Read: Managing Projects More Efficiently

If you're an Interactive Producer take the time to download the latest Flash & Flex Developer Magazine (Free on supply of your email). No, I'm not asking you to brush up on your ActionScript skills, because in this PDF is a useful nugget of an article called "Managing Projects More Efficiently".

It's a refreshing take on how Interactive Project Management is really happening these days. Not for the websites of '98, but for digital channels of today: the microsites, games and social platforms we now interact with. And Troy highlights some of the tools that are now available to help do your job, including a comprehensive Basecamp step-through.

Here's a couple of takeaways:

"Typically about 80% of projects do not meet their deadlines and that cuts into profit."

While it's usually considered around 70% of projects don't deliver on time, on budget, I've never seen 80% published before. Remember this one. And feel comfortable you're not the only one.

All the project management tools Troy lists are available, in the cloud, for a monthly fee. There should be no barrier to you trialling services such as Basecamp, Beanstalk, Dropbox and Done.Done and seeing what works for you.

Approval process: No room for grey.

Read the section on Change Orders, then read it again. Troy's process nails what is a common mistake with inexperienced PM's. Not signposting when something is approved allows a client free reign to keep adjusting to their hearts delight.. at the expense of your time and budget. Make sure there is no room for misinterpretation here, use Troy's note to "please post back the words APPROVED, APPROVED with changes (post the changes) or NOT APPROVED (post information)". ALL CAPS, even better.

Note, interestingly he calls Contractor Agreements what I've always known as Master Services Agreements, but they achieve the same. He's also set on fixed 2 week period Sprints, which I've found often require more flexibility in duration depending on what stage you're at in the game and the objectives of the Sprint.

Project Management Process: The Subway Way

There are now more Subway stores than McDonalds in the US. More than 34,000 Subway stores in 95 countries worldwide. They can open almost anywhere, with 900 Subways in Wal-Mart stores and 200 in military bases. From Ireland to Australia, you know what you get what you walk into a Subway store. They've perfected the franchise. A profitable business model, duplicated easily.

Today I was speaking to my account team on the direction of project management going forward. The need to define and refine project planning process, guidelines, tools and templates. From the project planning sheets, Basecamp templates, project folders, Scope of Work documents, to the communication tools. Get them right for the account, get them consistent. Efficient. Perfect them. Then duplicate them.

Like any great franchise, take what works, package it up and duplicate it across the account. That way any producer can pick it up. Any project size can adapt to it. And every client will know what to expect when they work with your team. Build project management process like you're the Subway of franchises.

Interactive Producer Jobs: So hot right now

The market for Interactive Producers is hot. And if you're willing to travel a little, the opportunity to work for the best brands in the business has never been better. Not convinced? Here's a selection of killer jobs for killer brands:

The Mill

Interactive Producer | New York

These guys are the hottest visual effects studio. Work with the best in the business producing Gaming, TV, Film and VFX. Their reel says it all:

Google Creative Labs

Creative Producer | New York office

The work from the Google Creative Labs team is impressing me more and more. As is their strategy to partner with some of the best studios for UX and Design to produce their work. I'm also biased, as my previous Program Director at Razorfish, Angela, has now joined them as an Executive Producer. Learn from one of the best.

Martin Agency

Digital Producer

If you're willing to make it to Richmond, VA, the opportunity to work for the Adweek top agency for 2010 awaits. As the ad says.. Big brand experience.

And that's not all..

Last but not least, there's the opportunity to work with me as a Producer on one of the world's biggest brands, here at the Razorfish NYC office. Get to it.

Add R/GA, fast-moving Huge (who have hired some of the best in design & dev recently) and on the client side, gaming giant EA, and you have a buffet of the best.

If you're an Interactive Producer with the chops to get things done, there's no reason not to be happy in your role, producing great work for great brands.

News: 37signals release Basecamp Mobile

Today 37 signals launch Basecamp Mobile. A mobile-optimized version of their project management tool for viewing in and webkit-enabled browser. This covers your iPhones (iOS4+) to your Androids (2.1+) and the latest Blackberry's (6+). As usual user experience wins for the mobile optimized views, and they've managed to maintain a familiarity with their desktop UIs, which the 3rd party paid apps often struggle to do. A long overdue win for Basecamp users.

And in one fell swoop they've killed the business model for the eleven Mobile App Developers on their Extras page that relied on the previously poor mobile browser user experience to sell their apps. Quiet day around the Summit office.