SEAMS APP Requirements

Develop a clear understanding of the functionalities and features the SEAMS app needs to support its intended uses. Here's a breakdown:

1. Dashboard

Overview Section of the Dashboard

1. Recent Activity Stream

• Dynamic Updates: The activity stream should dynamically update to show the most recent changes, comments, or uploads related to the projects the user is involved in.

• Customizable Feed: Users should have the ability to filter the activity stream to see only the types of updates they are most interested in (e.g., task completions, new assignments, milestone achievements).

• Interactive Elements: Each entry in the activity feed can be clickable, leading directly to the relevant project or task detail page for more in-depth information.

2. Project Status Overview

• Visual Indicators: Utilize color-coded status indicators to give a quick visual representation of project statuses (e.g., green for active, yellow for pending, red for completed or overdue).

• Progress Bars: Include progress bars for each project that visually depict how much of the project has been completed based on the tasks or milestones.

• Hover Details: When users hover over a project name or status indicator, a tooltip can appear providing more detailed information such as the project start date, expected completion, key personnel involved, and a brief summary of the next steps.

3. Upcoming Tasks and Deadlines

• Task List: Display a list of upcoming tasks that are due soon, prioritized by the closest deadlines. This list should include task name, due date, responsible person, and a priority indicator (e.g., high, medium, low).

• Calendar Integration: Integrate this section with a calendar view that allows users to see their tasks in a calendar format, helping to visualize how tasks are distributed over the coming days and weeks.

• Alerts and Notifications: Implement a system where users can set up personalized alerts for upcoming tasks and deadlines, which could be sent as email reminders or push notifications on their devices.

4. Actionable Insights

• Quick Actions: Provide quick action buttons that allow users to update task status, reassign tasks, or mark tasks as complete directly from the overview section.

• Recommendations: Based on the user's past activity and project progress, the app can offer automated suggestions such as reallocating resources, scheduling review meetings, or prioritizing specific tasks.

• Analytics Snapshot: Offer a mini-dashboard within the Overview Section that highlights key analytics like total hours spent on the project this week, budget usage rate, or a quick comparison of planned vs. actual progress.

Design Considerations

• User Customization: Allow users to personalize their overview section by choosing which widgets or data points they want to display.

• Responsive Design: Ensure that the overview section is responsive and adapts well across different devices and screen sizes, providing a consistent user experience whether accessed via desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

• Load Time Optimization: Since the overview section will likely pull in data from various parts of the application, optimize load times and refresh rates to ensure the information is up-to-date and quickly accessible.

By expanding the functionality and interactivity of the Overview Section, the SEAMS app will provide users with a powerful tool to stay informed and efficiently manage their responsibilities, all from a single, easy-to-navigate dashboard. This approach not only enhances user engagement but also improves overall project management efficiency.

• Notifications Panel: Alerts for new messages, task updates, and milestones reached. Customizable notification settings.

• Quick Access Toolbar: Shortcuts to frequently used functions such as new project creation, quick task add, and user settings.

• Activity Feed: Real-time updates on project or team activities to keep everyone informed.

2. Project Management

• Project Creation Tool: Simple interface for setting up a new project, defining project scope, objectives, and deliverables.

• Milestones: Ability to set major goals within the project timeline, with associated tasks and deadlines.

• Gantt Charts: Interactive Gantt charts for visualizing project timelines, dependencies, and progress.

• Task Management: Features for creating, assigning, and tracking tasks; status updates; priority settings; and deadline alerts.

• Progress Tracking: Dashboard widgets or pages that offer detailed visual summaries of project health, task completion rates, and milestone achievement.

3. Collaboration Tools

• File Sharing: Secure upload and download functionality; support for multiple file formats; version control; and permission settings.

• Chat/Communication Tools: Integrated messaging system for individual and group chats; support for multimedia messages; link integration.

• Discussion Boards: Forums for project-specific discussions; topic threads; moderator controls; and post editing capabilities.

4. User Management

• Login System: Secure authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication options.

• User Profiles: Customizable user profiles with information such as role, contact details, and activity logs.

• Settings: User-specific settings for notifications, privacy, and interface customization.

• Access Levels: Role-based access controls that define what users can view, edit, or manage within the app.

5. Reporting

• Custom Reports: Tools to create customizable reports on various aspects like project progress, resource usage, financials, etc.

• Data Filters: Advanced filtering options to generate specific insights.

• Export Options: Capability to export reports in various formats (PDF, Excel, CSV) for offline analysis or presentation.

6. Resource Management

• Resource Allocation: Interface to assign resources to tasks, including human resources, tools, and materials.

• Availability Tracking: Calendar views to see the availability of team members and resources.

• Usage Statistics: Reports on resource utilization rates, cost analysis, and optimization suggestions.

7. Budget and Finance Management

• Budget Tracking: Tools to set up project budgets, track expenditures, and compare planned vs. actual spending.

• Financial Reporting: Financial dashboards and detailed reports on the financial health of projects.

• Expense Management: Features to log expenses, upload receipts, and automate approvals.

Considerations for SEAMS App Development

• User Experience (UX): Ensure the app is intuitive, with easy navigation and minimal learning curve.

• Scalability: Design the backend to handle scaling, both in terms of data volume and number of users.

• Security: Implement robust security measures, especially for data handling, authentication, and user privacy.

By detailing these functionalities, you'll set a strong foundation for wireframing and subsequent development phases, ensuring the SEAMS app is comprehensive, user-friendly, and aligned with organizational needs.