Web Manager University - Fall 2006
Class Title: Building Effective Web Governance
| Instructor: | Candi Harrison | |
| Date/Time: | November 29 – 30, 2006 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Place: | Department of Labor |
Directions to DOL |
| Fee: | $400 for federal, state or local government; $600 for non-government |
|
Course Description
What the heck is “web governance?” What are the components of a successful web governance structure? How can you – as the web manager with sometimes limited authority – get your agency to establish and use a good web governance structure? We’ll talk about all of these issues, including your role in leading your agency toward a successful web governance structure and the importance of a good strategic plan to keep you there. We’ll discuss coordination, communication, and celebration – all key to keeping your web organization healthy. We’ll talk about managing perceptions and what it takes to get you in the doors of the executives in your organization (we sometimes refer to that as “educating your bosses”). We’ll discuss how to deal with frustrating situations when you don’t get the support you need. We’ll cover hiring and training your web team and the importance of policies and procedures to make sure everyone stays on the same page. This course will be interactive, offering plenty of opportunities to share experiences and tips.
Why You Should Attend
Government websites have been a grassroots effort from the beginning. While that was a terrific phenomenon in many ways, it has made it difficult for some web managers to get the kind of buy-in and support from top executives that they need. Getting executive support is critical, considering the growing reliance on the web to deliver information and achieve agencies’ missions. As web manager, you need to build this support, and have all the right people, authorities, rules, and relationships to have a successful web governance structure. If you are one of the many web managers who are struggling with these issues, then this course is for you. You are not powerless. We’ll arm you with practical strategies and tips for guiding your agency to a successful web governance structure.
What You'll Learn
- We’ll define the elements of web governance and discuss how each is essential to the whole.
- You’ll hear strategies for implementing and changing a web governance structure, including how to communicate and build relationships with the executives in your agency and train your web team.
- You’ll get specific suggestions for the kinds of website policies and procedures you’ll need to maintain your governance structure.
- You’ll discuss the components of a good strategic plan – and how to sell it.
- We’ll cover the key skills and strategies essential to leading your organization toward strong web governance, especially communications.
- We’ll talk about the importance of perceptions and how you can manage perceptions to help you be more successful.
- You’ll share your own experiences with colleagues who are facing the same challenges you are, and we’ll talk about how the web manager community can be one of your best assets as you meet these challenges.
Who Should Attend
This course is geared to government web managers, at any grade, who are in leadership roles - Departmental or agency web managers; web managers of major organizational components, such as bureaus; and web managers of large geographic areas, such as regions. We want you to be able to go back and use what you’ve learned, right away.
Class Format
Lecture, with lots of opportunity for interactive discussion. Participants should come prepared to talk about experiences from their own organizations.
About the Instructor
Candi Harrison was Web Manager at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, from 1995-2005, where she managed HUD’s internet and intranet websites, web-based public kiosks, and web clinics for HUD partners. Under her leadership, HUD received numerous awards, including the first Digital Government Award in 2000 for outstanding use of the Internet in serving citizens; the E-Gov “Trailblazer Award” in 2001 for HUD’s web clinics; and the E-Gov “Pioneer Award” in 1999 for HUD’s kiosks. In 2004, Candi co-chaired the interagency U.S. Government Web Content Management Working Group (later named the “Web Managers Advisory Council”), as part of the Interagency Committee on Government Information (ICGI), required by the E-Gov Act of 2002. The group researched and recommended policies for federal public websites that resulted in OMB’s direction to agency heads in OMB memo M-05-04. Candi organized and led workshops across the country to train government web managers on the new federal policies and best practices; and she helped create Webcontent.gov, as a resource for government web managers. In 2000, Candi founded the Web Content Managers Forum; and she remained part of its leadership until she retired in September 2005, after 24 years of federal government service. Prior to working in government, Candi was a member of student services staffs at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. She holds a B.S. in English Education and an M.S. in Higher Education Administration, both from Indiana University. Presently, Candi lives in Tucson, Arizona. She maintains a blog at: http://candioncontent.blogspot.com.
Return to main Web Manager University page
Page Updated or Reviewed: December 4, 2006
