Website Redesign and Back-End Integration

Your initiative is more than just "getting a new website". Our recipe for "web excellence" guarantees that your projects fulfill the needs of all stakeholders.

Problem Statement - Companies undergoing a website redesign typically encounter the following problems:

• Inadequate Management of Web Vendor – The end result is often not what the client expected/envisioned, or the total cost ends up being more then what is fair. Usually, the web design firm says they have project management expertise when in fact they don't. Web management skills are entirely different from that of a web architect, web designer or web programmer. Proper web management provides a roadmap for website releases planned out over the course of a few years, not just 'a new website'.
  
  
• Lack of Web Process Definition - It's very common to find that the approach taken by a web design firm is not based 100% on a business process, which it should be. (Someone coming to your website is a business process in itself, and is probably more complex than you think. Consider the diversity of reasons that people come to your website, the multitude of user expectations, and your ability to help them feel 'satisfied'.) Often web designers overlook business requirements and a longer-term strategy, causing a lack of feature prioritization and proper scope definition. This can lead to run-on web projects, wasted IT investment, and/or a negative-to-low return on investment.
  
  
• Inadequate Assessment of the Web Designer or Firm - There is usually no game plan in place for the correct mix of resources at the right prices, which are needed for a very diverse set of requirements including business/process, navigation, usability, visual design, technical design, programming, testing, implementation, communication, documentation, content administration, and support. Also, there are usually integration considerations, database issues, and enterprise system design factors to resolve within the first 3 releases on the website roadmap.
  
  
• Lack of Methodology and Vendor Pricing Model - It is common to hear of companies who replaced their current website without giving the proper attention to all the external needs and internal priorities. The expertise needed should be centered on project management for the purpose of achieving 'web excellence', however most companies don't have the time or ability to effectively evaluate proposals and prices being offered by web design firms. The lack of a fact-based and proven approach puts the client in a poor position for negotiating favorable pricing and for managing web vendor contracts objectively.

The Right Approach - The value of a website-redesign initiative is contained in the process analysis and the synergies that can be identified between the various stakeholders of the website. A company should employ a sensible methodology for managing its web initiatives, or should consider employing the services of someone who has the right expertise for web strategy and management. The management arm should be completely objective and independent from the designers and developers. This ensures that you get the best results and the best value possible, which also provides the management control you deserve.

Info724 will play an advisory role on a regular basis, which can be spread across several weeks if appropriate. Here are some of the key deliverables we provide:

• Evaluate web designers and development proposals to provide detailed action steps and recommendations for proceeding.
• Guide the client sponsor or project team to avoid common mistakes before engaging a web design firm or to mitigate the risk after an SOW has been signed.
• Guide the development of a requirements process for each of the dimensions of website redesign including process/business, functional, visual, technical, and enterprise integration planning.
• Provide a checklist of considerations to guide the requirements phase.
• Establish a weekly management control process between the web firm and the client personnel. This is crucial to the success of the project as it will arm you with:
  • What questions need to be asked of the vendor?
  • How to develop milestones in the project to track project risks.
  • How to identify project risks – time, cost and scope considerations.
  • How to develop methods to mitigate project risks and improve results.
• Guide project participants and facilitate a team process to achieve a group of satisfied stakeholders, both internally and externally.