This two-day course is an introduction to the software development process, aimed at people moving into electronic product delivery from more traditional print-based routes.

By the end of it, you’ll be able to:

• decide what technology is best for the job
• get the best team together to achieve your goals
• understand the technical issues you’ll be facing.

The course covers the techniques and language to help you deal effectively with the issues that surround e-projects. From the types of project, delivery methods and developers you might work with, through building a team and managing content and workflow, to deployment and support issues, it draws on real-world experience and examples to cover everything you need.

Programme

Day one

• What type of product is it?
  • CD−ROM or online
  • One-off purchase or subscription
  • What technology to use
  • Differences in content type as well as product type (display, assessment, reference)
• Process and project management
  • Building a team
  • Working with distributed teams
  • Communication
  • Talking to developers
  • Editorial process and instructional design
• File management and workflow
  • File naming
  • Asset management/storage/version control
  • Re-use across print and screen

Day two

• The technical issues
  • Accessibility, usability, standards (for all web content)
  • Different languages − briefing, testing and deployment
  • Functional specification writing
  • User interface design
  • Screen display vs. typeset pages
• Deployment and support
  • Delivery is not the end of the story!
  • Who deals with support?
  • Helping users to help themselves
• Issues and problems
  • In-house, freelance or offshore − the balance between cost and management time

Who will benefit from this course?
Project managers and commissioning editors, especially those moving from a print background to digital environments.

Your tutor
Nigel Green has worked in publishing for 10 years. From an editorial background in maths publishing with Heinemann, he moved in to project management, leading teams to produce electronic products ranging in scope from single CD-ROMs through to subscription-based online delivery systems. He now runs his own business providing editorial, project management and content development services to publishers. Their clients include Harcourt Education, Oxford University Press and Pearson Education.

Note that most of our open courses can also be run as in company events.

Send details of this course to a colleague.

Dates: 30-31 October 2008

Price: £689+VAT (a number of discounts are available).

Venue: The Publishing Training Centre in Wandsworth, London (see a map and a list of local hotels).

Make a provisional booking on Developing and Managing Digital Products