A6: Web Site Re-development

Miles Banbery,University of Kent at Canterbury

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Abstract How often should redevelopment be done? How can we get institutional support for the

necessary work? How do you assess what needs doing and the

effectiveness of your current provision? Re-development in-house or buy-in? What user testing should/can be done?

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Timetable for the session

09.15 - 09.45 Introductions09.45 - 10.15 Overview of re-development

issues10.15 - 10.45 Kent redesign case study10.45 - 11.15 Coffee11.15 - 11.55 Group work11.55 - 12.15 Reporting back (5 mins per

group)

Introductions

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

About you ... Who are you?

What re-development do you want to do?

How do you know?

Overview ofredevelopment issues

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

What you have to know ... Where are you coming from? Where are you going to? Why? Who wants it / needs it? How much will it cost? How long will it last? How will you know if it is successful?

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

But we did the Webtwo years ago!

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Who do you have to convince? Budget holders

– VFM / cost effectiveness Strategists / Management

– Key to delivery of other, wider aims and objectives - must tie in with institutional strategic aims

Providers– Easy to use, better quality information, more

professional look/feel - they need to identify with it Users

– Better service - accuracy, personalisation, interest

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Magic phrases? Our competitors are doing … Legislation (accessibility, widening participation,

trading standards) More content / less maintenance per item Fast/pretty/useful - razorblade of life Design no longer portrays institution as … We can make more sales, recruit more students

by ... Our users said ...

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

(Re-) Development stages Strategy

Structure

Interface

Graphics

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Strategic design What type of site are you? Audiences

– Types– Needs

Providers– Available Information– Wants

Available resources - centrally and departmentally How will you know how it is performing?

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Assessing the audiences Who do you want to come?

– Potential students / staff– Current students / staff– Potential conference bookings– Corporate clients / partners

What is it they need?– User questionnaires / analysis– Market research– Focus groups– Comparing rivals’ Web sites

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Assessing effectiveness Sales Link popularity Hits (Web stats) Return visits (cookies) Downloaded files Solicited feedback Unsolicited feedback Availability of enhanced

services Cost-effective maintenance

Registered users User testing Trade publications / peer

review Awards Share of e-business

against traditional modes of delivery

Comparison with competitors

World standards

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Structural design Information organisation / architecture Putting things where people can find them There is always more than one way How it appears on the screen may not be how the

files are arranged in the folders - but it is easier that way!

This is a subjective task

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Criteria for organisation Dependent on type of site - product driven or

audience driven? Sorted by type of interaction Sorted by user intent or user identification Hybrids - Major sections plus exceptions and inter-

linked services Shallow organisation against deep structure How many links to each page should you have? There must be more than one way to use the site

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Interface What components are on each page? (Don’t forget

the content)

Navigation

Usability

No colour or size at this stage

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

Graphic design Colour

Fonts

Shape

Size

Pictures / icons

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

The old problem ... In house

– Staffing hungry - additional to normal service

– Short-term contracts– Recruitment problems– Control kept on-site– Custom features– Matches the institutional

needs– Needs re-writing when that

is no longer the case– Wheel re-invention?

Out-source– A new view - fresh ideas– Varied expertise available at

short notice– External credibility– Lack of control– Unknown resource applied

to your project– Lump sum hungry

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

User testing Do not rely on your own knowledge of you

customer - use your customers Time implications Massive gains if mistakes found early on The customer is not too stupid to use your site (on

the whole) Controlled environments - set tasks Watch mistakes and record them - do not prompt

Discussion groups

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

What we have to do now

1. Problems

2. How we tackled them

3. Recommendations for UK HE institutions

4. Recommendations for external agencies

M.E.C.Banbery@ukc.ac.uk : 26/06/2001(c) 2001, The University of Kent at Canterbury

What you have to do now … Get into groups of 3/4

Nominate a reporter

Pick a topic from the list of four

Consider three problems of your choice and find three possible helpful suggestions or ideas for each