1
RATE-IT! REVIEW ENGINE
Green Team
CS 410
Final Presentation
Team Organization
2
Nathan DeWitt
Project Manager
Hardware Specialist
Dr. Michael Nelson
Digital Archive
Specialist
Alan Grimes
Researcher
Patrick Markham
SBIR Specialist
Hardware Specialist
Mark Phelps
Software Specialist
Website Specialist
Mark Polansky
Marketing Specialist
Financial Specialist
Presentation Outline
3
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Problem/Solution Introduction
Process Description
Solution Characteristics
Market Analysis
Milestones
Deliverables
Budgets
Risk Assessment
Return On Investment
Conclusion
4
The Problem
Where do you find the best movie theater?
5
The Problem
Where do you get the best bread?
6
The Problem
Where do you find the best pet salon?
Problem Statement
7
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Massive amount of information in form of user
experiences; no good mechanism to extract
information.
Current service industry review websites do not
provide a mechanism for reviews to be filtered
based on user preference.
The Solution
8

Rate-It! Review Engine
 Packaged
Software Component
 Provides Review Functionality for Service Industry
Websites
 Intelligently Recommends Services
 Similar
to Flycasting – Creating Playlists in Realtime Based
on User Preference
Goal
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Provide a review engine for website creators to
add to their service industry review websites.
Provide a mechanism for users to efficiently search
through user experiences for relevant information.
Objectives
10
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Allow Services and Reviews to be Rated
Allow Comments on Reviews
Recommend Compatible Services
 Stated
Preferences
 Ratings History
 Similar Users

License Engine for Rapid Website Development
Major Features
11
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One-Click Up/Down Voting for Reviews
Recommends Services to Registered Users
User Registration to Write/Rate Reviews
No Registration to Read Reviews
Templating System for Different Service Industries
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Service Profile
Users will see the information about the service, and will be able to read and add
reviews.
This is fake information intended to demonstrate a concept. The opinions represented here are not based on real events, and do not
express the views of Old Dominion University or The Cheesecake Factory.
13
User Preferences
Users will be able to sort their preferences to seed the engine for intelligent
recommendations.
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Major Functional Component Diagram
15
Solution Components
16
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Rate-It! Engine Installer
 Runs
on Specified Web server/Database
 Customizable to Match Look and Feel of Current
Website
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Support Contract
Management Plan
17
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Achieving the Objectives
Management Plan
Development Plan
Evaluation Plan
Marketing Plan
Scheduling Plan
Financial Plan
Risk Management Plan
Communications
18
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Group Meetings
 Sun
7:00 pm, Mon 6:00 pm, Wed 7:00 pm
 Yahoo! Messenger Voice Conference

Team Website on Google Groups
 Collaboration
Tools
 Document Uploads
 Mailing List

Email
Tools
19
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Old Dominion
University
 Computer
Labs
 Meeting Rooms

Project Management
Software
 Microsoft
Project 2007
Development Plan
20
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User Interface
 User
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Account Manager
Ratings Engine
Data Access Layer
Database Design
Installer
Evaluation Plan
21
Time
Phase 0
• SBIR Proposal
• Proposal
Presentation
• Product Website
• Deliverables Within Project Plan
Timeframe
Cost
• Within 5% of Budget
Phase 1
• Rate-It Engine
Development
• Proof of Concept
Website
Scope
Phases 2 & 3
• Working
Prototype
• Beta Testing
• Product Rollout
• Each Deliverable Conforms to
Requirements
Quality
• Product Passes User Acceptance
Tests, Quality Assurance Tests
Milestones
22
Phase
0
Phase
1
Phase
2
Phase
3
Idea
Development
Prototype
Design
Product Design
Marketing Plan
Development
Component
Development
Project Website
Development
Prototype
Implementation
Component
Testing
Product Release
Integration
Testing
Funding Secured
Customer
Demonstration
User Acceptance
Testing
Initial Sales
Marketing Plan
23
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Target Market
Competition Matrix
Customer Benefits
Beta Testing
Advertising Strategy
Target Market
24
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Current Service Industry Review Sites
 Poor
Usability on Current Sites
 Sites Lack Advanced Features
Competition Matrix
25
Benefits
26

