Hey! You! Get Offa My Web! Hidden Desires and Unforeseen Circumstances in Web Management Mike McConnell, Web Team Iain Middleton, Learning Technology Unit University of Aberdeen

Who are you? What bugs you? A marketer? A Web Team bod? A learning technologist? A corporate systems goblin? A senior manager? An academic (department?) A.N. Other?

Case Study – Staff portal The University will shortly launch its Staff portal: Manage HR records Manage publications Dynamically update staff web profiles Great, eh?

How did it come about? The players: Corporate systems User Services (Learning Technology, Web) The management The academics

Original goals Corporate systems: a student portal! User Services: staff web pages; a usable student portal The management: RAE readiness The academics: citation! no hassle web profiles

What happened next Corporate systems: ordered to put student portal on hold User Services: realised portal data could be used to create web pages The management: gave authority to drive project The academics:

Case Study - Portal Development Why? Because we can Players –initially: CSD –later: University management –still later: USD Result: for all parties, not entirely what was expected

Scenarios 1 – 15 minutes Split into groups 15 minutes to read brief and discuss Decide strategy/elect spokesperson/spokespeople

Scenarios 2 – 15 minutes Meet other group Negotiate Reach agreement (or not)

Scenarios 3 – Feedback What were the outcomes? How did you approach the discussion? What worked well? What didn’t work? What have you learned?

Negotiation techniques What do you want to achieve? What is your top and bottom line for agreement? What is the best alternative? What outcomes do you think the other party are seeking? What questions should you ask? What questions will be asked of you?

Negotiation techniques Build rapport Present your case clearly Listen attentively Ask questions and recap Explore possibilities: ‘If…then’ Find common ground and build on it

After negotiation Clarify understanding Specify undertakings Deadlines and milestones Reflect

Contacts Mike McConnell Iain Middleton Web Design Unit Learning Technology Unit