Panic?

Hey,

Just re-read through coursework guidelines and it says the LIMIT is 3500 words, not circa 3500!
Also, when asked to provide a sample of our product, this should 'ideally' be in markup - although not essential for publishing students; ie it probably IS essential for us ECP students.

I have been looking at the combined business plan and I think we could cut the word count by putting your layout diagram Ilia in the Products and Services section and using the home page/portfolio page etc description as an appendix. I've also seen a few other bits and pieces that can be cut but don't think it's going to amount to anything major. I'll get cracking on it now and email you both.

I also think it would be a good idea if all 3 of us met up before Monday - definitely before Wednesday.

How are you feeling Claire?

xxx

Second draft . . . more words!

Hi Girls,

Hope you're both having pleasant weekends and aren't too stressed by impending deadlines.

I've been doing some work on my section of the report this afternoon. Ilia I've incorporated your description as part of the Products and Services section and taken some of my original stuff out. My word count is now huge but as you said Ilia, mine probably should be quite substantial. I'll have another look through it now and see what I can edit.

How are you both getting on?

Claire I took out reference to the survey from my section.

I've been reading through all the past EP lecture notes and it might be worthwhile incorporating some of the things mentioned by some of the speakers - maybe even citing them explicitly. For instance Stephen Brooks, the product manager st Pro Quest, said some interesting things about product concept, market research, business models and requirements; Chris Turner discussed issues of project management, emphasising the importance of visualising different users and inventing possible scenarios to establish the various ways the product will be used. He also had a lot to say about quality requirements eg usability (which I've mentioned), reliability, efficiency, supportability, expandability and serviceability. And also the risk assessment aspect that's involved in planning; manging/monitoring. Jon Rimmer was talking specifically about usability but, as I said, I have brushed over this. He did emphasise the need for repeated testing. The 4 main stages are analysis, iterative design, build+test and deployment.

Anyway, we can talk about it on Monday.

I saw a very good but depressing film last night (and got drenched in the process), 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead'. People can be so awful to one another!

xxx

Advertising quote

Claire, remind me on Monday, I came across something I highlighted ages ago about advertising and Web 2.0 by John Naughton - I think it may be relevant and might be worth quoting?

Hope you're feeling better

x

Yes and yes!

Ilia, I'm happy for you to send your descriptive stuff my way.

And yes, I think maybe having a blog and a forum is too much. A forum waould be far more diplomatic.

I went to see Macbeth this afternoon with Patrick Stewart as the Scottish tyrant - it was fantastic but theatre full of noisy school children.

We were talking about the Internet, Facebook and blogs in my French class tonight so for once, my teacher couldn't get me to shut up!

xxx

Claire Warwick

Hello Ladies,

Just thought I'd post the reply I got from Claire Warwick regarding pricing:

Dear Claire,

The main thing is that you make clear what kind of costs you will

incur and how you would make money to cover them. You don't have to

provide concrete figures, although if you happen to have them, then

that's fine.



Claire

xx

Thinking positively

I have not heard from Paul - I don't expect to immediately as he hates having to write long replies!



Ilia and I had a chat this afternoon and we think it will be useful to be able to provide evidence that we actively sought feedback and responded to it. So yeah, no sign up fee and no star rating.

With regards where we mention the survey results, I think that should be in the Market Research section as you suggested, and I may mention it briefly in my introductory bit.

I also thought it might be a good idea if we went back through the Electronic Publishing lectures to have a look at whether information included in any of the sessions is of relevance to our project. But maybe you've already done this in which case - I will go back through them!

Hope you're feeling better - I am going home soon to read through your write up.

xxx

I know what you mean! I feel like we have been labelled as cut-throat capitalists rather unjustly.

However, I think we can probably turn this to our advantage. In light of the results, we should get rid of the subscription fee and rely on the commission and advertising (which I forgot to put into my section - will add that now!). Perhaps we could think about charging for subscription once we have built up the image of the site a little more?

I think Claire will appreciate that we have carried out primary market research and have taken the collected responses into account - it makes good business sense. However, I don't think we should feel too offended - after all, we are trying to start a business, which will not always appeal to the idealists at SLADE!

Shall I start writing up the market research bit? Any news from Paul?

x