View
45
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Web Management Essentials. Malinda Frybarger August, 2003. May I introduce myself?. Former IT Web Service Lead – Pharmacia Managing Editor – IT portion of PHA intranet Primary resource for web based communications from the Chief Information Officer - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Web Management Essentials
Malinda FrybargerAugust, 2003
May I introduce myself?
• Former IT Web Service Lead – Pharmacia• Managing Editor – IT portion of PHA intranet• Primary resource for web based
communications from the Chief Information Officer
• Project manager for design and maintenance of primary IT sites
• Coordinated efforts of over 175 individual site editors
• All web sites are behind company firewall & inaccessible for me to give you a tour
Presentation Agenda
• Content Management• Web Usability• Quality Review of web sites• Information Architecture
Main focus of my three years as IT Web Service Lead
Why Content Management?
• “Making More with Less”• Few developers serving many
constituents• Information owners need to
publish content without having to seek out a web developer
CM Tool(s) Development(Analyzing content owner needs)
• Publish without delay• Simplify – no HTML skills required
My role:• Developed user interface specifications for
original in-house content mgmt tool• Trained users – classroom, one-on-one, CBT• Designed user interface and all graphics for
Products & Services site – self publishing
2nd Gen. CM Tool• Using generation 1 tool as prototype, build
an enterprise level tool• Add workflow
My role:• Test modules and document bugs during
development • Led design team for training site including
creating multimedia demonstration videos
Helping others use CM
• Three annual IT Kickoff events (off site event for ~ 150 senior IT managers)
• Trained content authors on CM tool• Designed information architecture and
workflow processes • Custom graphics• Provided near “live” coverage for the
700 IT employees who could not attend in person
Now we have lots of content?
Are we serving our users’ needs?
Web Usability
• Broad topic … ranging from use of graphics & white space, to usable tables, to print considerations …
• Focus on knowing your audiences / needs
• People come to a web site with a variety of needs … determine which are paramount
Web Usability
• Procedural information– Aim to help the user move through
the task quickly and effectively– Purpose statements help a user know
if they’ve found the right procedure– Show how the small tasks go together
to create the whole– Field definitions for online forms
Web Usability
• Understand a concept– Tell users only what they need to know– Abstracts to explain context and purpose– Provide enough information for users at all
stages of understanding– Help them understand the why– Definition of terms– Assist the reader in reaching a decision– Case studies / examples– Information about author and publication
date as appropriate
Web Usability
• Reference information– Information that is used repeatedly
(contact information, definitions, current statistics)
– Information used rarely(needed at initialization only, not each use)
– Discrete pieces of information(how many, cost, % …)
Web Usability
• Instructional information– Can accompany step-by-step
procedures, functional descriptions– Helps users “read to learn to do”
(Redish, 1988)– Use relevant, easily understood
examples– Simulated exercises allow practice– Demonstrations are helpful
Reality: a mix of information types
• Profile your users• Analyze other information sources
available … how can the web serve them best?
• Online information is not intended to be a 1 for 1 replacement of paper
Web Usability
• Browsing – came without purpose … attract them to want to know more!– This is perhaps the most subtle
audience … hardest to define … but very important to the growth of the community
– What is it about Kalamazoo College that you want the casual browser to take away from a brief stop at your web site?
But is your content accurate?
How do you know if the content contributors are
keeping their pages current?
Quality Review of Web Sites
• Challenges: – Web sites were not being regularly
updated & reviewed – No accountability for editorship
• Responses: – Semi-annual IT Web Review Process – Governance model – connection to senior
management– Steering committee – pushing for accountability
Information Architecture
From Jakob Nielsen:
• A web site must grow from a carefully planned information architecture for users to be successful in finding pages and accomplishing tasks.
• Confused users, lost users, and dissatisfied users can quickly turn into no users.
Information Architecture
• The best information architecture is the least visible
• Users should not have to learn YOUR schema in order to quickly get the information they seek
Information Architecture
• Web publishing is often TOO EASY!
• A good web site has a distinct MISSION and VISION
• What is your overall objective?
Information Architecture
• Who is the audience?• What are their needs? • Types of information• Language(s)• Access Devices• Jargon• Categorization
Information Architecture
• What is the content of the site?• What functionality is required to
meet your users’ needs? (consider all audiences)
• How will the site accommodate change and growth?
Help us make it “user-friendly”(Usability Info Arch)
Challenge: • Review & comment on Enterprise
Content Management training PowerPoint from user perspective
Discoveries: • a) Novice would not know the
sequence of events • b) Not efficient for experienced user
User Friendly (cont’d)
• Responses:• a) Enlist PowerPoint author and
other project team members to examine user needs with me
• b) Training web site created – Role / Training Path– Specific Tasks
Questions?
Thank you!
References
• Hackos, J., Standards for Online Communication. 1997.
• Krug, S. Don’t Make Me Think. 2000.• Nakano, R. Web Content Management,
2002.• Nielsen, J., Designing Web Usability, 2000• Rosenfield, L., Information Architecture
for the World Wide Web, 1998.• Tannenbaum, A. MetaData Solutions,
2002.
Recommended