The Evolution and Devolution of the Webmaster Role

The Evolution and Devolution of the Webmaster Role Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Abstract This presentation examines the changing role of the webmaster from the master of all things web-related (server setup and maintenance, site architecture, site design, writing, marking up and authorisation of content, scripting, user support) to the manager and coordinator of people who are specialists in each web-related area or the initial contact person for web-related issues. Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Remember that the Web is very new • • World Wide Web proposed in 1990 There were 50 webservers in 1992 Graphical web browsers appeared in 1993 There were 2500 webservers the end of 1994, including www. monash. edu. au • There are very few webmasters with 10 years experience … Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Evolution of the Web www. dejavu. org Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Webmaster as innovator • Websites were first made by people with – access to the internet – some technical skills – an interest in information sharing • Generally no institutional support – webmaster not recognised as a proper role – usually an individual with reasonably free access to resources to host a webserver Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Webmaster as sysadmin • Innovators encouraged others to provide content for the web • People wanted access to the webserver to serve their content • Sysadmins provided access to webserver – defacto information architecture based on directory structure and file permissions – people put content where they were able to Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Webmaster as all-powerful • Webmaster (sysadmin) controlled – who had access to webserver – where they could put things – what they could put there – navigational structure – interactivity via CGI scripts • No institutional recognition, so content providers at the mercy of webmaster Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Webmaster as marker-upper • Around 1996, the web became more generally accepted as more than a toy • More people wanted to put content on the web but without having to learn HTML • People were employed to “mark up” content for their department’s website – converted existing documents into web format – not much concept of coherent website Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Webmaster as hobbyist • WYSIWYG HTML editors, easy drawing programs and HTML conversion utilities • anyone could make web pages without knowing HTML or graphic design • information proliferated as anyone could publish content with no editorial process • interest in the web spread beyond academia to the commercial world. . . Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Webmaster as policy enforcer • Web more visible and with more content • Web used as marketing tool • Enough time elapsed for web content to become outdated and original content publishers to have lost interest • Webmaster responsible for authorising content and maintaining site according to emerging web guidelines and policies Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Web guidelines and policies What role is webmaster? – technical – content – marketing – admin Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Webmaster as manager • Webmaster’s role shared across team of – server admins – site information architects – web page and user interface designers – web developers (scripters, programmers) – database designers … and CONTENT – business analysts PROVIDERS – customer service staff Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Devolution of Webmaster role • Most business units at Monash have – webmaster / web designers / technical support • often non-specialist “computer people” – content providers • often administrative staff with no web training • Not clear who is supposed to think about – overall site information architecture, navigation and design of content for target web audiences Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Role of Monash Website • • expect to find information on the web corporate information repository > 200, 000 static pages on Monash site does not include 600+ courses on Web. CT diverse user base and business needs overwhelming complexity content and technology a moving target Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Some Areas for Web Policies • • visual identity and design guidelines standards compliance navigation and usability guidelines accessibility requirements quality control of content intellectual property and copyright contact information for website Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Role of a Monash Webmaster • Webmaster > IT manager > Executive • Web group responsible for webserver and website maintenance, but not information architecture, visual identity or content • User experience relates to latter three • Departments provide content • Marketing provides visual identity • Who drives information architecture? Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Who makes Web policies ? • Managers want strong web policies but don’t really understand the web • Standard rhetoric: – “if you are > 30 you don’t know about the web” • However - note the converse: – “if you are < 30, you only know about the web” If you are > 40 and you have > 5 yrs web experience, you also have > 5 yrs experience of something else. . . Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Who makes Web policies (cont) ? • Webmaster input needs to come from broad range of expertise within web team • Management often unaware of expertise available within Monash web community • Management often have unrealistic expectations of web competency of users • Advice about web and online services often derived from inappropriate sources Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Some thoughts on webmastery • • No one person has complete web skillset Few people have > 6 years experience Web people have diverse backgrounds Web team members need – complementary skillsets and good teamwork – good communication skills and user focus – a willingness to share information and to learn – a respect for different perspectives Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Web issues • Importance of website is growing more rapidly than allocation of resources • Information architecture and user interface design are not trivial issues • Content management and preparation of content for different media is not trivial • Need to blend technical skills with an understanding of business requirements Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Future Directions • Website is becoming the major interface to the university’s teaching, research and administrative services • Web presence is increasingly tied to complex backend information systems • Scope and magnitude of managing web presence is same scale as managing the knowledge assets of the university Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002

Some books • Webmaster skills – Spainhour and Quercia, Webmaster in a Nutshell, O’Reilly, 2000 – Niederst, Web Design in a Nutshell, O’Reilly, 1999 • Huge array of specialised O’Reilly books on web technology and database driven websites Dr Lisa Wise 9/08/2002