Web CMS: Proposed Path Forward Briefing for QIC Access Subcommittee – Rick Martin.

Web CMS: Proposed Path Forward

Briefing for QIC Access Subcommittee – Rick Martin

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Agenda

• Overview: Path Forward

• Web Publishing Today

• Automated Web Publishing 101

• Documentum: Current Status and Analysis

• Proposal

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The Path Forward

• The Administrator’s direction on revitalizing epa.gov changes the playing field for electronic web content management.

• OPA leadership has stated unequivocally that a content management system is needed now to begin this effort.

• The revitalization will begin slowly and expand over time.

• Selection of any solution other than Documentum will take 1-2 years.

• The current system, while imperfect, has been used successfully by several offices (and not by at least one other).

• OEI, with support from outside experts, believes that successful experiences can be replicated to support the revitalization effort while a full and open product selection is effected.

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Business Process Deficits

• 60 different business processes

• 60 different interpretations of look/feel rules

• No standard for review and approvals

• Content and presentation quality varies by page

• Decentralized web development makes use of automated tool more difficult

• Contractor-labor-intensive processes used to convert content to HTML

• Customer satisfaction is mediocre, and

• Costing us $8-12M annually

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Typical Process Today (1 of 60 methods)

Manual in all aspects!

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Automated Web Publishing 101: Building Blocks

• Content (documents, video, photos, etc.)• Metadata (subject, title, provenance)• Agency-wide templates• Limited number of well trained users• Very limited design/coding by content owners• Prescribed business processes • Automated publishing process

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Content Content ProvidersProviders

(OEI & OPA)(OEI & OPA)

OEIOEI

www.epa.govwww.epa.gov

AWP 101: Roles

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Content Content ProvidersProviders

(OEI & OPA)(OEI & OPA)

OEIOEI

www.epa.govwww.epa.gov

AWP 101: User Interface

All WCMS have certain complexity

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Documentum now

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Documentum now

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Documentum now

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Web Page Elements

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WebCMS -> Web Page

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Metadata Today

• Metadata FIELDS required – not metadata

• Why? Too labor-intensive to populate them!

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Today – Documentum & Metadata

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AWP 101: Web Publishing Creates Searchable Collection

MercuryMercury

Pollution Prevent’nPollution Prevent’n

Env. JusticeEnv. Justice

Acid RainAcid Rain

Drinking WaterDrinking Water

RegulationsRegulations

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Drinking Drinking WaterWater

Automated links to the Searchable Collection

MercuryMercury Pollution Pollution Prevent’nPrevent’n

Env. JusticeEnv. Justice

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Documentum Web Publisher: Current Status

• Experience to date:– OSWER/ORCR ended their efforts in frustration.– Athens, Region 8 and OEI continue to be quite successful.– Other offices forced by OEI to delay use until decision to proceed– OPA/Region 4 used it to successfully publish the Open Government site.

• Issues to date:– Documentum stores content well, but has a crude user interface– After-market interface is much better, though not perfect.– Business process to publish content is significantly different from current

manual approach– Server horsepower was originally inadequate resulting in slow response

time.– Users occasionally experience system delays.

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Documentum: Experts Take

– OEI and OPA have consulted two recognized experts for the past 5 years on automated content management.

– All automated content management systems have warts– In the past, they have counseled us that Documentum was an imperfect

solution but seemingly poised for improvement.– Experts today advised:

• Documentum is “platform,” requiring development investment• Documentum works; best in managed/disciplined environment• EMC product-commitment is suspect• Consider some ‘rent-a-web-cms’ solutions (unsuccessful)• Probably best to seek a different long term solution• Automated metadata engine very useful • Once in documentum, much easier to convert to another package.

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Using Documentum Successfully in the Interim

• Original vision of usage - wide access, many content contributors who are occasional users, prepare content as a part-time job.

• New usage model: very different - a small cadre of trained users who are every-day users of the WCMS

• Focus user support time and attention on products for the revitalized website

• Maximize benefits and ROI of Documentum (automated tagging, conversion to xml) in the interim

• Begin a requirements analysis for a replacement system.

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Proposal1. Any new WCMS adds uncertainty and high risk for

delays to renovation2. New model for user community matches that of

others who are successfully using Documentum– Small group of users with personal support from OEI– Tight adherence to page-build methods

3. Requirements analysis for finding the right tool for building a "vibrant and multi-dimensional Web site at www.epa.gov "

Continue using Documentum in interim Conduct expeditious but thorough requirements

analysis with your participation