at eduWEB 2011, San Antonio, TX August 1, 2011 Web Program Manager Columbian College of Arts and Sciences The George Washington University Adjunct Lecturer Department of Information Systems School of Business The George Washington University &
that question Establish necessity of answering question What makes academia different when it comes to web management Why be agile? Tale of two projects Staffing
Therapy Biochemistry Biological Sciences Biomedical Sciences Biostatistics Chemistry Classical and Semitic Languages and Literatures Classical Acting Counseling Early Modern European Studies East Asian Languages and Literatures Economics English Environmental Studies Environmental Resource Policy Epidemiology Film Studies Fine Arts and Art History Forensic Sciences Geography Geological Sciences Genomics and Bioinformatics Global Communications History Hominid Paleobiology Interior Design Judaic Studies Linguistics Mathematics Media and Public Affairs Medicine, Society and Culture Museum Studies Music Organizational Sciences and Communication Philosophy Physics Political Science Professional Psychology Psychology Public Policy and Public Administration Religion Romance, German, Slavic Languages and Literatures Sociology Speech and Hearing Sciences Statistics Theatre and Dance University Writing Program Women's Studies 50+ Departments and Programs
Content Strategy Web Content Producer Marketing & Social Media Director Development Web Designer Web Developer Web Developer Project Analyst IT Program Management “Dotted line” to IT group
an informational website” Meet with stakeholders to design website, implement in CMS, coordinate content, and launch. “The Physics Department’s website needs to integrate with an online data analysis tool for current students and interested non-affiliated researchers” Establish capabilities of current website, integrate into existing CMS or build custom functionality for integration, and launch. “The Center for Economic Research’s new website needs to make its research internationally available through RePEc (Research Papers in Economics)” Meet with stakeholders to design website, implement in CMS, build in RePEc XML output, coordinate content, and launch.
an informational website” What other design & CMS assets exist that we can apply to the Dept. of Religion? “The Physics Department’s website needs to integrate with an online data analysis tool for current students and interested non-affiliated researchers” Who else in the University is using tools like this? Plot as future functionality. “The Center for Economic Research needs to make its research internationally available through RePEc (Research Papers in Economics)” One-off RePEc solution, faculty sponsored or dept sponsored.
needs an informational website” What other projects are going on that we can group together with this one? Who else needs a website and why the Dept. of Religion? “The Physics Department’s website needs to integrate with an online data analysis tool for current students and interested non-affiliated researchers” Can our current systems support this? Has someone in the department already integrated in a one-off solution (probably yes!) “The Center for Economic Research needs to make its research internationally available through RePEc (Research Papers in Economics)” Let’s build RePEc functionality on a separate system as the central system(s) do not support custom XML out.
the Congress of the United States in 1821, dedicates itself to furthering human well-being. The University values a dynamic, student-focused community stimulated by cultural and intellectual diversity and built upon a foundation of integrity, creativity, and openness to the exploration of new ideas. The George Washington University, centered in the national and international crossroads of Washington, D.C., commits itself to excellence in the creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge.”
of the puzzle • Competition extends to: o Student attention to university news and events o Alumni participation and development o Prestige, online and off line o Academic attention on the web o Use of in-house services vs. the wild west
or website guidelines Integrated web management organization (e.g. ‘Web Guy’ on comm staff) Monthly web sync meetings with non- web staff incl. non-comm staff Small web management organization, lack of formal procedures, standards, and systems Codified web checkpoints, goals and metrics. Monthly web sync meetings with non-web staff incl. non-comm staff Mid-to-large size web management organization, formal procedures, standards and systems Weekly web sync meetings, matrix organization of resources to distribute skills and productivity Small decentralized web management groups (e.g. ‘web guys all around’, blend of formal and non-formal procedures, standards and systems Weekly web sync meetings, codification of web practices and standards. Design/style guidelines, assets & themes pool
think outside the box. Consider: • Current students browsing admissions sites • Prospective students browsing information for current students • Prospective partner institutions browsing information for current students • Prospective students browsing internal department websites • “Navigation-phobia” – the chronic Googlers • Entrance paths that often defy logic
by adopting development agility. Better • More requirements scoped and met, we can innovate • User satisfaction increases Faster • Deadlines are exceeded • More QA time Cheaper • Agility reduces resource drain • Costly requirements changes can be accommodated
a marketing tool. Marketing Mindset Misplaced metrics Poor Design Decisions User experience suffers Enrollment push Marketing is just one component of a successful web strategy
the plane of orbit of one body around another (e.g., the moon around the earth) at which a small third body can remain stationary with respect to both.” Source: Oxford Source: NASA JPL
repeatable processes • Allowing innovation to occur within the fold • Fostering intra-University relationships even if they do not yield desired end results • Fostering extra-University relationships of cooperation and collaboration This does not mean keep your web operations stationary. It means keep them stable.
Abstract: Art Therapy Program needs an advanced collaboration platform for content management and delivery , spearheading international Art Therapy research. Statistics Department Website Overhaul Abstract: Statistics Department has an old (4+ years) website and needs a fresh one with fresh content, that’s easily updated and conforms to University design templates. • Common infrastructure • Common helpdesk • Common student content-entry support • Common authentication system • Stability through agility made both projects a success.
of technical resources • Formal issue and project tracking • Standard intake process • Single front door • Common methodology, design parameters and principles • Assets for those who can utilize them
of technical expertise, and make contributions repeatable • Codify processes, make them repeatable • Embrace ‘web as a platform’ for common tasks • Factor people, process, technology into large projects (e.g. contractor-supported web overhaul) • Ask: Does every request/new requirement have a path to completion?
are our common pitfalls and how can we empower our constituents to avoid them? – “____ Department always produces poor quality newsletter or webpages” – “Our technology consultation costs have skyrocketed” – “University leadership imposes strict visual guidelines” – “Our in-house IT team can’t keep up with changing technologies”
Designer Content Creator How are new projects chosen? How are new technologies chosen? Which comes first, content or function? How agile will this group be on the web?
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