Managing E-Commerce Implementations

There are four basic ways a business can manage an e-commerce site:  project management, project portfolio management, specific staffing, and postimplementation audits.

Project managment is a technique that is used by businesses to organize supplies, workers, and time based on what tasks need to be done when.  There are many different programs that can be used for this, including Microsoft Project and Primavera P6.  This software can also allow businesses to regularly update costs based on how a project is coming along.

Project portfolio management is a similar technique to project management, but each project is looked at as being a portfolio.  Each project is ranked based on its impact on the company strategic goals.

Staffing for an e-commerce business includes many tasks, which include:

• Business manager, sets objectives for project;
• Project manager, has specific training/skills for situation;
• Account manager, keeps track of projects that make up site;
• Application specialists, maintain business software;
• Web programmers, design/write code for dynamic Web pages;
• Web graphics designers, designs and lays out graphics on site;
• Content creators, create original content;
• Content manager/editor, purchases content to adapt to site;
• Customer service reps, help develop CRM processes in Web site;
• Systems administrators, maintains network connections;
• Network operators, monitor and troubleshoot network activity;
• Database administrators, maintain company database operations.

After a business finally gets their e-commerce site up and running, they may do a postimplementation audit in which they will review an up and running project.  This gives the managers a chance to review all of the aspects of the business and make sure that they have been implemented in someway into the site, as well as gather other information about the project.

Planning Initiatives

Strategies for Development