Boards and Charts

Objective

Brainstorming, concept maps, and mind maps.
Idea boards, mood boards, and storyboards.
Sketches, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes.
Gantt charts, PERT charts, and RACI matrices.

Boards

“Computer science education cannot make anybody an expert programmer any more than studying brushes and pigment can make somebody an expert painter.” —Eric Raymond

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a group or individual creative process aimed at generating ideas and solutions for various problems or projects. It involves openly discussing and proposing numerous ideas without immediate judgment of their feasibility. This technique encourages free thinking, fostering an environment where all contributions are valued. Brainstorming can be facilitated through structured methods like the Six Thinking Hats (opens in a new tab) or less formal settings, depending on the context and participants involved.

Concept Maps

Concept maps are visual diagrams used to organize and represent knowledge about a particular subject or topic. They consist of nodes (concepts) connected by links (relationships), forming a web-like structure that illustrates how different ideas are interconnected. Concept maps help in identifying gaps in understanding, establishing relationships between concepts, and facilitating the learning process by making complex information more accessible.

Mind Maps

Mind maps are visual tools used to brainstorm, organize, and outline ideas. They typically start with a central theme from which branches extend in various directions representing related concepts or subtopics. Each branch can further split into smaller branches, creating a hierarchical structure that enhances understanding and recall of complex information. Mind maps use colors, images, and keywords to make the representation more engaging and easier to understand.

Exercise 1

Create a mind map of the system using a tool of your choice.

Idea Boards

Idea boards are physical or digital spaces where individuals or teams collect and organize various elements related to a project or idea. These elements can include images, text snippets, notes, sketches, and other media that inspire or inform the development of new ideas. Idea boards serve as visual references, helping to keep track of progress and aligning team members’ thoughts and actions. They are particularly useful in creative processes like design, marketing, and product development.

Mood Boards

Mood boards are creative tools used in design and planning processes to evoke a certain atmosphere, style, or theme. They typically include various elements such as images, text samples, fabrics, colors, textures, and other materials that collectively represent the desired aesthetic or mood for a project. Mood boards help stakeholders visualize and communicate the intended look and feel of a product, environment, or design concept.

Storyboards

Storyboards are visual representations used to plan out sequences in films, animations, video games, and other media. They consist of illustrated panels showing each scene or shot, along with accompanying text that describes actions, dialogue, or camera directions. Storyboards help in planning the flow of a narrative, ensuring coherence and pacing, and facilitating communication among team members about visual storytelling elements.

Exercise 2

Create a storyboard for a specific use case of the system using a tool of your choice.

Sketches

“People are part of the system. The design should match the user’s experience, expectations, and mental models.” —Frans Kaashoek

Sketches are rough, initial visual representations of an interface or design concept. They serve as a starting point for ideation and are often hand-drawn or created using simple digital tools like pencil-and-paper sketches. These early-stage drawings help designers explore different ideas without being constrained by specific design details. Sketches allow for quick iterations and can be shared with stakeholders to gather feedback before moving on to more detailed designs.

Wireframes

Wireframes are more structured than sketches, providing a visual outline of the content hierarchy and layout of a web or app interface. They typically focus on functionality and user flow rather than aesthetics. Wireframes are created using simple shapes and placeholders for text and images, aiming to convey how different elements will be arranged without getting into the specifics of design such as colors or fonts. These tools help in planning the overall structure and navigation of a product.

Mockups

Mockups take wireframes one step further by incorporating visual design elements like color schemes, typography, and imagery. They provide a more realistic preview of what the final product might look like to end-users. Mockups are usually created using dedicated software tools that allow for precise placement and styling of interface elements. These can be static images or interactive prototypes depending on their intended use. Mockups help stakeholders understand how the design will appear in various contexts, such as different screen sizes or devices.

Prototypes

Prototypes represent a fully functional version of an interface, allowing users to interact with it and test its usability. Unlike mockups, which are typically static, prototypes can include interactive elements that simulate user actions, for example, clicking buttons, navigating through screens, and other actions. They can be created in various ways, from simple clickable PDFs to complex digital prototypes using professional tools. Prototypes help identify usability issues and provide a way for designers and developers to validate the functionality of an interface before full-scale implementation.

Charts

“A program is never less than 90% complete, and never more than 95% complete.” —Terry Baker

Gantt

Gantt charts are widely used project management tools that visualize scheduled tasks over time. Introduced by Henry Gantt in 1910, these charts provide a clear picture of what needs to be done and when it should be completed. Each task is represented as a bar on the chart, with its length proportional to the duration of the work. Gantt charts help project managers track progress, identify potential bottlenecks, and plan for resource allocation. They are particularly useful in highlighting dependencies between tasks and ensuring that all activities align with the overall timeline.

Exercise 3

Create a Gantt chart of the system using a tool of your choice.

PERT

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) charts are another essential tool in project management, primarily used to estimate the time required to complete a project. Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1950s for the Polaris missile program, PERT charts focus on identifying critical paths—sequences of tasks that must be completed on time to meet the project deadline. These charts consist of nodes representing milestones and arrows indicating task dependencies. The expected completion times are calculated using a weighted average based on optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic estimates. This approach helps in managing uncertainties and providing more accurate project timelines.

Exercise 4

Create a PERT chart of the project using a tool of your choice.

RACI

RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrices are used to clarify roles and responsibilities within a project team. Each stakeholder is assigned one of four roles: Responsible for carrying out the work, Accountable for ensuring that it gets done, Consulted for providing input or information, and Informed for being updated on progress without necessarily contributing directly. By clearly defining these roles at the outset, RACI matrices help prevent conflicts and ensure everyone knows their part in achieving project objectives. This tool is particularly effective in large-scale projects with multiple stakeholders to maintain transparency and accountability throughout the process.

These tools—Gantt charts, PERT charts, and RACI matrices—are indispensable in modern project management, each serving a unique purpose to optimize planning, execution, and communication within teams.

More tools and details in CMPS 307: Introduction to Project Management and Entrepreneurship.