Innovation & Design in the Cultural Industries

Lecture 7Production Management: turning ideas into reality

Lecture Overview

Production Management vs Project Management

Project Managing Events Delivery: thinking about experience Standing out from the crowd Production Management: the co-ordination

phase Thinking About Your Venue Production Management: the execution

phase

Production Management vs Project Management

Production Management is usually associated with the production of physical goods

In the cultural industries we are concerned with the production of experiences

Project management is therefore possibly a more suitable term for us to use

Project Managing Events

Event Management

› Objectives and getting started

› Planning› Organising and

preparing› Running the event› Divestment/legacy

Project Management

› Conception› Definition› Production› Operations› Handover or

divestment

Delivery: thinking about the experience

Smith & Wheeler (2002) suggest the following with regards to developing a branded sales experience:

› Start with segmentation but drive to personalisation

› Design a sales process that creates value for customers

› Align the sales process with the total organisation

› Train, coach and reward desired sales behaviours

› Manage the sales process to deliver a branded customer experience

Standing Out From the Crowd

Remember, the customer is actively engaged in experiencing your service

Differentiate via the customer experience

Be individual and stand out

Simple ideas done well sometimes work best

Put yourself in the place of the customer

Production Management: the co-ordination phase

The co-ordination phase includes:› Site inspection and liaison› Understanding the management hierarchy

of your venue› Determine the capacity of your venue› Think about what needs to be brought in,

what is available and where is it located?› Site layout › Commit production plans to paper

Thinking About Your Venue

Van der Wagen (2010) suggests that you should consider the following things in relation to your venue:

› Creative theme or image required› Estimated numbers› Audience composition› Facilities and services to be provided› Staging/competition requirements› Budget› Location› Capacity› Timing› Accessibility

Production Management: the execution phase

You will need a masterplan for the event

This is often known as an Event Delivery Plan (EDP)

Vocal communication will be required with all the main decision makers throughout the event

All staff should be familiar with the EDP

We will cover all of this in MUCH more detail in Practical Events Management!!!