Page 283 - DCAP304_DCAP515_SOFTWARE_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Unit 14: Small Projects

deadlines (for IGF, etc.) and on projects that lasted too many semesters, where those that started Notes
the project had already graduated.
The Solution: Proper time management skills are extremely valuable, especially in the industry.
If your project is having issues with this, take the time to figure out where the bulk of the
problem lies. Use the “Where is the Time Spent” resource below to help evaluate what could be
holding the game up. Once determined, talk with those team members about improving their
time management; you may want to recommend the second link below. It the issue lies with the
entire team (not the game), put together a meeting to discuss how to improve this. If there are
deadlines involved, make sure that those deadlines are clearly communicated to the entire
team, and that everyone understands what must be done before then. If the game seems farther
behind than it should be, you may want to try making a schedule and/or reevaluating the scope.

Did u know? What does any time management software do?

 Capture, organize and manage all your projects and tasks in one central place
 Align your time, effort and energy with your highest priorities so you can focus on
what really matters most to you

 Take control of your time and get your life organized
 Make great progress each day and complete your important projects in less time
 Be more focused, relaxed and productive while you work
 Never have to worry about missing an important deadline again

 Make time for your loved ones and the activities you really enjoy
 Import all your existing data from Outlook (2003, 2007, 2010) and keep it in sync.

Lack of Documentation

The Problem: Students seem to hate documenting anything, and will either not document at all,
or not document effectively. These are bad habits to get into, since documenting your work is
rather important in the industry. Without documentation, there is no clarified vision of the
game, and miscommunication can lead to all sorts of problems during development. Not
documenting effectively can also cause the game to fall apart.
The Solution: Get into the habit of documenting everything; it’s good practice and will help
solidify your game. You also need to keep all documentation up to date and it should be edited
often to avoid discrepancies during development. Furthermore, ensure that everyone on the
team has access to the most up to date documentation at all times, since there’s no point to
having it if no one on the team can see it. Good documentation is the backbone of the game, so
take the time to do it, and do it right. If you’re unsure of how to document something, talk with
your leads, other team members, or professors.

Know Your Limitations

The Problem: Someone, or possibly everyone, on the team is trying to learn new skills at the
same time the game is being built. While developing games is a learning experience, you need
to know your limitations. If the team has to take the time to teach one member how to do
everything, that’s taking time away from working on the game. If no one on the team knows
anything about developing games, all of the time will be spent learning rather than building.
Another problem with limitations is that one team member will try to do everything; this leads

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