You're juggling multiple game projects with external contractors. How do you ensure a seamless workflow?

Establish clear communication channels using tools like Slack, Trello, or Asana. Set clear expectations and deadlines for each project, providing detailed briefs and requirements. Regularly schedule check-ins and status meetings to monitor progress and address issues promptly. Use version control systems like Git to manage code and assets effectively. Foster a collaborative environment by encouraging open dialogue and feedback. Document processes and guidelines to maintain consistency across projects. Prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact, and ensure all team members have access to necessary resources and support.

Clarity in Role Definition: - Ensure every contractor understands their responsibilities and deliverables to prevent overlap and ensure all tasks are covered. Establishing Hierarchy and Points of Contact: - Create a clear hierarchy or identify a point of contact for each project aspect to streamline communication. Enhancing Accountability: - Well-defined roles aid in accountability, as each team member knows what is expected of them.

When contractors understand their responsibilities and deliverables, it prevents overlap and ensures all tasks are covered. Establishing a hierarchy or point of contact streamlines communication, allowing contractors to know whom to approach with questions or updates. This clarity also fosters accountability, as each team member is aware of what is expected of them. Leveraging project management tools can enhance role clarity, saving time and reducing confusion. Ultimately, clear role definitions pave the way for a productive and motivated team.

Monitor Progress: - Clear milestones serve as checkpoints to help monitor progress and manage time effectively. Define Project Phases: - Tie milestones to specific features, assets, or phases of development, such as pre-production or beta testing. Manageable Chunks: - Break down the project timeline into manageable chunks, providing contractors with achievable goals and deadlines. Motivation and Momentum: - Milestones foster a sense of progression and accomplishment, keeping the team motivated and maintaining momentum.

To keep your projects on track, setting clear milestones is essential. These serve as checkpoints that help monitor progress and manage time effectively. Milestones can be tied to specific features, assets, or phases of development, such as pre-production or beta testing. By breaking down the project timeline into manageable chunks, you can provide contractors with achievable goals and deadlines. This fosters a sense of progression and accomplishment, which is motivating and keeps the momentum going.

Enhance Workflow: - Project management tools help assign tasks, track progress, and manage deadlines efficiently. Visualize Timeline: - Utilize features like Gantt charts or Kanban boards to visualize the project's timeline and workload distribution. Facilitate Communication: - Integrated chat or forums facilitate quick discussions and decision-making. Select and Train: - Choose a tool that matches your project's scale and complexity, and ensure all contractors are trained to use it effectively.

Leveraging project management tools can significantly enhance your workflow. These tools allow you to assign tasks, track progress, and manage deadlines all in one place. With features like Gantt charts or Kanban boards, you can visualize the project's timeline and workload distribution. Communication features like integrated chat or forums can also facilitate quick discussions and decision-making. Choose a tool that suits the scale and complexity of your projects and ensure all contractors are trained to use it effectively.

Schedule Check-ins: - Regularly check in with contractors to discuss progress, address issues, and provide feedback through virtual meetings, email updates, or collaboration platforms. Encourage Open Dialogue: - Foster an environment where contractors feel comfortable sharing ideas and concerns. Maintain Information Flow: - Keep a steady flow of information to preemptively tackle potential bottlenecks and ensure smooth project progression.

Safeguard Against Miscommunication: - Maintain comprehensive records of all project-related discussions, decisions, and changes. Single Source of Truth: - Ensure documentation includes design documents, meeting minutes, and change logs to reduce confusion and keep everyone aligned. Efficient Onboarding: - Use thorough documentation to help onboard new contractors quickly, providing them with a clear understanding of the project's history and current status.

I would give the following general advice: - Set an important goal for yourself and your team — the player should not see any difference between the work of the internal team and the work of the contractor. They don't care about that. - Treat external contractors as if they are regular team members. Involve them in meetings, playtests, discussions, and so on. - Avoid communication where information from the developer to the contractor and back goes through a manager instead of directly. - Have up-to-date guidelines and pipelines. Both your team and the external team should work according to them. - If there are many external contractors (7+), I would allocate a dedicated person to work with them (an outsource manager).