The web relaunch at JLU Giessen has the following objectives:
Digital signboard / digital business card of JLU
Modern, appealing, structured website (this includes good accessibility and the requirement that the pages must be optimally displayed on mobile devices)
Optimized acquisition of students, employees, and researchers
Highly up-to-date (both in terms of content and structure)
Clear and streamlined appearance
Sustainable web presence (mindset) by continuously updating technology and content
Empowerment of those involved, especially editors, with regard to content creation
User-friendliness for editors
Secured resources for relaunch and operation
Furthermore, the relaunch is a continuous process—technology, layout and content must therefore be kept up to date on an ongoing basis. This approach is intended to ensure that a successively growing innovation backlog is prevented through continuous development iterations ('continuous relaunch').
Technical prerequisites and editing
The implementation is based on the Plone content management system established at JLU.
In addition to layout and technology/functions, the topic of editing/content was also identified as a central component to be considered in a relaunch project.
For this reason, a central web editorial team with fixed points of contact in the central and decentralized areas is to be established. In close cooperation with the product owner, they will ensure that JLU presents itself in a uniform and appealing way on the web during and after a successful relaunch.
The central web editorial team will support JLU members with questions regarding content architecture and editorial design—for example by providing a framework for images and texts.
Focus areas and work packages
The optimization of the websites for the application and review phase as part of the Excellence Strategy and student recruitment were identified as priority strategic goals (focus areas). The following work packages are being worked on in parallel:
External commissioning for the creation of user experience (UX design/layout) and technical implementation of the UX (definition of user journeys, target group analysis, prioritization of functions, etc.)
Creation of an editorial concept (inventory, optimization of existing pages, editorial manual, templates for website content, specifications regarding accessibility, establishment of an editorial team, etc.)
Creation of a targeted project structure (see below) and creation of a corresponding information concept (information on project progress, creation of transparency, etc.)
Definition of a process model (staggered approach with central pages and early adopters, new start / 'fresh grass' and partial migration of objects, etc.)
Agile project management
The relaunch is implemented according to the agile project management approach in order to achieve visible results quickly. The product owner takes the key position between the three areas of technical implementation (architecture, programming, migration), UX/design, and editing, which are decisive for the implementation of the web relaunch. The product owner is responsible for the overall project management and the development of a schedule as well as the conception, control, and moderation of the agile introduction and long-term, university-wide stakeholder management of the new JLU website.
In the sense of a 'continuous relaunch', it is necessary to continuously develop the technology, layout, and content of the website after complete migration. The tasks of the product owner with overall responsibility for the website also include ongoing coordination of maintenance and care as well as testing and implementation of content enhancements in order to keep the website up to date even after the relaunch.
