In the following user scenarios, we will understand the workings of vizDoc & ArchChive & how Robert Gray, an archetype or persona, achieves his goals with using it. This persona is a character I have created, based on my meetings with & understanding of a good number of architects in New York: architects, like professionals in other areas, have not all embraced high technology & sophisticated softwares: a large section of them get by with basic tools, & are wary of both the costs as well as the time & effort required to master fancy 2D & 3D design & collaboration tools. ArchChive is aimed at this group of users.

User:

Name: Robert Gray

Age : 55

Profile:
Architect running his own firm in NYC.
Staff of 12.
Typically has 3-4 projects going on at the same time.

Tech-capabilities:
Not technologically-savvy.
Uses basic tools to get his job done: there is AutoCAD that his staff uses to make drawings;
in addition, like many other architects, he does not see the justification in buying fancy & expensive project management tools for architects: the costs are simply too high, not to mention the learning curve in starting to use these.

Work methods:
Each person stores their own files on their individual machines, & the common ones are shared via a local area network.
A project generally generates Powerpoint, Word, pdf files, & photographs, other than CAD-drawings.

The following scenarios help to understand the problems Robert faces with his existing work-methods; and how vizDoc & archChive help overcome those.

So let's go!!

User Scenarios

The links below will lead to an interactive demo. Please follow the the yellow navigation elements to take you into the demo. Remember, yellow is your beacon through all the following links, & at times, it will be files encircled in red. Click away & enjoy!

Scenario 1: Where did I save that file??

Several times during the day, Robert spends several minutes searching various folders for project files: did I save it here, is it on the network, what did I call it? At this moment he is trying to find a Word file sent to him couple of days back. Well, after about 50 mouse-clicks, aching hands, & waning patience, he still hasn't found it.

Robert logs in, & sees his default view.

Let's see how he finds it with vizDoc.

Scenario 2: Why haven't the files Sheila emailed still reached me?

Sheila from their LA office has emailed the Marriott Hotel drawings to Robert a couple of hours back. It's odd that he still hasn't received them. Should he ask her to mail them again? He then has to send some of these files on to the contractor at the site in upstate NY. Robert frowns, this is getting tedious!
With vizDoc, Sheila uploads the required files to the server, & ensures she has selected the 'Inform entire team' of the update. An email goes to each designated member of the team to check out the changed files. Robert receives this email, & looks up his files.

Scenario 3: Getting the new team members acquainted with the project files.

Two new people are joining the team, getting new people acquainted with a project is always a slow, drawn-out process.

With vizDoc, Robert simply adds these new users to his team; they now have access to all project files as well as all updates to them, as well as all notes attached to various documents. Voila, Jagat need not spend so much time with new recruits after all!!

Scenario 4: I'd really like to know how much time each team-member has spent on the project. How do I go about that?

He wished he could see a full picture of all the time & effort his team has put into each project. Right now, it is impossible with the scattered approach to documents that they follow: a person working on any document saves it only on her machine; sending it for approval or review only as & when required. If these were all in one place, not only would one have a better idea of the time spent, but it would also then be possible to reuse some of these documents in other projects as appropriate. Having documents in one central space also takes care of situations such as employee turnover, theft & fire.

vizDoc for reporting needs.