Building a Web Design Company Development Team
A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Frances Rhea
Building a Good Web Design Company Development Team
A good Web development team is crucial to your Web design company. When establishing a Web development team, specific variables must be taken into consideration. Whether your Web design company provides simple static sites or sites that require weekly, daily, or up-to-the-minute updates will make a difference in whether you will need a single Webmaster, or a team with administrators, Web application programmers, Webmasters, and project managers.
Project Manager's Purpose for Your Web Design Company
The project manager is the key to a successful team. They are responsible for the team's members, communication and follow-through. This position does not require specific programming or networking skills, but a technical background is preferable. The project manager represents the team, and must speak intelligently. Their most important task is to gather the requirements of the site and understand the expectations of the client. Good oral and written skills are essential, as well as time management and organizational skills. They will lead team members and manage resources.
Webmaster's Purpose for Your Web Design Company
A Webmaster knows HTML and Java scripts. They must also have good written skills since they are responsible for grammar and spelling. They work closely with the client and Project Manager to determine the content of the site and layout. They may also be responsible for graphic design. They should have knowledge of Flash animation, Adobe Photoshop, and scripting. They should be familiar with operating systems, and Internet server applications. Understanding SQL or MySQL, and how they work is desirable.
Application Developer's Purpose for Your Web Design Company
The Web Applications Developer should have a good knowledge of PERL, CGI, ActiveX, ASP, and Java. They must be able to work with the project manager to analyze and interpret the client requirements and recommend solutions. This makes strong problem-solving and analytical skills essential.
Systems Administrator's Purpose for Your Web Design Company
A good SysAdmin can make the difference in a successful site. System administrators are responsible for building, maintaining, and securing the Web site. A Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) has the appropriate skills in a Microsoft environment. If you work on Unix, an individual with firewall and Apache Web server knowledge and network administration experience, should possess the necessary skills.
Graphic Designer's Purpose for Your Web Design Company
A graphics designer will greatly enhance your Web development team. The designer can assist in the creation of images and other graphical needs. They should be proficient with the latest multimedia tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. They should have knowledge of layout, composition and color theory as well as HTML.
Managing Your Projects
A plan is critical to the management of your projects. It must be detailed and easily understandable. Updates should be held so members may discuss their tasks. All team members are responsible for being actively involved in the project from the beginning. A hardcopy of the plan should be readily available with a calendar, Gantt chart, flow charts, and resource tracking.
