The Politics of Designing a Large University Website
-
Upload
tamuwww -
Category
Technology
-
view
394 -
download
1
Transcript of The Politics of Designing a Large University Website
![Page 1: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Politics of Designing a Large University Website
Erick BeckDirector, Web Development
Marketing & CommunicationsTexas A&M University
![Page 2: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
My New Project
Imagine you have just been asked to work on a new project.
What do you think of?
![Page 3: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
![Page 4: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
We Will Discuss
• What is politics?
• Why does it matter?
• How does it affect us?
• What should we do?
• Sample projects
![Page 5: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Woodrow Wilson
U.S. President 1913-1921
Princeton University President 1902-1910
![Page 6: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
What Is Politics?
![Page 7: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
What Is Politics?
A framework of competition between two or more parties for the gaining of their own advantage, goals, or desires.
![Page 8: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
![Page 9: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Why it Matters
• Even if we choose not to play politics, others will.
• The process goes on all around us. Often we in IT aren’t even aware of the conversation.
![Page 11: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
![Page 12: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
IT’s Point of View
• In IT we often concentrate on the technology part of the problem. Most of us don’t see –and may not be in a position to see – the bigger picture.
• The decisions that shape the workings of a project – even an IT project – are usually not related to the technology, and are made by people whose primary area of responsibility is not IT.
![Page 13: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
The Trees
![Page 14: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
A Forest
![Page 15: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Forest Boundaries
![Page 16: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
IT’s Point of View
• The questions that guide projects are focused on whether the underlying problem is being solved. The decision makers are not focused on the specifics of the implementation.
• This is the disconnect, because most of us are involved in the implementation and are not aware of other non-technology factors that might be driving the overall project.
![Page 17: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Doing it Right
• Most of us are very conscientious of “doing things right” in our projects. We often are very vocal about what is the “right” way.
• But “right” can be different depending on your point of view. What is the best implementation from an IT point of view might be completely wrong from a fiscal or legal point of view.
![Page 18: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
![Page 19: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Why it Matters
• In my experience, most of the higher level decision making that affects a project takes place at this level.
• Many times we are never even aware it is going on.
• We nevertheless see the end effects of it on our projects.
![Page 20: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
So what do we do?
Or, “tips for coping with these things.”
![Page 21: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
So what do we do?
• Understand that these things are going on, but are largely out of our control.
• Advocate for the most appropriate solution possible, understanding that we might have different opinions on how the project “should” have been shaped to begin with.
![Page 22: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
So what do we do?
• Identify early in the process any items that you suspect will be politically sensitive. Don’t just rush in and start building something.
• Consult with stakeholders to learn before implementation where the pitfalls and objections will be coming from.
• This will help avoid high profile changes after the project launches (which you will have to make!)
![Page 23: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
So what do we do?
• Pick your battles. Don’t cause problems for others by trying to argue every minor point.
• You want to be respected for your expertise and opinion, not get the reputation for being difficult to deal with.
• Reputation of a powerful commodity. If you have it your voice will be listened to when it really matters.
![Page 24: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
So what do we do?
• Be willing to stand up for what is right on important issues. Some things you are the expert on and it is necessary for that to be expressed.
• Case in point – accessibility issues on our web pages.
![Page 25: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Politics is Local Too
• Project teams can be wide ranging, and each member can have their own agendas that affect the process.
![Page 26: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Politics is Local Too
• Project sponsor – whether that is the president’s office, your department head, an individual faculty member, etc.
• This person will primarily be focused on the overall message of the project, but individual likes and dislikes must be taken into account.
• Choice of photos, multi page or long scroll, favorite animal.
• In the end this is the person you have to satisfy.
![Page 27: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Politics is Local Too
• The administration – this could be at the university level or your own department.
• Deans, VPs, and department heads can often be very specific on their requests.
![Page 28: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Politics is Local Too
• Design team – assuming you are not a one person shop doing both design and development.
• Designers often focus on the design, even to the extent of creating the design first and fitting the content and organization to the design.
• How many lorem ipsum designs have you seen
![Page 29: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Politics is Local Too
• Development team
• Often focused on technical “correctness” without consideration for the larger needs or purpose of the site.
![Page 30: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Politics is Local Too
• Special Interests
• No site is created in a vacuum. No matter how specific we think it may be there are lots of people across campus who have an interest.
• The administration, the corps, research, diversity, student affairs, departments within a college, …
• Many times there is political rivalry and competing interest among these groups.
![Page 31: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Who is Missing?
• Have you identified the group that is missing in this conversation so far?
• The audience the site is supposed to be for in the first place.
• We often get so caught up in this process of pleasing these visible constituents that we don’t hear the voice of “the people”.
![Page 32: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
xkcd.com
![Page 33: The Politics of Designing a Large University Website](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062406/55a80d7b1a28abba118b4833/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Our Latest Projects
• Texas A&M Today – University news site
• www.tamu.edu
• 12th Man
• Grand Challenges
• University Capital / Marketing Campaign