Hogwash

Is the word "holistic" hippie-dippy? Some may say so, (ahem, you know who you are…) I'd say no, not when it comes to building a web presence. The holistic approach to a web project refers to taking a closer look at the past, present and the future. 

Lessons learned should never be undervalued. Although projects may be different, they all contain similar components and attributes.  Looking at each challenge and mistake may be painful; however, practical experience cannot be born from anything else.

Ready to start a project? Often a project involves a slew of stakeholders. Before sitting down with the development team, form a steering committee and do your homework. Start a list identifying goals and objectives. This lays the groundwork for the rest of the project. Begin by assessing the needs of your organization. Look at what is currently lacking and what functionalities should be improved. Most importantly, how can new functionalities or a complete overhaul improve your overall business process and performance?

While evaluating organizational needs, pie in the sky ideas are born and often shut down by budget restrictions. Don't be discouraged, hold on to them and share them with the development team. Believe it or not, we actually thrive on giving you what you really want… even with budget constraints. Never underestimate the power of phased rollouts. Foundations can be built and ready for future plug-ins during the initial release, this cuts down costs that will make your pie in the sky a reality, cheaper!

To sum up, the holistic approach isn't hippie-dippy, it's just good common sense. Don't be afraid to look at, and think about everything.