Every valuable web
project poses unique challenges, but the overall process of developing a
complex web site generally follows six major stages that you should think
through before crafting your final project planning and proposal documents:
- Definition and
planning
- Information architecture
- Design
- Construction
- Site trading
- Maintenance
Developing a large web site is a
process that may have far-reaching budgetary, personnel, and public relations
consequences for an organization, both during the website development and long after
its deployment. Too many web sites begin life as ad hoc efforts, created by
small interest groups working in segregation from their peers elsewhere in the organization and without
fully considering the site’s goals within the context of the organization’s
overall mission. The result of poorly planned, hasty development efforts often
is an “orphan site,” starved of resources and attention.
As you consider the development
process outlined below, note that the construction of the pages that make up
the web site is one of the last things that takes place in a well designed
project.
Site
definition and planning
This initial stage is where you
define your goals and objectives for the web site and begin to collect and
analyze the information you will need to justify the budget and resources
required. This is also the time to define the scope of the site content, the
interactive functionality and technology support required, and the depth and
breadth of information resources that you will need to fill out the site and
meet your users’ expectations. If you are contracting out the production of the
web site, you will also need to interview and select a site design firm.
Ideally, your site designers should be involved as soon as possible in the
planning discussions.
Site
production checklist
Not every site will require detailed
consideration of every item on the lists below. Web teams within corporations
or other large enterprises can often count on competent in-house technology
support when creating web sites. If you are on your own as an individual or
small business, you may need to contract with various technology and design
vendors to assemble everything you’ll need to create a substantial content site
or small e-commerce site.
