Building a Common Vocabulary: Modules, Sites and Spaces

Terri Willard, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
May 2001

Discussions about the Web can quickly become confusing given the lack of a common vocabulary to discuss the components of an organization or network's online presence. Most people are familiar with books composed of paragraphs, pages, chapters and sections. We also know that musical scores have notes that together form phrases and stanzas. But most people are generally unfamiliar with the corresponding ideas for Web sites. Within the SDCN, we are slowly building our own vocabulary to enable us to talk about our work and to more effectively collaborate on joint Web products and services. The emerging vocabulary includes such ideas as files, clusters, modules, sections, Web sites and Web space. These concepts are illustrated below using examples of content developed by Development Alternatives, a large civil society organization based in New Delhi, India.

A file is the most basic unit of online content. It corresponds to the idea of a page in a book. However, unlike with books, online pages can be of any length. A file may be one paragraph long or it may contain the full text of an entire book. The file may be in many formats as well it may be text, text with graphics, a video clip, an audio file, animation, or a document in Portable Document Format (PDF) as well as standard document types such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. A file may be static and unchanging or it may be dynamically generated from a database to match parameters set by the user. An example of a file is http://www.devalt.org/da/isb/comm/CATALOGS/green1.htm. This file describes Episodes 5-9 of Development Alternative's Green Show weekly environment and business magazine distributed by three satellite channels in India.

A cluster is a collection of closely related files. Navigation is usually quite tight within a cluster, making it easy for a user to quickly access related files. They may take the form of databases of organizations and events or publications that have been rewritten for online presentation. They may also provide support and information on a particular conference or an online discussion forum. All nine files related to the Green Show would constitute a cluster. The homepage for the cluster can be found at http://www.devalt.org/da/isb/comm/CATALOGS/green.htm

A module is action-focused and may be made up of several clusters of content. Modules exist to help users do something. That action may range from locating resources for a paper to donating funds or contacting a government representative to voice their opinion. Not all modules must be created and maintained by a single organization. They may even be archived or moved to the Web site of another organization if funding is no longer available. The alternative film guide created by Development Alternatives serves the needs of NGOs, educational institutions and other groups in India who wish to obtain films on pioneering work and experiments that organizations around the world have carried out to face the environmental challenge. It includes 11 clusters including the Green Shows. The module home page is http://www.devalt.org/da/isb/comm/CATALOGS/catalog.htm

Modules are often grouped into sections of a site in order to facilitate their maintenance as well as to assist users to locate more broadly related content. Sections are frequently related to the institutional structure of an organization. While it may not be the most intuitive structure for users, it can build feelings of content ownership among staff and significantly increase the possibility the content is maintained and updated. The communications section of the Development Alternatives site can be accessed at http://www.devalt.org/da/isb/comm/index.htm. It includes not only the film catalogue module, but also the newsletter module and several general files outlining the goals of DA's Communications Unit. Depending on the size of the site, there may be several layers of sections in a site. For example, the communications section of DA's site is part of a broader Institutional Systems Branch section. This section also includes content on training, small institution support and the Development Alternatives Information Network.

A Web site is a discrete unit of content that usually shares the same domain name, management policies and certain critical navigational elements. A Web site may be that of a network (http://sdgateway.net/), an organization (e.g., http://www.devalt.org/) or related to a particular project (e.g., http://www.cleanindia.org/). Many project Web sites begin their existence as modules within another site. They are spun off and establish their own presence once they have reached a critical mass of users and attract enough resources to ensure their maintenance. Also, network or project Web sites may belong to multiple organizations. Frequently this type of site has sections: a public section with information about the initiative and its results; and a private working section that enables project participants to upload information and participate in closed forums. Portals and gateway sites specialize in easing access to content on multiple sites. The most successful portals focus on meeting the information needs of particular niche users (e.g., maternal health care providers in South Africa; Central American agroforesters).

Web space refers to the collective presence of an organization's content on the Web. With the growth of news sites, alliances and online e-mail archives, our Web spaces may be much larger than our own Web site(s). For example, the Web space of Development Alternatives includes not only its main organizational Web site http://www.devalt.org/, but also:

• The Development Alternatives Information Network http://www.dainet.org
• Its community site http://www.tarahaat.com
• A project site on youth initiatives http://www.cleanindia.org
• Portions of the SD Gateway, including the module on the Search for Sustainable Livelihoods http://sdgateway.net/livelihoods/
• Reports on the Earth Council site prepared by Development Alternatives for Rio+5 http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr/rio/focus/report/english/people.htm
• A powerpoint presentation at the Digital Dividends Conference in 2000 online at http://www.digitaldividend.org/ppt/0204ss03.PPT

To be effective on the Web, Development Alternatives must establish and maintain an overall strategy for how these sites, modules and articles will further its mission and vision.

Within the SDCN, the term Web products and services is used to describe online modules, sections and/or sites. We use the phrase to emphasize that every product implies a corresponding new service to users. It raises their expectations that they will be able to interact with the creators and take actions that were previously unimagined. Every Web product and service must have one staff member who is the primary contact person responsible for the management of the product or service. This person must be intimately familiar with the content of that product. In addition to these staff, however, larger organizations should also designate a Web content manager who maintains an overall vision of its Web space and ensure linkages between its constituent parts.