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Explore the evolution of web management systems through different ages, from content presentation to information transactions, facing challenges such as scalability and integration. Learn the importance of strategic planning and communication in maximizing system value.
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The Integration Challenge Bringing Web Management Systems Together Eric Behrens Swarthmore College
Web Archaeology Archaeology … is the peeping Tom of the sciences. It is the sandbox of men who care not where they are going; they merely want to know where everyone else has been. --Jim Bishop
The <Angle Bracket> Age • The creation of the initial hierarchy of interrelated pages • Focused on content presentation/distribution • Essentially libertarian • Big challenges were user training, design, and organizational buy-in. • Emblematic tool is the WYSIWYG HTML editor • Emblematic product is a department home page
The Submit Button Age • Scripting & dynamic content development • Focused on information transactions • Essentially bureaucratic/administrative • Big challenges were meeting client demand, technical staff recruitment/retention, ROI, scalability • Emblematic tool is Cold Fusion • Emblematic product is online registration
The Age of Industrialization • Proliferation of commercial and open source applications to manage and manipulate general or specialized content databases on the web • Answering scalability • Essentially egalitarian • Big challenges include funding, project management, customization and integration • Emblematic tool is Blackboard Learning System (with developer API’s) • Emblematic end-user project is a Blog
Blackboard, WebCT, Sakai Ingeniux, RedDot, .NET Presentation WWW Portal(s) Course Management ContentDM, Luna Insight, DSpace Information Management Systems Content Management Digital Asset Management End-user Administrative Applications Library Management Information Infrastructure One-Card/ Commerce ERP Directory Services Scheduling
Strategic Planning vs. Reactive Thinking • Integration requires strategic planning • Adapting to the flavors-of-the-month and disruptive technologies • Responding appropriately to distracting ideas • Importance vs. urgency
Communication • Connecting projects to core mission(s) for senior staff and other decision makers • Few aware of full extent of project relationships & interdependencies • Disagreement, competition (What? Never.) • Marketing: before or after implementation?
Staff • Job splintering • Sharing the load • Alignment of the stars’ stars • Retention and/or knowledge transfer
Best of Breed vs. Single Vendor • Maximizing the value of web management systems • Risk scenarios • Vendor lock • Customization lock • Opportunity Cost • The finality of product selection.
A Very Little Advice • Strategic planning takes time • Strategic planning takes place at and between multiple layers of organization • Our institutions rely on our stewardship • A lot of small goods can equal excellence • Wait for the Ideal? Speed/agility are also virtues • Mind the store
Fight, Fight for the inner light,Kill, Little Quakers, Kill!-Traditional Swarthmore cheer