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Evaluate WCMS technology for the university setting with a focus on web design, content creation, administrative processes, and management. After two years, recommendations will be made for an enterprise-wide rollout if deemed appropriate.
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Web Content Management System Assessment Year One of a Two-Year Project between Northwestern University Information Technology and University Relations September 2004
Project Goals • This two-year project is intended as a “proof of concept” for WCMS technology. It is not an attempt to determine a “best investment” for a unified enterprise WCMS within Northwestern. • Evaluate WCMS technology in a University setting. • Web Site Design and Architecture Development • Content Creation, Portability, and Distribution • Administrative Processes • Management • At the end of the two years, NUIT and UR will make recommendations on an enterprise-wide rollout, if deemed appropriate.
WCMS Project Concerns about staff expertise and the limitations of typical Web publishing tools motivated NUIT and UR to evaluate a WCMS solution. Promises of a WCMS: • Such systems promise easy content updates and page additions regardless of the site's size. • Additional benefits include more controlled visual presentation and approval processes that can be customized depending on departmental needs. NUIT and UR proposed the selection, purchase, and implementation of a WCMS for the pilot project: - FatWire. http://www.fatwire.com/
Creating the NUIT Web site using the WCMS http://www.it.northwestern.edu/
Service • Title • Description • Features • Cost • Requirements • Support Items • FAQ Group • Requirements • Macintosh • Windows • Linux • PDA • Support Item • Title • Description • Procedure • Support Item • Title • Description • Procedure • FAQ Question • Question • Answer • FAQ Group • Title • Description • FAQ Questions • FAQ Question • Question • Answer Separating Design and Data: Content Classes
Initial Project Assessment The WCMS allows for: • distributed authorship/site editors • information portability • greater ease of Web site management • an increased level of control and consistency in Web site development • the specification of workflows and/or approval processes before content is posted online
Challenges of WCMS • Whether a WCMS demonstrates return on investment remains to be seen. • A lot of upfront planning. • An enterprise-wide WCMS will not be an "out-of-the-box" solution. • Setting up the JSP (i.e., the display Web page or template) has been an additional challenge during year one of the pilot project.
Questions? Next Steps… • For additional questions regarding the possibility of utilizing a WCMS for your school or department, please contact Staci Roberts, director of Web Communications at scr@northwestern.edu or 467-5209