PM: Role Outline + Expectations

Establish client communication

Schedule and attend first client meeting to discuss project details and goals
- Both you and your SSWE must attend
- Establish an agreement with client about what is feasible and by when
  - Ensures everyone has a clear understanding of what final product will be
  - Can begin thinking about what you want to have by midpoint and what can be done after
Set up weekly client meetings
- Try to find a time that may also work for SWEs! It can be very rewarding for SWEs to get direct feedback from client about the work they are doing throughout the semester!

Project Context

Research and deeply understand the project and make high-level decisions regarding the project’s overall implementation (ex: necessary functionality, features, end goals, etc.)
Maintain a low-fidelity design mockup (sketch or Figma) of the app’s interface (if applicable), to help clarify deliverables and implementation tasks for SWEs
- Nice to begin thinking about intentionality + accessibility
  - What design choices are you making? Why? Do they achieve the purpose/goals the client has outlined? Are they user-friendly/intuitive?
  - Also makes for good activity to do with SWEs at first team syncs!
Plan out and maintain project timeline - create weekly workflow and differentiate between midpoint goals, final goals, and any additional stretch goals
- Make sure that these goals are communicated to team and client early on!
- The timeline should be revisited on a weekly basis and adjusted throughout the semester based on your team's progress!

Logistics

Set up and share the Notion page for team + Google Calendar + Slack
- Plan for any additional things that SWEs may need to learn
Schedule and attend 2-on-1s to get to know each SWE
- What do they hope to get out of being a SWE?
- Is there something they are particularly excited about working on/learning?
- How can you help them achieve their goals?
- What kind of events/activities/meetings would they like to see throughout the semester?
This is also a good time to start planning team social as it can get very hectic towards middle of semester!

Planning Weekly Team Sync

Schedule weekly team sync + book room
Write up meeting agenda (ex: start of meeting feedback form, icebreakers, announcements, mini lesson (if applicable to week), etc.)
- Be intentional with the meeting goals! What do you hope to achieve with this meeting? How can you make sure SWEs walk out knowing exactly what is expected and what their next steps should be?
- Mini Lesson Note: Be prepared to talk at the beginning of every meeting about any new tools, methods, resources SWEs may be unfamiliar with
  - You will have some SWEs who are completely new to software engineering! A big part of being a PM is being able to understand your SWEs and how you can best support them through this learning experience!
Keep detailed notes of meeting so that any team member can reference them at a later time
Reach out to members that did not make meetings to make sure they are up to date with everything!
- Please make sure that they are okay! Beyond being a technical/operational resource, you have the opportunity to be a friend + positive force for your SWEs, especially those who are first-years
- Share meeting notes
- Offer to provide additional assistance + meeting if needed

Check-Ins

Check-ins (Slack each SWE individually + include SSWE)
Slack SWEs midweek to make sure they are doing well and having fun (duh)
- Keep track of when a SWE may have an increasingly busy week (exams and whatnot) so that you can adjust their workload if needed
- Ask about deliverable progress
  - This helps you and your SSWE understand what SWEs are getting stuck on and whether they will be done by the next team meeting
  - Provide any additional assistance
- Use this time to just get to know them! Does not always have to be t4sg related!
- Keep a regular pulse on how SWEs are feeling with their work. You want them to feel that their work is supported, meaningful, and sufficiently engaging + rewarding (but not overwhelming)
IMPORTANT: always be on top of Slack; SWEs need help, get sick, will be running late, etc., and will reach out to you first!

Client Meetings

Meet with client to discuss latest progress + receive feedback + ask clarifying questions
Come with clear action plan
- Take some time between last team sync and current client meeting to reflect on the progress of the project and any obstacles (or particular successes!)
Establish rough understanding of deliverables for the next couple of weeks