Here at APU we have 2 full-time staff looking after the 
corporate site (one currently on a temporary contract). We 
are also fortunate to be able to call heavily on the 
services of the HTML support officer in the Comms & IT 
service. We've also spent quite some time training up 
around 60 "local" web developers to take responsibility for 
departments and units below the corporate level. 
I don't believe that it's appropriate to contract out 
maintenance of such a vitally important area if you are 
able to perform this role in-house. Keeping it 
in-house means timely updating, but more importantly 
constant involvement with site users at all levels, which 
informs future enhancements.

During our recent site re-write, we've taken the 
opportunity to ease the maintenance load by incorporating 
SSIs for page headers and footers, also using CSS on a 
limited basis. We've included guidelines and all necessary 
code for any of the "locals", but have not tried to force 
conformity. Many of these developers are now moving 
voluntarily in a similar direction. (We also hope to return 
to using corporate databases for some source content when  
data quality issues have been resolved!)

I'm fortunate in that as former Head of MIS, I do have 
reasonable seniority within the university and chair our 
Web Policy Group (including the Deputy Vice Chancellor and 
our 2 Pro Vice Chancellors, which ensures buy in at the 
highest level.) As Tony points out below, reinforcing the 
corporate strategy helps; in our case we've included 
snippets from the strategy in appropriate places throughout 
the website. The site has received very favourable comments 
from many quarters, including the Vice Chancellor.

As for HERO, any views on how is it impacted upon by the 
fathom project? 
(see latest copy of THES or visit http://www.fathom.com  )
Regards
Maurice
On Wed, 12 Apr 2000 08:54:25 +0100 
[log in to unmask] wrote:

>      We at MRC Head Office are also looking at this - we work on a 
>      distributed publishers basis for the main web site but with some 
>      central control form the design/HTML team (2 part time but 
>      inadequate). 
>      
>      I have been resisting outsourcing this activity as it is business 
>      critical. 
>      
>      We are looking at some technological solutions, eg content management 
>      and better use of CSS, templates etc, and using a Project Board to set 
>      standards and discuss resourcing issues.  
>      
>      I recall there was a discussion at the Goldsmiths Web Workshop last 
>      Autumn where it was suggested that one of the important hooks for 
>      senior staff was to show how the web site was supporting the strategic 
>      business plan.  Also, HERO (HEI Mall as was) will possibly force us 
>      all to be more competitive (with each other in terms of quality of web 
>      sites).
>      
>      Tony Helm
>      
>      Information Services Group
>      Medical Research Council (MRC)
>      Head Office
>      20, Park Crescent
>      London
>      W1N 4AL
>      UK
>      
>      tel: 0171 636 5422
>      [log in to unmask]
>      http://www.mrc.ac.uk/
> 
> 
> ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
> Subject: Re: Ongoing maintenance of main websites
> Author:  "Lesley Green" <[log in to unmask]> at Internet
> Date:    12/04/00 12:21
> 
> 
> Brian,
>      
> This is very topical to us here too.  We are just getting our web presence 
> up to speed (and up to date) and then I have the onerous task of telling 
> my noncomputing managment colleagues that this isn't a do once and forget 
> issue.  I too need to work out what support the site will need on an 
> ongoing basis and whether we need to employ someone in our department for 
> this, contract to Unversity IT Support for this or contract it out to a 
> third party.  Thus I am also interested in others experience with this. 
> Control vs cost vs timeliness on issues seems to be my main concern.
>      
> Comments???
>      
> Lesley Green
> Monash University
>      
>      
> Brian Diggle wrote:
>      
> > Here at Leeds University we are currently in the process of
> > redesigning our main web site. As part of this process we are
> > considering the issue of ongoing maintenance and support of the 
> > site after launch.
> >
> > It would therefore be of great interest to hear how other institutions 
> > in the UK are tackling this issue.
> >
> > Do you have staff dedicated to support your main websites? If so,
> > what kind of staff have you found are required? For example, do you
> > have editorial staff, technical editors ( ie. HTML authors ), graphic 
> > designers, web developers?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Brian Diggle
> > Web Coordinator
> > Information Systems Services
> > University of Leeds
>      
>      
> 

----------------------
Maurice Crockard  Tel: 01245 493131 x 3740
Information Manager and Web Co-ordinator
Strategic Information & Planning Unit
[log in to unmask]








%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%