JISC

Introduction  

The JISC Portals Programme has as two of its aims:

• to have a fully developed view of the nature and role of portals within the Information Environment
• to explore the potential of portals as an extendable network of "gate keepers" to content

To support these aims, the JISC has funded a number of case studies in the assessment and implementation of portal solutions within an institution.  The studies include work on institution-wide portals and more specific library portals.  Case study reports will inform the JISC and the FE and HE community on the current development and use of portals in these two areas and assist with the future development of portals at both the national and institutional level. 

Overall Approach  

The case studies have been commissioned at a local level, with those carrying out the work preparing them and including contributions from all those involved within the institution.  The studies will cover all or most of the following areas, with an emphasis on drawing out general issues and lessons learnt for other institutions to benefit from. 

Library-Orientated Portals

• The basis and reasons for implementing a library portal solution.
• The specific aims for the portal. Details of the assessment of possible solutions carried out, including the criteria used, results (accepting that such information can be confidential) and the pros and cons of any specific methodology employed.
• Any factors that influenced the choice of portal, e.g., whether a solution was related to the existing library management system.
• Details of the implementation of the portal, including timescales, technical requirements, impact on library service, marketing, alterations in library staff skill sets, training sessions and materials (both for librarians and users).
• Evaluation of the portal, including any user feedback received.
• An analysis of the changes that the portal brought about and the benefits and/or problems accrued.
• Plans for the future of the portal.
• A wishlist of functionality that your portal does not yet offer.

Institutional Portal Solutions 

Assessment Issues

• The methods used for assessment, both between alternative solutions (comparative) and for particular solutions (individual).
• The origin of the methods used (for example, home-grown, adapted from elsewhere, external without adaptation).
• How useful the methods employed were and their advantages and disadvantages.
• Recommendations for how other institutions could employ the same methods.
• The results of the assessments carried out. These should include the results, where available, of a functional investigation, technical investigation, user impact/cultural investigation, user/usability investigation, and workflow investigation. Where portal solutions are named, the version being assessed and the date(s) of the assessment will be given.
• The specifications used to assess portal solutions against.
• Suggestions for methods not used or enhancements to methods employed.
• Information on the impetus of how your institution came to investigate an institutional portal.
• Links between the institutional portal and other systems within the institution and the level of integration aimed for/achieved.

Implementation Issues

• A full breakdown of the stages and timetable of implementation.
• The hardware/software requirements for the implementation.
• The skill sets required/employed and the level of technical effort involved. In addition, reports should indicate any gaps that were identified during the process and how these were addressed.
• The level of integration incorporated within the portal between institutional systems and any plans for future expansion of this integration.
• The testing carried out, both technical and user and the results/feedback received as a result of such testing.
• The training that took place for both implementers and the users of the portal.
• The functionality offered by the portal as implemented, including the functionality at launch (where applicable) and the functionality now offered.
• The implications for working practices within the institution through the use of the portal and how these have been addressed.
• How accessibility issues have been addressed.

Case studies have been funded at the following institutions:

• Glasgow Caledonian University (institution-wide)
• University of Durham   (institution-wide)
• University of Edinburgh   (institution-wide)
• University of Hull   (institution-wide)   Appendices
• University of Loughborough (library)
• University of Nottingham (institution-wide)

Case studies will be disseminated widely via this website and other JISC channels.