1 / 26

Next Generation Web Portal: Journey at Indiana University

Learn about IU's journey to create a cutting-edge web portal with a user-centered design, challenges, and best practices highlighted. Explore the decision-making process between buying vs. building, methodologies, and the vision behind this initiative.

ghairston
Download Presentation

Next Generation Web Portal: Journey at Indiana University

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal James Thomas, Manager, Systems Integration Team John F. Walsh, Director, University Information Systems Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  2. Attribution • Jim Gorman, University at Buffalo • Pioneer • Michael Handberg and Bob Kvavik, U. of Minnesota • Marvelous vision • Randy Ebeling, U. Texas, Austin • Just do it! • Ed Lightfoot, U. Washington • A brilliant moment of lucidity • Howard Strauss, Princeton • An integrated thinker and my hero! Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  3. Summary • Background • Buy vs Build • Getting started • Methodology • User centered • Challenges • Best practices Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  4. Background May 1998 - IT Strategic Plan for IUhttp://www.indiana.edu/~ovpit/strategic/ • Action 37: Common Interface to administrative systems • Action 38: Thin client and multi-tiered architectures • Action 44: User-centered design Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  5. Background March 2000 – JAD Session • Single Sign-on and Authentication • 24 X 7 availability • Role-based “one stop” shopping • “Usability tested” interface • Enterprise Application Integration Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  6. Background Opportunity Knocks • PeopleSoft ERP implementation for HRMS and Student Administration • Re-engineering numerous legacy applications to be web enabled • Implementing a ‘web services’, object-like model to enterprise application development under the IT Strategic Plan Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  7. IU’s Vision • Unified front end to IU services • Single sign-on and authentication • Role-based customization • Usability tested personalization • Application integration (more than just “flaming logos” and “spinning icons”) • Adaptive user interface • Universal access 24 X 7 • Completely user-centered environment Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  8. Buy vs Build Decision Summer 2000: Should we buy a portal? • Portal market was still maturing • No complete portal solutions • Gartner Group white paper (ITExpo 2000, Oct. 2000) confirmed our analysis • Portal market is high risk, crowded and due for shakeout mid-2001 • Dominated by very small independent software vendors • In contrast, they make up a very small part of larger vendor’s revenues (IBM, Oracle, CA) • Lack of complete portal solutions Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  9. Buy vs Build Decision Should we build? • Is it too late? Consider your development resources • Consider building with a partner • Consider buying a framework (Oracle, Microsoft, CA, etc) • Got Java? Consider the JA-SIG • Benefit from owning your portal Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  10. Getting started • Obtain support from the top • Communicate vision as broadly as possible • Establish clear and detailed plan of action • Engage students, faculty, and staff • Create process for prioritization • Focus on “big bang for little bucks” services • Plan for iterative development to avoid “analysis paralysis” Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  11. Why call it “next generation”? • Not just an information portal • Flexible and responsive to change • Distributed model for service and content providers – the portal is the framework • CBD/Web Services methodology and standards approach • Shared component/service infrastructure - EDEN Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  12. Other IUIE FIS HRMS SIS Users Workflow Security OneStart & EDEN User Interface OneStart Customized Personalized Adaptable Desktop Application Delivered Channels Applications Other Content Services Infrastructure Record Keeping Application Services EDEN Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  13. Review Methodology • Researched existing methodologies at IU and other places • Needed a methodology that supported the portal vision • Created “living” methodology document Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  14. Methodology Overview • Identify the requirements of the application – define the business processes or functions • Map the requirements to business objects and usage scenarios. • Map business objects to components or services. • Avoid implementation details during this process!! • Focus on business requirements. Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  15. Methodology Challenges • Must have well defined business requirements • May require training of IT staff • Must implement methodology and standards for developing, maintaining, and publishing components/services • Requires cooperation and communication across development teams Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  16. What are Components? • A component is a specific piece of enterprise functionality that can be reused in future development and integration (ie Explorer Tree, CalcGPA, ValidateAccount, GetLocalAddress) • A key difference between components and objects is that components clearly separate specification from implementation. This allows for easier re-use. • Components have published interfaces to facilitate integration. These interfaces should be independent of their implementation. Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  17. Benefits A CBD and Web Services approach gives you... • a repository of reusable business functions • the ability to replace specific business functions without affecting the rest of your application • rapid development capability by assembling existing components and services • improved agility, flexibility, and scalability Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  18. Granularity Decision Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  19. Build a User-Centered Portal 1. User Participation – Advisory groups 2. Vigorous Usability Testing • Conducted portal study of MyYahoo, MyFidelity, MyExcite • Conducted navigation testing using portal prototype • Arranged accessibility testing sessions with visually impaired students • Performed testing of personalization features and options Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  20. Portal Challenges • Single sign-on** • Integrated Workflow** • Getting IT staff buy in (no portal or too many) • Prioritization of services • Screen real estate (default channels) • Portal Taxonomy • Creating “stickiness” – “If you build it, they will come.” Will they come back? Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  21. More Portal Challenges • Myth that browsers are a “universal” client (browsers - IE, Netscape, Mozilla, Opera, etc. :: OS’s – Windows 95/98, NT, 2000, Mac OS, Unix) ARGHHH!! • Accessibility for a diverse group of clients – legal and ethical issues • Privacy policy issues • Integration of vended software Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  22. Services Email Finanacials Calendar News Student Self Service *Games Course Management Library Institutional Reporting Links Mobile bookmarks *Entertainment Secure Telnet client (*create student “stickiness”) Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  23. Future services Single sign-on “Top 10” channels Workflow Engine “What’s new?” Faculty services Desktop Tools Online Community Wireless access HR E-docs Alumni services? Service integration Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  24. OneStart.iu.edu “It all begins with OneStart” • Staff pilot release May 11th, 2001 • Student pilot release June 28th, 2001 • General availability to students, faculty, and staff scheduled for Sep. 28th, 2001 Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  25. Top 10 Best Practices (in James’s opinion) 10. Have Fun!! 9. Focus on a few “big bang” services first with some “sticky” services thrown in 8. Define basic interoperability standards 7. Assume an iterative development process 6. Conduct frequent usability and accessibility testing 5. Obtain a shared vision across the enterprise 4. Get students excited about the project! 3. Have a strategic plan 2. Work to have only one portal 1. Obtain ongoing executive level support Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

  26. Demo OneStart.iu.edu Want to talk portals? jthomas@indiana.edu Indiana University Has Embarked on a Journey to Create the “Next Generation” Web Portal

More Related