Overview

• The process of making multimedia.

• Scheduling.
• Estimating.
• RFPs and bid proposals.
 The Process of Making
Multimedia
• Idea analysis.
• Pre-testing.
• Task planning.
• Development.
• Delivery.
 Idea Analysis
• Before beginning a multimedia project, it is
necessary to determine its scope and
content.
• Balance is the key principle in idea
analysis.
• The aim is to generate a plan of action that
will become the road map for production.
 Idea Analysis
• It is necessary to continually weigh the
purpose or goal against the feasibility and
the cost of production and delivery.
• This can be done dynamically by adding
elements to or subtracting elements from a
project.
 Idea Analysis
• Additive process involves starting with
minimal capabilities and gradually adding
elements.
• Subtractive process involves discarding
unnecessary elements from a fully
developed project.
 Idea Analysis
Idea analysis involves finding answers to questions
like:
– Who is the intended audience? What are their needs?
– What multimedia elements will best deliver the
message?
– What hardware, software, and storage capacity would
be required?
– How much time, effort, and money would be needed?
– How will the final product be distributed?
 Idea Analysis
Project management software includes:
– Microsoft Project.
– Designer's Edge.
– Screenplay System's Screenwriter and
StoryView.
– Outlining programs.
– Spreadsheets.
 Idea Analysis
• CPM - Project management software typically
provides Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling
functions to calculate the total duration of a
project based upon each identified task, showing
prerequisites.
• PERT - Program Evaluation Review Technique
(PERT) charts provide graphic representations of
task relationships.
• Gantt charts - depict all the tasks along a
timeline.
 Pre-Testing
• Involves defining project goals in fine
detail and spelling out what it will take in
terms of skills, content, and money to
meet these goals.
• Work up a prototype of the project on
paper to help you relate your ideas to the
real world.
 Task Planning
Task planning involves:
– Designing the instructional framework.
– Holding creative idea sessions.
– Determining the delivery platform and
authoring platform.
– Assembling the team.
– Building a prototype, producing audio and
video, testing the functionality, and delivering
the final product.
 Development
Prototype development:
– Also known as a proof-of-concept or feasibility
study.
– Involves testing of the initial implementation of
ideas, building mock-up interfaces, and exercising
the hardware platform.
– Trial calculations are possible after prototyping.
– A written report and an analysis of budgets allow
the client some flexibility and also provide a reality
check for developers.
 Development
• Alpha development – At this stage, the
investment of effort increases and
becomes more focused. More people get
involved.
• Beta development – At this stage, most of
the features of a project are functional.
Testing is done by a wider arena of
testers.
 Delivery
• In the delivery stage, the project is said to
be "going gold.”
• The concerns shift towards the scalability
of the project in the marketplace.
 Scheduling
• Milestones are decided at this stage.

• The time required for each deliverable, that is the work products

delivered to the client, is estimated and allocated.

• Scheduling is difficult for multimedia projects because multimedia

creation is basically artistic trial and error.

• Scheduling is also difficult because computer hardware and

software technology are in constant flux.

 Scheduling
• At this stage, clients need to approve or
sign off on the work created.
• Any revisions of previously approved
material would require a change order.
 Scheduling
• A change order stipulates that the
additional cost of revising previously
approved material should be borne by the
client.
• When negotiating with a client, limit the
number of revisions allowed.
 Estimating
• Cost estimation is done by analyzing the
tasks involved in a project and the people
who build it.
• The hidden costs of administration and
management are also included in the cost
estimates.
• A contingency rate of 10 to 15 percent of the
total cost should be added to the estimated
costs.
 Estimating
• Time, money, and people are the three
elements that can vary in project
estimates.
• The time at which payments are to be
made is determined and are usually made
in three stages.
 Estimating
• The billing rate should be equal to the total cost plus a reasonable

profit margin.

• Typical billing rates for multimedia projects range from $60 to $150

an hour.

• Lower rates do not necessarily imply poor quality of work; they

could rather mean lower overheads.

• The demand-supply mechanisms determine the prices.

 Estimating
• Contractors and consultants can be hired,
but they should be billed at a lower rate.
• Ensure that contractors perform the
majority of their work off-site and use their
own equipment to avoid classifying them
as employees.
 Estimating
The categories of expenses incurred for
producing multimedia are:
• Project development costs.
• Production costs.
• Testing costs.
• Distribution costs.
 Project Development Costs
These include:
– Salaries.
– Client meetings.
– Acquisition of content.
– Communication.
 Project Development Costs
These include (continued):
– Travel.
– Research.
– Proposal and contract prep.
– Overheads.
 Production Costs
Production costs can further be classified as:

– Management costs.

– Content acquisition costs.

– Content creation costs.

– Graphics production costs.

– Audio production costs.

– Video production costs.

– Authoring costs.
 Testing Costs
These include:

– Salaries.

– Facility rental.

– Printing costs.

– Food and incentives.

– Coop fees (payment for participation).

– Editing.

– Beta program.
 Distribution Costs
These include:

– Salaries

– Documentation

– Packaging

– Manufacturing

– Marketing

– Advertising

– Shipping
 Estimating
Hardware:
– Hardware is the most common limiting factor for
realizing a multimedia idea.
– List the hardware capabilities of the end-user's
platform.
– Examine the cost of enhancing the delivery
platform.
– The most common delivery platforms require a
monitor resolution of 800X600 pixels and at least
16- bit color depth.
 RFPs and Bid Proposals
Request for Proposals (RFPs):
– These are formal and detailed documents
from large corporations who are "outsourcing"
their multimedia development work.
– They provide information about the scope of
work and the bidding process.
– They are generally not very detailed and
specific.
 RFPs and Bid Proposals
Bid proposals:
– Should contain an executive summary or an
overview.
– The backbone of the proposal is the estimate
and project plan, which describes the scope
of the work.
– The cost estimates for each phase or
deliverable milestone and the payment
schedules should also be included.
 RFPs and Bid Proposals
Bid proposals (continued):
– Should contain the graphic and interactive
goals of the project.
– Prepare a brief synopsis if a project is
complicated.
– Lists the terms and conditions of the contract.
 RFPs and Bid Proposals
Bid proposals (continued):
– The terms of a contract should include a
description of the billing rates, invoicing
policy, third-party licensing fees, and a
disclaimer for liability and damages.
– Design the proposal according to a client's
expectations.
– A proposal should appear plain and simple,
yet businesslike.
 RFPs and Bid Proposals
Bid proposals (continued):
– A table of contents or an index is a
straightforward way to present the elements of
a proposal in condensed overview.
– Need analysis and description describes the
reasons the project is being put forward.
– It is necessary to describe the target audience
and the target platform.
 RFPs and Bid Proposals

Bid proposals (continued):

– Creative strategy – This section describes the look and feel of a

project. This is useful if the reviewing executives were not

present for the preliminary discussions.

– Project implementation – This section contains a detailed

calendar, PERT and Gantt charts, and lists of specific tasks with

associated completion dates, deliverables, and work hours.

 Summary
• Before beginning a project, determine its
scope and content.
• The process of making multimedia involves
idea analysis, pre-testing, task planning,
development, and delivery.
• Costs related to multimedia creation are
categorized as project development costs,
production costs, testing costs, and
distribution costs.