Planning is the stage of a Web project where you lay the foundations of a successful Web site. Before planning begins, it is important to have a clear idea of the:

• project size;
• corporate-level requirements;
• people and skills to be involved; and
• opportunities to leverage corporate resources.

Planning a Web site project means that you:

• define the purpose and scope of a Web site;
• identify and describe its target audience;
• identify the necessary human and financial resources for implementation;

Planning aims to document the key decisions you and your team will make about:

• what you want to do and why;
• about what;
• with what resources; and
• whom you need to consult with.

Successful planning will also help you and your team avoid the risk of your project being downsized, not completed or running into unexpected costs and work when you are approaching the launch deadline.

Planning is usually a task for the Web site sponsor and/or the Web site manager, however, this can vary depending on the size of the project. For smaller sites, a technical officer or the Webmaster may deal with the planning stage, while for larger projects, a steering committee may be established to plan the strategy and resources.