EERE Web Standardization: The Story Behind EERE’s First Enterprise Web Template Part 1 Interlab Nov. 5, 2003 Menlo Park, CA Heidi Rex and Shauna Fjeld, NREL

Outline Scope Management Buy-In Standardization Groundwork Standardization Implementation Process Communicating the Decree Impacts of the Project

EERE Home Page

Scope EERE’s Web site was inconsistent and fragmented, and NREL’s Web team had the solution: standardization. This team was charged with developing the structure and process that is envisioned to change over 15,000 EERE Web site pages.

Management Buy-In Timing is everything E-Government Strategy – 2/2002 EERE reorganization – 4/2002 Quote from OMB – 9/2002

OMB article

Standardization Groundwork Branding Common terminology/navigation

Standardization Groundwork Branding –Consistent corporate image

Standardization Groundwork Branding –Needed prioritization on what to brand Example:DOE EERE Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs State Energy Program Conservation Update – Newsletter

Standardization Groundwork Branding –Branding benchmark study

Standardization Groundwork Branding: Benchmarking study offered three branding models Model 1 – Master brand EPA Model 2 – Integrated branding Microsoft Model 3 – Sub brand Discovery

Standardization Groundwork Common terminology Information architect perspective –Common elements can create a more satisfying user experience –Common navigation and terminology should be used in large, complex Web sites

No common terminology User? Potential Business Partner > Site A RFPs Site B Contracting Opportunities Site C Proposals Site D Our Solicitations Site E Contracts & Proposals

With common terminology User? University Researcher > Media Person > Investor > Site A RFPs Late- breaking Technology News Technology Road Map Site B RFPs Late- breaking Technology News Technology Road Map Site C RFPs Late- breaking Technology News Technology Road Map Site D RFPs Late- breaking Technology News Technology Road Map Site E RFPs Late- breaking Technology News Technology Road Map

Standardization Implementation Technical issues – will be covered in Part II Mock up Template today –FreedomCAR & Vehicle Technologies ProgramFreedomCAR & Vehicle Technologies Program

Solar Key

Standardization Implementation Consistent domain and file naming conventions Quality assurance checklist Standards philosophy: –Standards are created by a committee –We take extra pains to explain the “why,” the context, and the reasons for the standards, as much as possible Standards and Guidelines Web site

Process Without a process, template and guidelines will not work GE Web style guide –Professional style guide –Poor execution –Guidelines gone bad

Communicating the Edict EERE Standards and Guidelines list serve List serve gives updates to the standards and announces new sites going live, new rules, and new regulations Now have 150 people on the list Effective communication tool

Impacts of the Project All contractors and laboratories that support EERE can use the template, and EERE corporate can still be assured: –Its brand is being maintained –Its sites are accessible and 508-compliant –Its sites are useable across the organization

Impacts of the Project This project separates the content from the delivery mechanism – efficient because people who know the content do not need to know how to code html pages. This standardization with consistent corporate image, common terminology and naming conventions, and the new process have set EERE up for a content management system.