Anarchy versus Control in Web Site Management

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Anarchy versus Control in Web Site Management
Malcolm Raggett IT Manager School of Oriental
and African Studies University of London
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Overview

• Why are you doing this Web stuff?
• How have Web sites evolved?
• What factors need consideration?
• What is the managers role?
• Conclusion

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Why are you doing this Web stuff?

• Because its there/new/fun/kudos
• Weve got all this infrastructure, so wed better
  find a use for it
• To fulfil specific aims
• To reduce staff head count
• To recruit more students
• To improve learning and research
• For knowledge capture
• To share information and experience (knowledge
  management)
• To improve communication

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Evolution of Web Content
Individual enthusiasts
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Some Management Factors to Consider

• Institutional culture
• Evolution v. Revolution
• Anarchy v. Control
• Low inertia v. high inertia
• Democratic v. Autocratic
• Consistent v. Inconsistent
• Resources
• Hardware, software, infrastructure
• Staffing quantity, quality, distribution
• Training
• Management structure now, future
• Policies, strategies, codes of practice

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The Managers Role

• Traditional managers job
• Plan
• Organise
• Execute
• Measure

Networked managers job Define Allocate
Monitor Nurture
With apologies to Thomas A. Stewart. 1997.
Intellectual Capital
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So What?

• Theres no right answer, but there are lots of
  partially right ones!
• Theres no formula, but there are lots of
  variables!

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Discussion

• So why is your institution doing Web stuff?
• What stage(s) has your institution reached? And
  how can you use this knowledge?
• What other factors need consideration?
• Is managing the Web really different, or is it
  being used to further a hidden agenda?
• What recommendations do you have and who should
  be listening?