Established Websites
 Improves
End User Experience
 Increased User Retention
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New Websites
 Provides
Fast Time-To-Market
 Levels Playing Field
 Grows User Base
Beta Testing
27
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Hallway Usability Testing
Automated Testing
Dogfooding
Targeted End User Testing
Advertising Strategy
28
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Viral/Word of Mouth
 Software
Review Sites
 Reviews in Blogs

Targeted Ads
 Google
Adsense
 Google Adwords
Scheduling Plan
29
Phase 0
Phase 1
Phase 2
4 Months
4 Months
16
Months
Jan 2007
– Apr
2007
Sept
2007 –
Dec 2007
Jan 2008
– Apr
2009
Phase 3
(Production
& Out Years)
May
2009
and
Beyond
Phase 0: Organization
30
Phase 0: Deliverables
31
Feasibility Presentation
 Milestones Presentation
 Acceptance Presentation
 SBIR Grant Proposal
 Project Website

Phase 1: Organization
32
Phase 1: Deliverables
33
Documentation
 Team Assembly
 Prototype Design
 Project Website
 Lab Prototype
 SBIR Proposal (Phase II)
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Phase 1: Resources
34
Hard Resources
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Web Server
Workstations
Network Cables
Router
Broadband Internet
Personnel Resources
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Project Manager
Accounting Director
Webmaster
Technical Director
Risk Director
Hardware Engineer
Software Engineer
Network Engineer
Phase 1: Personnel Budget
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Title
Salary
Hourly Rate
Time
Total
Project Manager
$41,600
$20.00
20%
$8,320
Accounting Director
$31,200
$15.00
5%
$1,560
Webmaster
$31,200
$15.00
50%
$15,600
Technical Director
$31,200
$15.00
25%
$7,800
Risk Director
$31,200
$15.00
5%
$1,560
Hardware Engineer
$20,800
$10.00
20%
$4,160
Software Engineer
$20,800
$10.00
50%
$10,400
Network Engineer
$20,800
$10.00
25%
$5,200
Overhead
40%
Total Personnel
$76,440
Phase 1: Hardware & Total Budget
36
Resources
Quantity
Cost Per Unit
Total
Web Server
1
$1,656
$1,656
Workstations
5
$898
$4,490
Network Cables
10
$20
$200
Network Router
1
$110
$110
Broadband Internet
6
$75
$450
Total
$6,906
Item
Total
Personnel Budget
$76,440
Hardware Budget
$6,906
$83,346
Phase 2: Organization
37
Phase 2: Deliverables
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Management Plan
 Product Design Specifications
 Testing/Evaluation Plan
 Working Production Model
 Marketing Plan/Contracts
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Phase 2: Resources
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Hard Resources
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Servers
Operating Systems
Workstations
Development
Environments
Database Engine
Personnel Resources
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Project Manager
Sales & Marketing Dir
Accounting Director
Webmaster
Technical Director
Risk Director
Hardware Engineer
Software Engineer
Network Engineer
Web Designer
Technical Writer
Phase 2: Personnel Budget
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Title
Salary
Project Manager
$74,008
$35.58
50%
$37,004
Sales & Marketing Director
$140,342
$67.47
10%
$14,034
Accounting Director
$136,875
$65.81
25%
$34,219
$76,239
$36.65
50%
$38,120
Technical Director
$152,462
$73.30
25%
$38,116
Risk Director
$117,326
$56.41
25%
$29,332
Hardware Engineer
$53,263
$25.61
25%
$13,316
Software Engineer
$57,508
$27.65
25%
$14,377
Network Engineer
$64,018
$30.78
25%
$16,005
Web Designer
$53,645
$25.79
25%
$13,411
Technical Writer
$45,700
$21.97
10%
$4,570
Overhead
40%
Personnel Total
$353,506
Webmaster
Hourly Rate
Time
Total
Phase 2: Hardware & Total Budget
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Resources
Product
Servers
Dell PowerEdge SC440
4
$1,656
$6,624
Workstations
Dell Dimension E520
12
$898
$10,776
Networking
Router, Cables
-
$1962
$1962
Internet
Business Broadband Connection
12
$100
$1200
Total
$20,562
Item
Qty
Cost Per Unit
Total
Total
Resource Budget
$20,562
Personnel Budget
$353,506
Grand Total
$374,068
Phase 3: Organization
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Project
Manager
Sales &
Marketing
Director
Accounting
Director
Webmaster
Technical
Director
Hardware
Engineer
Software
Engineer
Network
Engineer
Web Designer
Technical
Writer
Customer
Service
Supervisor
Customer
Representative
Executive
Assistant
Accounting
Clerk
Phase 3: Deliverables
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Customer Acceptance/Requirements
 Sales Contracts
 Maintenance/Support Plan
