Download - Texas State & Magnolia - Case Study
Texas State & MagnoliaTexas State & Magnolia
About Texas State UniversityAbout Texas State University
30,000 Students 3,500 Faculty and Staff 5th largest university in the state ~350 distinct websites
30,000 Students 3,500 Faculty and Staff 5th largest university in the state ~350 distinct websites
Life on campus before CMSes
Life on campus before CMSes
Every site looked different
Most were poorly designedand constructed
Sites hosted on whateverequipment the departmenthad, usually under a desk
Lack of people to maintain them
Every site looked different
Most were poorly designedand constructed
Sites hosted on whateverequipment the departmenthad, usually under a desk
Lack of people to maintain them
Our usersOur users
Majority of universitystaff are not comfortablewith computers
They want a site thatmakes them look greatbut actually only tookfive minutes
Majority of universitystaff are not comfortablewith computers
They want a site thatmakes them look greatbut actually only tookfive minutes
Early CMSesEarly CMSes
WebGUI - Our standard for user friendliness
Vignette - Our standard for user hostility
Blackboard - Introduced a lot of content management concepts
WebGUI - Our standard for user friendliness
Vignette - Our standard for user hostility
Blackboard - Introduced a lot of content management concepts
The Big ProjectThe Big Project
In 2004 we realized our campus needed an easy and readily available way to build and maintain web sites
Our focus shifted from creating single web sites to building a system the entire campus could use
In 2004 we realized our campus needed an easy and readily available way to build and maintain web sites
Our focus shifted from creating single web sites to building a system the entire campus could use
What our users neededWhat our users needed
Easy to use - very important Common look and feel Central management
Easy to use - very important Common look and feel Central management
Information ArchitectureInformation Architecture
Created standard navigation for four types of university web site
Two major benefits: Sped adoption of the CMS Discouraged users from trying to come
up with their own navigation styles
Created standard navigation for four types of university web site
Two major benefits: Sped adoption of the CMS Discouraged users from trying to come
up with their own navigation styles
Selecting MagnoliaSelecting Magnolia
Very informal process
Hybrid Open source / Commercial
Availability of support
We saw that Magnolia shared our priorities
Very informal process
Hybrid Open source / Commercial
Availability of support
We saw that Magnolia shared our priorities
Technical ImplementationTechnical Implementation
Set up multiple sites in one
installation
Integrated with other systems
Reused our existing caching
system
Set up multiple sites in one
installation
Integrated with other systems
Reused our existing caching
system
User ImplementationUser Implementation
Introduced it to users early for feedback
We were adamant that we were not forcing anyone
Added features for the power users
Introduced it to users early for feedback
We were adamant that we were not forcing anyone
Added features for the power users
Info SessionsInfo Sessions
A session for new users
Tell them what it is, and what is isn’t
Demo
Site best practices
A session for new users
Tell them what it is, and what is isn’t
Demo
Site best practices
Training & DocumentationTraining & Documentation
Single two hour session to teach the basics, then another two hour session for advanced topics
We wrote our own documentation for end users
Single two hour session to teach the basics, then another two hour session for advanced topics
We wrote our own documentation for end users
The GoodThe Good
Easy to use Efficient - Few servers required,
easy to develop Plugin architecture Upgrades, after the version
management was introduced
Easy to use Efficient - Few servers required,
easy to develop Plugin architecture Upgrades, after the version
management was introduced
The BadThe Bad
Synchronization between author and public instances
Backups and recovery of data Accessibility, particularly for blind
users End user documentation
Synchronization between author and public instances
Backups and recovery of data Accessibility, particularly for blind
users End user documentation
User ResponseUser Response
97% of our users said they would recommend the CMS to others
User survey results gave us a lot of useful data
Word of mouth helped adoption rate
97% of our users said they would recommend the CMS to others
User survey results gave us a lot of useful data
Word of mouth helped adoption rate
GrowthGrowth
Now hosting 240 sites On the first day of classes this Fall,
we served 327,332 pages
Now hosting 240 sites On the first day of classes this Fall,
we served 327,332 pages
Live sitesLive sites
Questions?Questions?