Web Scenarios

Issues, Audiences, Conflicts

The details of each scenario are presented as a conflict (of opinion, need, policy, etc) within a broadly defined area of issues concerning design, access and quality of information. Each scenario has a target audience (on- or off-campus, alums, parents, prospective students, supporters of the college, etc).

Design issues include, among many topics:

the "look and feel" of a single web page or the entire web site
the presence or absence of navigational buttons ("back" and "home" buttons that might be part of the page itself), disclaimers or clear statements of authorship>
the relative placement of images or text on a page that imply relationships among entities (such as inappropriate hierarchies)
design elements which "break" when viewed by other browsers

Access issues include:

authenticating someone prior to their access to data
authenticating changes in data submitted through web technology
rights to privacy for personal, departmental, collegial information
monitoring and recording individuals' access to information
distributed responsibility for information, the need to mediate others' information access or the need to elminate information middlemen

Quality of information includes:

accuracy and timeliness of data
respect for intellectual property rights
free-speech, censorship concerns, editorial responsibility
for-profit uses
official college pages versus departmental pages versus personal pages

Management activity

Management of web policies is related to all three of these areas of concern. The management and enforcement of policies for the web require resources - people, software, hardware. There are always dangers of, for example, endorsing policies that require college staff to mediate processes on behalf of others, or to proactively monitor web uses for problems. The attribution of staff time can be significant in light of rapidly increasing demands for access to the opportunities afforded by the web. Automated systems can assist in web management, including the enforcement of policies, but such systems (software and hardware) can be prohibitively expensive.

The design and initial development of a web site is the first step in a continuing activity of web maintenance. Static web sites rarely sustain visitor interest. Web sites almost always need routine updating because the most useful information has a short half-life. In this way, web systems bear little resemblance to traditional software development projects in which programs were written, tested, marketed and supported. Effective web information systems expand and contract in coverage, change content, incorporate new technologies and evolve rapidly.

Web Scenarios

Issues, Audiences, Conflicts

Management activity

The Scenarios

I. "Music For Sale or Rent"

II. "They said WHAT??"

III. "Where are all the geology majors?"

IV. "It's none of your business!"

V. "The missing class of 2010"

VI. "Miscellanea"

Web Scenarios, by Scott E. Siddall. Copyright 2000 Scott E. Siddall. All rights reserved.