Outsourcing the web team - tomorrow's world?

What will a university web team look like in future?

Normally I would never write a blog post stating my views on the future of anything as I've found them to be usually inaccurate, and after some time has passed, often humorously so. However, in this case I'm going to give it a go because in this case I would be love to be proved completely wrong.

So what do I think the future holds?

Well let's start with the infrastructure. I think all web servers and associated architecture will be hosted off site as web content management will be provided as a Software as a Service. This will either be from a commercial provider or by a centralised higher education organisation along the lines of JANET, but not necessarily that particular organisation.

As such the functionality of the content management software will be provided 'out-of-the-box' but offered as a tiered service with payments to reflect what you want to use. Any new functionality will be commissioned from the service provider perhaps with a reduced rate for any developments that can be incorporated into the software releases and therefore shared amongst the community.

So, that doesn't leave much left of the remit of the web developers. I'm sure there will be a requirement for some customisation of the web but that will either be developed by the software provider (at cost) or developed in partnership with them by a small internal application support team, whose remit will be to look after / customise the University's core applications (finance and hr systems etc).

The website will be maintained by a network of web editors (of various skill levels) across the organisation with the task being an integral part of many people's roles, so much so that the title 'Web Editor' may even disappear. Training, both technical and best practice, will be part of the centralised staff development programme, treated pretty much as a core IT skill. The day-to-day support for people editing the web will be provided by the IT Support services inline with all their other IT systems. Though as publishing to the web becomes more and more common in people's work and personal lives this will move from the remit of second line to first line support.

Any remnants of a web design remit will reside within the responsibility for Marketing or Communications departments, who are ultimately the one's with the vested interest in brand consistency and design. It may even go so far as to be incorporated into the role of the graphic designers within the print departments and again won't be a specific 'web' role.

So that's the role of the web designer, web developer and trainer predicted - so what about the web manager. Well, I'm sorry to say I think this will disappear as a separate role as well. I think it is likely that elements will be taken from it and given to other roles. I can see the responsibility for the strategic view of content will be given to Marketing or Communications manager. The management overview for each website / online service will sit with the manager of that service - after all a website is just a communication platform in the same way that service brochures and mailing lists are. Any technical responsibility will sit with some kind of an IT Applications Manager, as just another core IT application with supplier/customer partnerships to manage.

So there you are - I'm predicting the death of the web professional as a specific role, which is a really scary thought. However, my reasons for this are not merely driven by the sector's need to cut costs. It is also driven by the fact that the web is becoming business as usual and as a result, I think the need for 'specialists' will disappear.

Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this vision of the future is completely wrong!