Web App: Case Study -- Concept Systems Global

This major project was completed during 2006 for a long-time client, Concept Systems. Concept Systems facilitates large-scale group collaboration and communications using 'Concept Mapping', a unique methodology in which participant input is gathered, reviewed and acted upon. The output of the group defined process are 'Concept Maps', visual representations of the group's ideas laid out spatially, prioritized and grouped for action in various ways.

Gorges Websites was retained to craft an Internet project management and data collection system for Concept Systems. In addition to sophisticated user interfaces for statement sorting, rating, input, and data collection, the system integrates with the Concept System's flagship desktop software 'Concept Systems Core'.

The first step in our software engineering process is to draw a series of flowcharts to describe the application that needs to be built, from an overview and system level perspective.

Additional flowcharts included typical user flow, administrative usage flowcharts, authentication and security flowcharts.

Flowchart

From the flowcharts, our functional specifications efforts broaden out into several types of documents, depending on the project. We generally create storyboards, text documents, additional flowcharts, and graphic design concepts as part of the 'functional specifications' stage of a project.

At this point we've had several meetings discussing the functionality of the proposed system, and we go to work writing up drafts and details for the functional specification.

Storyboards

A software engineering project the size of Concept Systems Global generally takes several months to develop specifications alone. In this thumbnail you can see my folder just for the spec documents. This is 'pre-production'. It takes significant effort from team members on our side AND your side to get the specs right.

Once this is done, we can move into full engineering production with confidence that we will produce the right, stable, trouble free product.

A significant by-product of a solid specification is that it easily morphs to a testing document, to validate the final product during testing and acceptance by you.

Specifications

Functional Specifications: many documents

On to the Main Event!

This first slide is a glimpse of the participant dashboard. Showing them open areas that they need to work on on the left side, and on the right an announcement from the project administrator.

In the center are the 'next steps:' which is a system wide 'reminder' that tells you what to work on next.

Participant Dashboard

Content Management System

Gorges Web Sites specializes in custom content management systems. Every web application we develop has its own administrative content tool.

The Global application is no exception. The project administrator has many screens they use to control the project. This screen shot shows the content manager for instructional and introductory text on each page.

Project administrators have full control over the style and branding for their projects, a sophisticated user / participant manager, dashboard, extensive reports, security controls, and constant backup of their data.

Custom Content Manager

The most challenging part of the participant experience, was the screen sort. In this exercise, participants are asked to categorize a large group of statements. The only catch is that they also have to create the categories!

Gorges Web Sites employed cutting edge DHTML/Javascript to make an intuitive drag and drop interface to do perform this operation.

Global Statement Sort

Additional Javascript technologies enable rapid rating of data. In this screen, the statements 'dissapear' once they are rated, so the participant doesn't have to move the mouse to rate the next statement.

Online Ratngs

All together in the Concept Systems Global system there are dozens of administrative and user screens in this cross-browser, sleek, fast and reliable Internet application.

TECH DETAILS:

Concept Systems is written in PHP programming language, on Linux servers running Apache and MySQL. Gorges Web Sites maintains and hosts this application in their hosting data center.

So you've gotten this far, reviewing how our efficient and tested software engineering process can result and a top notch online solution for your business. We'd like to offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation to discuss how we can empower your business using the Internet. Give a call today!
-Chris Grant Gorges Web Sites: 607-280-2010

Our Internet Solutions generally consist of:

Custom-Built professionally designed public web site
Content Managment System (update your own news, photos, etc.)
Search Engine Optimization and registration (we make sure people can find your site)
Phone Training on how to use your site and content tools effectively
FTP Access to your site and files