Production Schedule Exam Question

A production schedule is a pre production planning document which is also known as a work plan. It is created by the company who are making a product for the client, for example Creative Productions would've made a production schedule for Garmz. It is used to organise the tasks that need to be done and when they need to be done by. This is known as a milestone.

The positives of a production schedule are that the job roles for who is creating the product are clear. For example, Creative Productions have Ian who is there programmer, Alexia who is there graphic designer and John who is there business manager. In addition to this, the team know what needs to be made and when by which is another positive of a production schedule. For example, Creative Productions need to make a site map and a visualisation diagram for an app by the end of may so that the website is ready to be released before summer. This milestone takes into account time for feedback from their client and their target audience through for example a focus group because Creative Productions have from May to August to review the website and make any changes.

The negatives of a production schedule are that the company are not told when to start producing these documents which means their timeframes and milestones may be wrong. For example, if they started making the product in January then they would plan to have for example 3 months worth of planning and a month of making but Garmz may want them to start making the product in April which means they would only have a month to start planning and then make the product. This would make their production schedule wrong which means that their product could be rushed. Another negative feature of a production schedule is that it doesn't take into account legal and ethical issues such as using a variety of models on Garmz website and making sure the website is appropriate for it's audience so that it isn't reviewed by the W3C.

Production Schedule

A production schedule is a pre production document which allows us to plan a product. Everyone has access to this document as it is used to see if targets and tasks meet milestones. Can factor in contingencies. Known as a workplan. Would be made by a production manager or the producer. Wouldnt show this to the client but would show the visulisation diagram.


Milestones-The date
Timeframe-How long you allocate for the task
Contingencies-Back up plan-tasks and time


Effective features:

1.Team roles identified 

2.Tasks needed to be completed towards the final product identified.

3.Individual deadlines/ milestones and launch date identified.

4.Contingencies taken into account for delays (feedback, permissions etc).

5.Adaptable

6.Resources taken into account

Ineffective features of a production schedule-weaknesses:

1. Doesn't include a start or end date-
2. If tasks are not clear about what needs to be done-example 
3. Need to factor in additional time based on feedback not meeting milestones. Factor in extra time in case feeedback isnt positive-
4. Realistic time frames 
5. Need other planning documents such as visulisation diagram and script.
6. Be clear about timeframes and resources-
7. Legal and Ethical issues arnt considered

For Garmz Scenario-Negatives:

1-Due to be launched at the end of may so timescales would need to work back from this.

3-client hasn't set milestones for site map.

7-Not mentioned but need to consider the different ethnic groups viewing the website and the organisations such as the W3C and the ASA who will need to check the content on the website is suitable for its viewers.

For Garmz Scenario-Positives:

1-Know who's doing what-Ian-programmer, Alexia-grahic designer, John-buisness manager

2-Site map, visualisation diagram 

3-Feedback-Focus group-face to face
4-Clear timeframe-end of may but adaptable as only needs to be ready for before summer.

Site Map Features

 Key features on a sitemap: 

1. Home page is always at the top (the first page). The links to the other pages are underneath the home page. The links are the lines- these are the hyperlinks and how the website is navigated.  
2. The labels represent the pages on the website (these are different places you can access on the website.)  The black writing with dashes are the subpages.  
3. The site map will be made by the website programmer or coder in preproduction. When drawing this there should be no gaps to represent the fact that all links all stick together.  
4. Graphic designer designs what each part will look like and the coder codes the website so that each thing visualised works. For example the hyperlinks.

Key words: 
Hierarchical structure- means that the most important in at the top. E.g. the home page. This is where you can navigate from and go back to within the website. Also links to the order of the tabs. 
Pages- these are the places within the website. The ‘gallery page here would be the notifications on Facebook. 
Links- the things that link the pages together. 
Breadcrumb tail- giving the end user get around the website easier
Subpage-more info off of the main pages

5. 
   

   
   
6. 
   

Visualisation Diagram

Visualisation Diagram- Sketch of the layout for a product. This is completed before making the product. Seen by the client, focus group-feedback-does it appeal? Helps to improve your visualisation diagram. Delays production. Products you would sketch out-website (wireframe) Print products such as poster and leaflet and magazine.


Codes and conventions of visulisation diagrams:
Both show the product so you know what you're looking for when you come to buy it
Both show the product being used
Both have house style colours which establish the brand
Both have the name of the product as the biggest thing on the advert
Slogan-Five words used to brand the product
Logo-At the bottom-Bold.
Website URL, social media links-digital native audience+habits.
Models-ideal self+partner
Synergy-Cross media advertising
Trademarks-Trusted brand-good reputation

Annotations should explain colours and pics and WHY. Ineffective if graphic designer isnt clear about design ideas. ie bright colours. How it appeals to the audience?
Make sure ideas are realistic in terms of designs/models/assets
Budget/copyright
Anything interactive-visulisation diagrams must have annotations about how the end user is going to use it. Site Maps show more functionality. Shows what the coder will do.

Revision

Site maps, Job roles and visulisation diagrams
Web site, apps, game-interactive media products
Home is always at the top and the other pages are always underneath-subpages are underneath pages. Buttons that take you to something related.
Hyperlinked pages-aid navigation
Breadcrumb trail-lead on from one another to the end user
Navigation bar at the top.
Buttons that are hyperlinked.
Job roles involved:
Programmer, graphic designer-Annotations!!!!-what they would do.
Graphic designer would design the structure of the website-Layout and the logo-brand
Programmer-functionality of the interactive features. Codes the hyperlinks and the graphics.
Work together so it operates as it was visualised.
Refer to brief.

Job Roles-on paper

L04:Site Structure Diagram

1)Logo/Name/House style colours
2)Advertising
3)Web address/URL
4)Site map
5)Navigation Bar
6)Web banner-form of advertising-revenue stream
7)Images and graphics
8)Legal disclaimers
Need to draw two pre production products in exam-could be site structure diagram
Definition of Site structure diagram: A diagram that represents the navigation for the ‘end-user’
when using an interactive product.
Facebook homepage-newsfeed-from there you can go to notifications, profile page, events, groups, messenger, friend requests etc. All the pages are linked together.
End user-Anyone who uses the website after its been published-target audience.
Interactive Media Product-Something you touch, user/gamer physically operates/uses the product. The user physically affects the product. Forces the end user to engage with the product. Apps are interactive products. Game is interactive. Websites!!-End user has to navigate through different sites. Write and add content to messages. Buttons-go in and change colour.- hyperlink button, Pictures. Videos and Gifs. Adverts.
Also known as a site map.

C-Constraints

O-Open

E-Explicit

I-Implicit