VECTOR CONSULTING
VECTOR CONSULTING
Designing multi-year project planner with Vector Pro
Designing a multi-year
project planner with
Vector Pro
EXPANDED TASK NETWORK
PRODUCT DESIGN & STRATEGY
The concept of a network of tasks representing a full project with an expandable timeline to support it. The network is made of tasks that branch out
in time.
The concept of a network of tasks representing a full project with an expandable timeline to support it. The network is made of tasks that branch out in time.
The concept of a network of tasks representing a full project with an expandable timeline to support it. The network is made of tasks that branch out in time.
BACKGROUND
Vector Consulting is a consulting giant from India. They provide management consulting services, helping their clients solve chronic problems in areas like supply chain, operations, sales, new product development, and customer management.
The concept of a network of tasks representing a full project with an expandable timeline to support it. The network is made of tasks that branch out in time.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The ask was for conceptualize and design interfaces for a completely new paradigm for the experience of planning projects, managing them, and simultaneously allowing clients to view and monitor their projects better.
The ask was for conceptualize and design interfaces for a completely new paradigm for the experience of planning projects, managing them, and simultaneously allowing clients to view and monitor their projects better.
The ask was for conceptualize and design interfaces for a completely new paradigm for the experience of planning projects, managing them, and simultaneously allowing clients to view and monitor their projects better.
INFINITY CANVS
Infinite canvas with a DAG
and an expandable timeline.
Infinite canvas with a
DAG and an expandable timeline.
Infinite canvas with a DAG
and an expandable timeline.
EXPANDED TASK NETWORK
The concept of a network of tasks representing a full project with an expandable timeline to support it. The network is made of tasks that branch out
in time.
The concept of a network of tasks representing a full project with an expandable timeline to support it. The network is made of tasks that branch out in time.
The concept of a network of tasks representing a full project with an expandable timeline to support it. The network is made of tasks that branch out in time.
GRAPHICAL VIEW
The purpose of the network view was to give a universal graphical view of any project to any client at any point in time.
NETWORK VIEW
Tasks are linked to
form dependency chains.
Tasks are linked to form dependency chains.
Tasks are linked to
form dependency chains.
All tasks were connected to their successors and predecessors forming dependency chains and resulting the critical chain that stayed highlighted while viewing the network.
GRAPH VIEW
Using the graph view for
multi year projects.
Using the graph view for
multi year projects.
Using the graph view for
multi year projects.
MULTI YEAR PROJECTS
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe.
INCREASING COMPLEXITY
Hence a tactical abstraction of information was a key motivator behind the interface. Depending on the zoom you had on the network, you’d see tasks at different level of detail.
DATA MADE ACCESSIBLE
Information at your fingertips
while navigating the graph.
Information at your fingertips
while navigating the graph.
Information at your fingertips
while navigating the graph.
[01]
On hover - task details
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
[02]
Traversal & navigation
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
[03]
Action bar & gizmos
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
[04]
On click - full task views
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
Multi year projects spanning hundreds of people and dozens of teams become increasingly complex to observe. Hence a tactical abstraction of information.
STATUS MONITOR
To monitor the overall health of the project we designed a
heads up display that projected multiple critical highlights of the project in one interactive display unit.
To monitor the overall health of the project we designed a heads up display that projected multiple critical highlights of the project in one interactive display unit.
DBDBDB
TIME COMPLEXITY SIMPLIFIED
Balancing short and long task by overcoming
timescale challenges in task networks.
Balancing short and long task by overcoming timescale challenges in task networks.
Balancing short and long task by
overcoming timescale challenges in task networks.
PROBLEM FACING
A major challenge in our zoom based interactivity, as longer tasks would make it extremely difficult to move through the network if you wanter shorter tasks to be visible on a common timescale.
AVG. TASK DURATION
Min ----- a few days ( 3 - 4d )
Max ----- a few quaters ( 40q /10y )
PROBLEM FACING
A major challenge in our zoom based interactivity, as longer tasks would make it extremely difficult to move through the network if you wanter shorter tasks to be visible on a common timescale.
AVG. TASK DURATION
Min ----- a few days ( 3 - 4d )
Max ----- a few quaters ( 40q /10y )
PROBLEM FACING
A major challenge in our zoom based interactivity, as longer tasks would make it extremely difficult to move through the network if you wanter shorter tasks to be visible on a common timescale.
AVG. TASK DURATION
Min ----- a few days ( 3 - 4d )
Max ----- a few quaters ( 40q /10y )
SOLUTION
We solved this by simply switching to a Normalized Log Scale, constrained by min max values for the task length on the network.
SOLUTION
We solved this by simply switching to a Normalized Log Scale, constrained by min max values for the task length on the network.
BEYOND THE GRAPH
Naturally, to solve this Vector wanted the spreadsheet exercise to be moved over to the product so they could quickly refresh the network. This was however not going to solve the problem of observing projection deltas as the inputs changed.
Naturally, to solve this Vector wanted the spreadsheet exercise to be moved over to the product so they could quickly refresh the network. This was however not going to solve the problem of observing projection deltas as the inputs changed.
Naturally, to solve this Vector wanted the spreadsheet exercise to be moved over to the product so they could quickly refresh the network. This was however not going to solve the problem of observing projection deltas as the inputs changed.
DATA + NETWORK
Designing
split view projects
Designing split view projects
PROBLEM FACING
Project planning took weeks, requiring Excel sheets in a fixed template that were then visualised as identical tasks in Vector’s software. Any correction meant re-uploading and rebuilding the entire network from scratch.
SOLUTION
We designed a split build + graph view. Consultants could build the task network on one side while viewing it update in real time on the other, with changes instantly reflected in critical chain links, projections, improvements, and potential risks.
PROBLEM FACING
Project planning took weeks, requiring Excel sheets in a fixed template that were then visualised as identical tasks in Vector’s software. Any correction meant re-uploading and rebuilding the entire network from scratch.
SOLUTION
We designed a split build + graph view. Consultants could build the task network on one side while viewing it update in real time on the other, with changes instantly reflected in critical chain links, projections, improvements, and potential risks.
PROBLEM FACING
Project planning took weeks, requiring Excel sheets in a fixed template that were then visualised as identical tasks in Vector’s software. Any correction meant re-uploading and rebuilding the entire network from scratch.
SOLUTION
We designed a split build + graph view. Consultants could build the task network on one side while viewing it update in real time on the other, with changes instantly reflected in critical chain links, projections, improvements, and potential risks.
