View
36
Download
0
Category
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Planning the OSCE multilingual website. Where we started four months ago. what exists: a consistent English-language website comprising 35 websites of OSCE field operations and institutions, on a content management system, with a multilingual search engine and documents in multiple languages; - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 1
Planning the OSCE multilingual website
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 2
Where we started four months ago
• what exists: – a consistent English-language website comprising 35 websites of
OSCE field operations and institutions, on a content management system, with a multilingual search engine and documents in multiple languages;
– several websites in local languages, one mini-website in a second official language, all these not included in the general search;
• the task: to move from one language to multiple languages;
• the opportunity: to bring together scattered partial language versions and bring consistency across languages;
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 3
Plan: to bring in consistency across languages
• plan the foundation: database and content management system that can host all language versions
• plan the appearance and content: define audiences and purpose of the multilingual website (are there changes other than the aditional languages?)
• plan the information architecture (is there a need to change?)
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 4
Example: a few implicit messages for the current websiteIs there need to change? What?
Quality:
- loads fast
- spelling consistent and correct
- graphics discreet but professional
- fresh info available all the time
- pages not outdated
- accurate information
Transparency:- almost all OSCE documents available- good search engine- clear navigation- timely information- answer to requests fast and polite- privacy policy clear
Active:- not a 'talking shop'- regular changes to homepage items- main photos of field activities
Professional:- consistent editing, of good quality- high technical quality- good off-line services available (info, help)- consistent navigation and pages- graphics unobtrusive supporting content- no aggressiveness in presentation- webteam in control, homepage no battleground- no ego-trips allowed- focus on visitor- editor-led, not IT-led
Focus on target audiences:- content for these audiences- plain and good English- clear navigation- main navigation bar focused on audiences
Comfort (call back users):-pages load fast- promises are kept (what is announced exists)
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 5
Step 1 of the plan: the concept paper
• defined audiences and role
• researched existing models of multilingual websites (back-end included), and software support for different languages
• identified the two main types of websites in other languages: the global website (mainly the official languages) and local websites with information of local interest only;
• narrowed down the technical solution (platform, two options for the cms, preferably tailor-made to support best workflow; rough plan for changes to the database, additional meta-data to database items);
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 6
Step 1 of the plan: the concept paper (cont)
• defined the main policies, as they will be the core of the new workflow (the policies include responsibilities and roles)
• consulted stakeholders and started to get agreement on the new concept (there is interest and demand of multilingualism, there is possible opposition to a centralised solution, there is push for quick solutions, postponing a sustainable solution)
• included feed-back in the concept paper and will start lobbying for resources; the technical solution might be implemented with existing resources
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 7
Ideas to support consistency and efficiency
• unify database and content management system
• define clear workflow with roles for regional-central offices
• plan multilingual search engine and interfaces
• have a reference language on the global website (English): this means, all items must be in English too (as an exception, for documents or publications that do not exist in English, only a description in English will exist);
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 8
Ideas to support consistency and efficiency (cont)
• for the local websites, clarify the types of local content needed, and ‘quarantine’ areas of such content, that may exist in the local language only
• predefine navigation: allow for room for manoeuvre only within standardised areas, to ensure consistency; limit the levels of depth
Lucinia Bal-Doebel, November 2006 9
Timeline
• planning: six months
• implementation and migration: eighteen months
Recommended