 Product Documentation
 Product Release
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Phase 3: Resources
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Hard Resources
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Phase 2 Resources
Additional
Workstations
Additional Network
Cables
Personnel Resources
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Phase 2 Resources
Customer Service
Supervisor
Customer Service
Representative
Executive Assistant
Accounting Clerk
Phase 3: Personnel Budget
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Title
Project Manager
Salary
Overhead
Hours
Total
$74,008
$35.58
50%
$37,004
Sales & Marketing Director
$140,342
$67.47
50%
$70,171
Accounting Director
$136,875
$65.81
25%
$34,219
$76,239
$36.65
25%
$19,060
$152,462
$73.30
25%
$38,116
Hardware Engineer
$53,263
$25.61
25%
$13,316
Software Engineer
$57,508
$27.65
50%
$28,754
Network Engineer
$64,018
$30.78
25%
$16,005
Web Designer
$53,645
$25.79
50%
$26,823
Technical Writer
$45,700
$21.97
20%
$9,140
Webmaster
Technical Director
Phase 3: Personnel Budget
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Customer Service Supervisor
$53,047
$25.50
100%
$53,047
Customer Representative
$33,047
$15.89
100%
$33,047
Executive Assistant
$48,690
$23.41
100%
$48,690
Accounting Clerk
$31,192
$15.00
50%
$15,596
Overhead
40%
Total
$620,183
Phase 3: Hardware & Total Budget
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Resources
Product
Workstations
Dell Dimension E520
5
$898
$4,490
Networking
Cables
25
$20
$500
Total
$4,990
Item
Qty
Cost Per Unit
Total
Total
Resource Budget
$4,990
Personnel Budget
$620,183
Grand Total
$625,173
Financial Plan
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
Funding the Project
 Department
 SBIR
of Commerce
Program
 Phase 1 Funding: $98,757
 Phase 2 Funding: $650,982
ROI & Breakeven Analysis
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Customer Cost
50
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Licensing Fee
 $749
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– Per CPU
Annual Support Contract
 $99
– Per CPU
Risks
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Item
Risk
Probability
Impact
A
No Customers
2
5
B
Overwhelming Customer Participation
3
4
C
Biased Users Flood Engine with Overly
Positive/Negative Reviews
2
4
D
Overwhelming Customer Support Requests
2
3
E
Failing to Keep on Schedule
2
4
F
Competitors Copy Engine Functionality
3
4
G
Customers Require Many Specific Design Templates
4
3
Risk Matrix
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Mitigations
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A. No
Customers
B.
Overwhelming
Participation
• Proper Marketing
• Excellent Communication
• Hire Employees
• Effective Training
• Administrator Moderation
C. Biased Users
• IP Address Logging
Mitigations
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D. Overwhelming
Support Requests
E. Schedule Slip
F. Copycat
Competitors
G. Template
Demand Overload
• Additional Support Personnel
• Effective Training
• Project Management Tools
• Bi-weekly Status Meetings
• Innovative Software Developers
• Vigilant Defense of Copyrights
• Excellent Marketing Extolling Virtues
• Develop Templates with Duplication in Mind
• Adjust Pricing to Reflect Demand
• Creation of “Master Templates” for Speed in Deployment
Conclusion
55

Rate It! Review Engine will enable website owners to
quickly put in place a functional reviewing
mechanism that encourages user participation and
intelligently steers users towards compatible
services.
References
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http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/hauver01flycasting.html
http://www.internetworldstats.com/
http://www.hostmonster.com/
http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp
http://salary.hotjobs.com/
http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.ht
ml
http://www.wsworkshop.com/money/ad-revenuemodels.html
http://digitalenterprise.org/models/models.html
References
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http://www.scarboro.info/dining.htm
http://www.libraryspot.com/know/workweek.htm
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/cookingtrends/coo
king.html
http://www.bts.gov/publications/highlights_of_the_20
01_national_household_travel_survey/pdf/entire.pdf
http://www.aarp.org/health/staying_healthy/eating/a
2004-09-16-eatingout.html
http://www.restaurant.org/rusa/magArticle.cfm?ArticleI
D=138
http://www.restaurant.org/aboutus/faqs.cfm