I think the term web-manager is probably very unhelpful and does not
help those of us fulfill this role get our point across in the
institution.

I think there are a variety of roles (which may of course be held by the
same person!):

1 - webmaster - a much misused term, but with a sensible foundation.
This is essentially an administrative/clerical function analogous with
the long standing "postmaster" and "newsmaster". Webmaster is the first
line contact for webby related communication with the users of the
service - a sort of clearing house function. Unfortunately this term has
been used to embrace a much wider area.

2 - web author - simple enough, the person who crafts the pages -
probably to someone else's brief

3 - web system support - maintain the server

And finally, the person who make this hang together. I don't think this
person actually needs much knowledge of the web at an HTML/technical
level at all - in fact, this may be a disadvantage causing restricted
vision. The task I think we are labelling web-manger is really something
along the lines of "Corporate information services manager". Funnily
enough, I bet a lot of places have one of these who has nothing to do
with the web. Until "web managers" fill this role or CISMs take on WWW
services, we will always have problems and conflicts.

Cheers,

Colin



> > *The fundamental point of what or who is a Web manager:
> > - the technical person who manages the server
> > - a manager from the IT services
> > - someone who knows about organising information (eg a librarian)
> > - the university PR/external relations/marketing section
> > - some combination of such people
> 
> No, a web manager is a web manager is a web manager.  This
> desire to use the wrong person for the job is one of the most
> saddening things in academic websites today, I feel.
_________________________________________________ 
Colin K. Work
Computing Services
University of Southampton

email [log in to unmask]
tel.  01703 593090 (direct line)


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