria (total = 100 points; 25%, see instructor's grading sheet).

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) 5 points
Complexity of solution and successful demo of prototype web site (F) 25 points
Effective Presentation (Deliverable F) 10 points
Completeness and quality of documentation (online project site, and Deliverable G) 10 points