网站项目中客户和项目经理应该关注些什么?
无可否认,沟通是项目经理80%以上时间的工作内容,虽然项目管理有九大知识领域,四十多个过程组,众多的分析,决策,和执行绩效评估的工具,但是对于网站项目来说,项目时间最多几个月到半年,大多项目规模也就是几万到二、三十万,真正需要关注的反而是最基本的东西 - 沟通,那么沟通什么?怎么沟通呢?作为乙方, 到底该怎么做来和甲方合作呢?
首先回到基本点,网站是客户的,客户需要关注什么呢?我们作为专业的服务提供者,应该向客户建议什么呢? Webby作为网站方面的专业奖项,其评估标准可以说给了我们一个可以借鉴参考的范例,那么我们看看专家看重的都有哪些方面。(我觉得原文所表达的含义实在增一字太多,减一字太少,所以放在下面,并给出简单的翻译。)
Content - 内容
Content is the information provided on the site. It is not just text, but music, sound, animation, or video — anything that communicates a sites body of knowledge. Good content should be engaging, relevant, and appropriate for the audience. You can tell it’s been developed for the Web because it’s clear and concise and it works in the medium. Good content takes a stand. It has a voice, a point of view. It may be informative, useful, or funny but it always leaves you wanting more.
内容是指网站所提供的信息,不仅仅是文字,还包括音乐,声音,动画,或者视频,只要这些被用来传递网站所要传递的知识。好的内容应该是吸引人的,和浏览者相关而且合适的。你甚至可以清楚地知道这些内容是专门为了网站而准备的,因为它们清楚,简洁而且特别适合这种媒介方式。好的内容总是有自己的特点,它可能表达一个声音,一种观点,它也可能是见多识广,开卷有益,或者仅仅是好玩,总之,它总会让你想要更多。
Structure and Navigation - 结构和导航
Structure and navigation refers to the framework of a site, the organization of content, the prioritization of information, and the method in which you move through the site. Sites with good structure and navigation are consistent, intuitive and transparent. They allow you to form a mental model of the information provided, where to find things, and what to expect when you click. Good navigation gets you where you want to go quickly and offers easy access to the breadth and depth of the site’s content.
结构和导航指的是网站的框架,内容的组织方式,信息提供的优先次序,以及你在站内浏览的方式。具有好的结构和导航的网站是保持一致,顺从你的直觉,并且简洁明了的。这些结构和导航允许你建立一个接受信息的心理定式,你可以知道在什么地方会找到什么,点击之后又会发生何事。好的导航让你迅速地到达你想要去的地方并且为网站内容的广度和深度提供便捷的通道。
Visual Design - 视觉设计
Visual design is the appearance of the site. It’s more than just a pretty homepage and it doesn’t have to be cutting edge or trendy. Good visual design is high quality, appropriate, and relevant for the audience and the message it is supporting. It communicates a visual experience and may even take your breath away.
视觉设计是网站的外观,它不仅仅是一个漂亮的首页,也不必是前卫新潮。好的视觉设计意味着高质量,恰如其份,和受众以及其支持的信息内容相配。它应该是沟通视觉体验甚至可以让你屏住呼吸。
Functionality - 功能
Functionality is the use of technology on the site. Good functionality means the site works well. It loads quickly, has live links, and any new technology used is functional and relevant for the intended audience. The site should work cross-platform and be browser independent. Highly functional sites anticipate the diversity of user requirements from file size, to file format and download speed. The most functional sites also take into consideration those with special access needs. Good functionality makes the experience center stage and the technology invisible.
功能是指网站上使用的技术。好的功能性意味着网站工作正常,页面载入迅速,链接有效,任何使用的新技术都工作正常而且和那些目标受众相关。网站应该跨平台,适应多种浏览器。高度功能化的网站可以预期用户需求的多样性,比如文件大小,格式,下载速度。好的功能性网站甚至会考虑那些有特殊需要的用户。出色的功能性让体验成为闪光灯下的焦点,而技术本身隐居幕后。
Interactivity - 交互性
Interactivity is the way that a site allows you to do something. Good interactivity is more than a rollover or choosing what to click on next; it allows you, as a user, to give and receive. It insists that you participate, not spectate.
所谓交互性是指网站允许你做些什么,好的交互性绝不仅仅是鼠标滑过的效果或者下一步该点击什么,它允许你做为一个用户可以给予也可以获取,强调你的参与而不是旁观。
It’s input/output, as in searches, chat rooms, e-commerce and gaming or notification agents, peer-to-peer applications and real-time feedback. It’s make your own, distribute your own, or speak your mind so others can see, hear or respond. Interactive elements are what separates the Web from other media. Their inclusion should make it clear that you aren’t reading a magazine or watching TV anymore.
交互是输入和输出,好比你在搜索,在聊天室,使用电子商务,游戏或者通告,点对点应用以及实时反馈。交互是指完全自主,从制造到发布,表达你想要表达的,其他人可以看见,听见或者响应。正是交互的元素使得网站变得和其他的媒介不同。交互性的存在让你清楚地知道你不是在读一本杂志,也不是在看电视。
Overall Experience - 综合体验
Demonstrating that sites are frequently more — or less than the sum of their parts, the overall experience encompasses content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, and interactivity, but it also includes the intangibles that make one stay or leave. One has probably had a good overall experience if (s)he comes back regularly, places a bookmark, signs up for a newsletter, participates, emails the site to a friend, or stays for a while, intrigued.
应该说一个网站通常不是它的各个部分的简单累加。综合体验包含内容,结构和导航,视觉设计,功能性以及交互性,但是它还包含那些不可触摸的东西使得浏览者停留或者离开。如果一个浏览者经常回到网站访问、设置了书签、订阅了简报、参与、用邮件告诉朋友或者因为有兴趣停留很长时间,那就说明他/她的综合体验不错。
到这里我们应该清楚项目经理应该关注什么,和客户怎么沟通了。
内容应是客户最熟悉而且最应该关注的部分,因此内容的准备应该以客户为主导,项目团队可以负责文案的修饰使其更具网络特性。
结构和导航部分项目团队应该给出专业的建议,通过和客户的协商来达成最好的效果,尽量避免客户单方面决定,当然客户的意见会是决定性的意见,项目经理应该知道何时闭上嘴巴。
视觉设计是大家都看重的,而且也是人人都愿意并且能够贡献意见的领域。项目经理应该强化设计师在沟通上的发挥,在设计提案上给出更详细的说明,最好是文字的,而且是有说服力的文字。不要弄得曲高和寡,如果推销自己的提案是技术,也是艺术。同时这里也希望对客户们说一点建议:专业的事情还是多尊重专业人员的建议。 其实如果一个CEO花了很多时间对网页设计的色彩和按钮提出建议,我觉得是对企业的浪费。项目经理必须学习在生存的压力下,坚持自己的本分和专业性,不盲目屈从妥协。因为那可能带给客户和行业更大的伤害。
交互和功能,其实最需要的是不断的持续的研究,收集反馈,数据说话,及时总结。若能向客户出具专业的行业解决方案白皮书,那才真正证明团队的专业性。
最后就是客户服务的响应和项目质量的监控。及时地响应是赢得客户的第一步,而细节决定成败,保证质量是没有任何借口的承诺。


