"The Benefits of Using Web Content Management Systems"
Gregory L. Koch IIGregory L. Koch II earned his Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication from New Mexico Tech in May of 2009 and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology. His interests include visual design, Internet and web communications, and single sourcing, server and network management. Greg has developed several web applications using Web Content Management Systems and recently served as Lead Web Developer and Designer for New Mexico Tech’s website redesign project.
Contents |
ImplicationsLooking through the data collected through my survey, the benefits of using WCMSs becomes clearer and can be directly related to the previous literature on the subject. In this section, I return to the literature I found and discuss how it supports my survey and thesis. Emerging TechnologyAs I have already explored in the background section, technology is quickly changing. Throughout the years, web technologies have progressed from simple HTML (combining content with style and layout), to HTML and CSS (separating content from style and layout), to WYSIWYG editors in combination with HTML and CSS (providing an easy editing method for updating pages and keeping them consistent). With database technologies becoming more popular, the next logical step is to integrate the previous technologies with the new, more useful technology. WCMSs embody this integration. While my survey shows that older technologies are still used, it provides evidence that WCMSs are becoming more popular, with a little more than half of the participants using a WCMS. The survey data also provide evidence that larger organizations are more commonly using this technology, and in doing so have saved time and money while generating more sales. Because the technology is so new, many people are hesitant to use it. Installing, configuring, and populating a WCMS can be costly and time consuming. By selecting the right system, based on requirements of the organization, the organization can use content they already have and easily adapt it for the web. It becomes easier to convince administration of the benefits of using a WCMS when an open source package can be used. System SelectionSelecting the correct system is very critical to benefiting from a WCMS, and the process begins with the license type the organization selects. The survey I conducted shows that organizations choose a variety of license types. The 36 participants using WCMSs were divided equally between open source, licensed, and proprietary systems. Shreves presented data about commonly used open source WCMS and their popularity and available support. Guenther provided a list of features an organization may need to consider in addition to the license type. When considering a system, the initial cost of purchasing the system can really impact the productivity of implementation. If the expected profits from using a WCMS outweigh the costs of implementation, it is obviously beneficial. If an open source system can be used in lieu of a costly system, the savings would be much higher. As seen in my survey, 91.6% of the participants’ organizations experienced increases in sales. When selecting a system, an organization should look at the architecture of the database system and the possibility of content reuse. If the database can be populated with existing content, an immense amount of time can be saved. The system should also allow for easy integration into the current system and procedures. Ease of use should also be a key factor in selecting a system. If the system does not accommodate an organization’s needs, it can increase the amount of time required to add content and reduce the employee productivity. This would obviously be a problem and should influence the selection of a system greatly. My survey shows that, overall, people using a WCMS found it easier to add content to a website than editing content manually with an offline editor or directly with HTML. |