IAT Website Project Outline

Project Overview

The Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) has initiated a project to develop a new website and associated online services that will provide modern, comprehensive and integrated capability to support all parts of the organisation and key strategic goals.

Project Goals, Rationale & Benefits

> Creation of an online profile and image that reflects the scale, capability, achievements and ambitions of IAT, and positions it within the Middle East as a high quality, first-choice provider of education & training.

> Development of a website that can cover the full scope of IAT's current & future activities in a coherent way - allowing all desired information and services to be made available online by all parts of the organisation.

> Providing an online environment with the capacity to allow IAT to effectively engage with and service students & parents, commercial and government clients, industry, project & service partners and prospective & current staff.

> Embedding online information & services into the relevant activities of IAT's core businesses (teaching & learning, marketing & promotion, student & client services, partner & stakeholder liaison and communication, business development, projects & commercial services, management of corporate knowledge, etc) so that these operate in the most efficacious way.

> Facilitating the growth of quality student recruitment and the development of desirable project opportunities through an attractive online presence with the ability to deliver the necessary information & services.

> Enabling IAT to operate efficiently, even as it continues to expand, through utilisation of its developed online capability.

> Allowing its management and key stakeholders - particularly in the UAE government - to readily assess the full scope and current progress & effectiveness of its activities.

> Providing IAT with the online capability to improve the overall usefulness, flexibility, responsiveness and accessibility of its services - both educational and corporate - and meet the information & service expectations of its stakeholders.

Project Scope

The full scope of this project includes all activities required (from planning & requirement determination to development, implementation & usage) to meet the objectives outlined above. To make this substantial undertaking manageable, the project will likely be split into three distinct phases:

Phase 1: Research, consultation, analysis, scoping, solution recommendation & selection, and creation of necessary plans, documentation and specifications/examples.

Phase 2: Development of the chosen online solutions and integration with relevant business activities and functions.

Phase 3: Implementation and ongoing effective utilization and refinements of the developed solutions.

Project Timeframes & Chief Milestones

*Draft only

	Key Milestones
Phase 1 8th Feb - 5th Mar	- Finalization of requirement consultation (1st Mar) - Finalization of project scope & plan (1st Mar) - Completion of requirement specification (2nd Mar) - Selection of recommended solutions (3rd Mar) - Creation of desired solution examples (5th Mar)
Phase 2 6th Mar - 31st May	- Creation of approved IAT site design & structure (9th Mar) - Development of new IAT prototype site & services (31st Mar) - Completion of all development activities & testing (31st April) - Confirmation of organisation areas & staff with ongoing website-related activities. E.g. content maintenance, online service provision. Training commencement. (15th May) - Completion of operational production site with initial content (31st May)
Phase 3 1st June - Ongoing	- Confirmation of initial go-live content & service requirements (1st June) - Completion of initial staff training & administration/support arrangements - Launch of new site (replacement of existing site) - Post-launch review & assessment of achievement of project goals - Ongoing content addition and refinement

Project Staff

Project Consultant: Adrian Lobo. Dubai Campus (A217). Email: adrian.lobo@iat.ac.ae

Project Manager: Phil Rutherford. Deputy Director Operations. Dubai Campus. Email: phillip.rutherford@iat.ac.ae

Other IAT staff will be involved in various activities and stages of this project. Please see the How to Get Involved post to find out how you can contribute to the project or to see an updated list of those who are.

Project Resources

Sufficient Financial, Human, Physical and Information resources will be needed for the various phases of this project. The availability of personnel with the relevant skills to be assigned to the project in the various phases is likely to be the major factor determining the realisation of the objectives outlined. This is of particular relevance to Phases 2 & 3.

Project Stakeholders

Stakeholders include: IAT Board, Management & Staff (including teachers), IAT students & clients, UAE Government & partners, UAE community.

Project Partners (Necessary & Potential)

Other organisations that may be involved in this project are to be identified and listed here.

Project Methodology

This project is following best practice project management standards and guidelines and all documentation is available upon request. Examples of the type of methodology being followed can be found here

Standards, Guidelines & Compliance

All UAE Government, accreditation or other regulatory standards or guidelines that relate to this project are to be identified and noted here.

Project Execution Plan & Documentation

A more detailed list of project activities will be available for each Phase on this project blog. A list for Phase 1 has been published.

Project Outputs/Deliverables

The main deliverable will be a completely new website with integrated online services that provide IAT with the capability to attain the project goals outlined.

Criteria for Measuring Project Success

This will involve: (a) Assessment of the satisfaction of various stakeholders; (b) Measurement of relevant business objectives (e.g. student enrolments or staff recruitment).

Project Risks & Mitigation Strategies

Any significant risks and strategies for reducing or resolving them are to be listed here as they arise.

Related Projects & Initiatives

Any related IAT or external projects that are identified are to be noted here.