Transcript PowerPoint 97

Commissioning a Web site
Martin Belcher
University of Bristol
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Outline
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Background
Rationale behind presentation
Why put things out to tender?
Developing a tender specification
Advantages and disadvantages
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Background
• Internet Development Group consultancy arm of the ILRT
• Web development, usability, design,
training
• Local, national, international clients
• Educational focus
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Rationale
• The benefits of using third parties
• Guidelines for commissioning third
parties/external Web professionals
• Service specification for in-house
delivery
• Better end services and products
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Why use third parties?
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Lack of appropriate skills in-house
Access to specialised skills
Concentration on strengths
Excess demand on your time and
resources
• Better delivery times
• More cost effective?
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Developing a tender specification
• Interface design, build, service
delivery, usability research, hosting,
etc.
• User needs analysis
– user consultation, user/task/environmental
analysis
• Service level specification
– support, iterations, meetings, communication
channels, delivery dates, penalty clauses
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Examples and results
• Simple design specification
– design brief for Faculty of Law Web site:
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use of graphics should be minimised in order to maximise speed of page loading
top of page navigation bar with section names (names as attached)
University crest in top left corner
University colours where appropriate
standard footer with agreed standard links (as attached)
all code must validate to HTML 4.0 transitional
complete site must meet WAI Guidelines (must validate to Bobby level 1)
ariel, helvetica font for easy online reading
incorporating content as agreed
– results <over>
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Examples and results...
• More complex design
– specification <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/temp/>
– results <http://www.cultivate-int.org/>
• Complex information gateway build and
implementation
– specification <complex-tender.pdf>
– results - in progress
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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How much effort?
• Time and effort will need to be spent in
drawing up a tender specification
• Related to the overall budget,
complexity and potential for confusion
• Learning curve and ability to reuse parts
of previous documents
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
10
Tips for inclusion
• Leave nothing out - state it or you may
not get it
• Agreed timetable and deadlines
• Agreed specification and what it relates
to in terms of deliverables
• Iterations, meetings, contact points and
lines of reporting
• Signed contract
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
11
Advantages
• Access to specialised skills otherwise
not available
• Access to certain skills NOW
– appropriate skills, not necessarily better
• Concentration on strengths rather than
“jack of all-trades”
• Cost effectiveness
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
12
Disadvantages
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Up-front time and effort
“Expensive” third-parties
Internal resistance
Which third-party do you trust?
– Similar approaches to graphic design, logos,
printing, etc.
• Additional management and
administration overheads
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
13
Additional benefits
• Detailed service specification for
improved in-house build
• When replying to tenders
• Better user needs analysis
– increased usability of Web sites and services
• Phasing and timetabling of projects
• Increased quality of Web based
services
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Summary
• Commissioning aspects of a Web site
should be considered
– access to appropriate skills
– cost
– different ways of working
• Useful side effects for overall
improvements in service delivery
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
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Any questions?
Thank you
Institute for Learning and Research Technology
The Institute for Learning and Research Technology is a national centre of excellence in the
development and use of technology-based methods in teaching, learning and research
16