investigation
interviewing the PSD partners
The first part of the investigation involves the planning, holding and the analysis of a group meeting with the PSD partners. The following page shows how I did this, and what I accomplished. It is split into three sections:
interview planning
I have decided to use a Dictaphone to record the entire interview. This will allow me to type up a transcript and use it to analyse the interview as well as using written notes and my memory.
The two chief objectives of this exercise are: to identify a clear purpose for the site and determine who the target audience is. To accomplish these two goals effectively I must plan out the order in which I ask specific questions. I will do this by giving the interview a basic structure.
interview structure
Purpose of site
The first part of the interview will contain three questions about the purpose of the site:
- Why do you require a web site?
- What benefits do you hope will come from having a web site?
- What type of information do you want displayed on the web site?
The answers to these questions will give me a clear picture of what PSD’s web site’s purpose should be.
The target audience
The second part will also consist of three different questions, but this time they will be about the target audience.
- Who is the web site for?
- What is the main type of visitor that you wish to attract?
- Do you want your visitors to learn anything about the company?
This discussion should provide me with a better understanding of who the intended target audience is.
After I have achieved my two main goals, I will try to gain as much information from the partners as possible in the remainder of the task. I have therefore decided to find out more about features that must be included, what information must be provided on the site, and what visitor information would they like to be collected. I also need to discuss with them plans for maintaining/updating the site once it is up and running.
Below are the questions that I will ask to gain a clearer understanding of all of the things just mentioned.
Features that must be included
- Are there any particular features that must be included?
- Where would you like the PSD logo to appear?
- Are any particular colours or fonts preferred?
The information that must be provided
- What pages must there be?
- Would you like a section of the front page to provide PSD news updates?
- Any ideas about how to make the site have more originality?
Visitor information to be collected
- Do you want to know how many people visit your web site?
Plans for maintaining/updating the site once it is up and running
- Is anyone of you familiar with Macromedia Contribute?
- Does anyone know basic HTML?
interview transcript
I then carried out the interview. Below is a transcript of what was recorded on the Dictaphone:
-------------------------------------- begin transcript --------------------------------------
Me: "Thanks for coming to this meeting."
Joshua: "No problem."
Me: "I would firstly like to clarify the purpose of the site."
Me: "Why do you require a web site?"
John: "We need to have a presence on the internet. A place where we can advertise our services and product range."
Ryan: "It is also a great way of keeping our associates up-to-date with any news."
Me: "What benefits do you hope will come from having a web site?"
Joshua: "We would like to see more interest from international investors, both public and private."
Me: "What type of feel would you like the web site to have?"
Ryan: "Professional yet personalised."
Me: "Now I want to focus on determining the web site's target audience."
Me: "Who is the web site for?"
John: "Anyone who wishes to find out more about who we are and what we are up to."
Joshua: "But mainly for organisations or persons interested in procuring our software."
Me: "What is the main type of visitor that you wish to attract?"
Ryan: "Organisations—educational, governmental and those from the private sector. Our aim is to design and create accessible and reliable solutions for groups of people rather than individuals."
Me: "Do you want your visitors to learn anything about the company?"
Joshua: "We would like the company to have a professional yet personal image. We want visitors to learn that we are a honest and trustworthy company."
Me: "I will now get slightly more specific."
Me: "Are there any particular features that must be included?"
John: "A crisp clean navigational system that is easy to access to all internet users."
Ryan: "The website must conform the W3C 'XHTML 1.0 Strict' specification and link to the appropriate validation services."
Me: "Where would you like the PSD logo to appear?"
Joshua: "At the top left-hand corner of the page."
Me: "Are any particular colours or fonts preferred?"
Joshua: "The colour scheme for our logo and all our publications is red, black and white. We want the website to reflect this."
Me: "What pages must there be?"
John: "Front page, contact us, product catalogue, site map and an about page."
Me: "Would you like a section of the front page to provide PSD news updates?"
Ryan: "Yes - we could call this: What's in the pipeline?"
Me: "Sounds great!"
Me: "Any ideas about how to make the site have more originality?"
John: "To make the site more personal, we could have a page on the website about us the partners - with our pics and maybe even a short biography."
Me: "Wow, never heard of that before - you guys really are creative!"
Me: "Do you want to know how many people visit your web site?"
Joshua: "Yes, but if it means we have to have one of those tacky hit counters then no!"
Me: "Is anyone of you familiar with Macromedia/Adobe Contribute?"
Ryan: "I have heard of it, but have never used it. I have some basic knowledge of using another of Macromedia/Adobe's products: Dreamweaver."
Me: "Does anyone know basic HTML?"
Ryan: "I am familiar with HTML but not competent."
Me: "Seeing as you have some background with HTML, I think it would be sensible for you to update the site."
Ryan: "Sounds reasonable."
Me: "Thank you all for your time, each of you has been truly helpful."
--------------------------------------- end transcript ---------------------------------------
analysis of interview
The interview has been very effective and informative. I have been able to gain a large amount of information allowing me to clearly identify most of the client's requirements. This exercise has been incredibly successful.
From the interview, I now know the following:
Web site's purpose:
- To give PSD a 'presence' on the internet
- Advertising products and services
- Publishing company news effectively
- To gain a more global customer base
- To give PSD a 'professional yet personal' company image
Target audience:
- Anybody interested in procuring PSD's software
- With special emphasis on large organisations
- International investors
Site's features:
- A crisp and clean navigational system
- Pages conform to web standards
- PSD logo is to be located in the top left corner of each page
- The site's colour scheme must be: Red, Black and White
The information to be published:
- There must be the following pages: Front page, contact us, product catalogue, site map and an about page
- News updates on Front page, section will be called: What's in the pipeline?
- Some information about the PSD partners themselves will be provided on a special page
Visitor information to be collected:
- Number of visitors but without the use of a tacky looking hit counter
Plans for maintaining/updating the site once it is up and running:
- Ryan will be updating the web site once it is up and running - he has basic knowledge of HTML and Macromedia products
I am very satisfied with my findings and believe that performing the interview first was the right choice.
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