Production Management

This past week a lot has happened and changed. First, we have been paying a lot of attention to the build team. The build team had spent way over the budget we had set for them, but the room is still not done. Our team became worried about the budget because it seems like the room will not be complete if we cut their budget. Even with our worries, we have been advised to cut the team off and don't give them any more money. We emailed the build team about their budget cut, and every other penny spent will be coming out if their pocket, which they agree to. It is still a worry that they are still spending money on the room even if it is their own money.

As for the budget, this is the updated budget. As for the $600 dollar budget, we passed that, now we are using the extra $400 that was added. The software and electronics/puzzles team was able to save us some money and found cheaper cameras. They thought each camera was going to cost $50 but they were able to find cameras that cost $30 instead. House management and running crew bought two customer total to $20 dollars, but they are still expected to buy signs. Marketing and ticketing only spent $3 dollars which makes us very happy, but they still have to buy posters. We only have a few days before thanksgiving and only four days after we come back from break and we are worried that marketing won't have enough time to get their posters printed and use them around campus, and also House management won't have enough time buy their signs. Before the break, we will send them a an email making them aware of our concerns and ask how do they plan on going forward. Writing and Lobby design have not bought anything and we did not expect them to buy anything. The team wants to save at least $100 for emergency cash, so, therefore, the budget is only $900. We want to save that money just in case during playtesting or opening nights something breaks or does not work, we can run to the store and buy what is needed.

We have been doing a better job at budgeting than managing the teams. it is hard to manage everyone when they are all scattered. we asked them for a team leader and it took about two weeks, we asked them to ask us before they buy anything and only a few teams did that. It is easier for the students to listen to the Professor then to listen to us. I think that kind of discouraged the team a bit, but we try alternative ways to talk to them. Most of the students in the class are also in the studio class and also our teammates for that class. Since the class is a free work period, we take some time in that class to talk to the group leaders that are in our group and that are in that class. This week I think we did a better job keeping up with building team and software. The software and electronic team is still waiting for the build team to finish. our focus is these two groups because if they don't complete their task there will be no escape room. To be honest, this past weekend we didn't do any production management work because we have just been helping in the room, we have been going there and staying for hours so that took a lot of our time. Overall great and productive week and weekend.