As a Project Manager, this is your purpose, your reason for getting up each morning, your moment in the sun. YES!! A new project.

Now what? You review the proposal, speak with the appropriate people to ensure a clear understanding, review the schedule requirements, schedule the development and design team, etc.

The administrative project functions are completed and now is the time to start the specification and flow chart process. How to begin? Where to begin?

Do you start with writing the specifications in a word document? Page by page, action by action. Do you accompany this with a flow chart? Once again, page by page flow based upon the actions? Does this become cumbersome and confusing as you go through the process? Are you writing, reading, revising, and writing again?

The specifications process is one of the most important aspects as a project. I’ve found that no matter how well and detailed you write the specifications, the development process always highlights items that were not included in the specifications or made clear. It’s the nature of the beast and these items can become time consuming to clarify and resolve.

I’ve recently discovered wireframe software which will enable you, as project manager, to create a pseudo functional site, make notes and annotations of functionality where appropriate, and provide to the client via link to a URL (if you have access to a server). The software also includes the ability to translate the wireframes into specifications. Once approved, the developers have a guideline to use for the development, thus increasing production and reducing questions, incorect development, time, and costs.

A few wireframe programs that I’ve found which are worth the time to review are Axure (http://www.axure.com/home.aspx) and Quality Unit (http://www.qualityunit.com/screendesigner/).

Congratulation on your new project and good luck. I’m sure you’ll do great and shine with the right tools to make your project planning a smooth one.