Inte rnatio nal Jo urnal o f
Syste ms Engine e ring and Studie s, Litto n PRC, Mc Le an, Virginia, USA
Kevin M cCrohan
Paul Pre sto n and Ke vin Mc Cro han A strategy for extranet development for professional programs
Inte rnatio nal Jo urnal o f Educ atio nal Manage me nt 1 2 / 4 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 5 4 –1 6 2
softw a r e to com plete specifi c ta sk s. Th is oth er softw a r e cou ld be a wor d pr ocessor or a wor k -sh eet/ da ta ba se pr ogr a m . Th u s, a LAN a llow s n etwor k ed u ser s to exch a n ge saved fi les or r u n pr ogr a m s wh ich a r e in sta lled on th e ser ver ’s h a r d dr ive.
Intranet example
A p r ofes s or h a s h is b r ow s er logged on t o t h e a ca d em ic fa cu lt y in t r a n et a n d w it h t h e click of a bu t t on v iew s a collea gu e’s s y lla bu s. Wit h t h e click of a n ot h er bu t t on t h e p r ofes sor d ow n loa d s a w eb p a ge d is p lay in g r ecen t cla s s ca n cella t ion s. T h e p r ofes sor t h en d ecid es t o u p d a t e h is or h er exis t in g sy lla bu s a n d p ost s it for v iew in g on t h e a ca d em ic st u d en t in t r a n et . A s t u d en t u sin g a la b com p u t er d ecid es t o v iew h is or h er cla s s ’s h om e p a ge on t h e a ca d em ic s t u d en t in t r a n et a n d d oes s o w it h t h e click of a bu t t on on t h e N et s ca p e b r ow s er. All t h ese fu n ct ion s w er e p er for m ed u s in g WWW b r ow s er s r u n n in g on n et wor k ed com p u t er s.
An in t r a n et is d esign ed t o a llow s p ecifi c u s er s t o p er for m h igh ly s p ecia lized in for m a t ion d r iven t a sk s. in t r a n et s u t ilize s p ecifi -ca lly d es ign ed in t er fa ces w h ich m ay b e d r iven by exp er t p r ogr a m s a n d r u n on a com -m on a n d u s er -fr ien d ly p la t for -m s u ch a s a WWW b r ow s er. F u r t h er m or e, t h e d evelop -m en t a n d op er a t ion of in t r a n et s is ver y cos t efficien t , b eca u s e t h e u s er s ’ b r ow s er s com -m u n ica t e w it h ea ch ot h er t h r ou gh va r iou s w id ely a cce p t ed a n d s t a n d a r d ized In t er n et
p r ot ocols. It wou ld b e m u ch h a r d er t o d evelop a n d op er a t e a sy st em of t h e s a m e in t r a n et fu n ct ion a lit y on a LAN w it h ou t t h e u t iliza -t ion of a com m on ly a cce p -t ed p la -t for m su ch a s a WWW b r ow ser. It s h ou ld b e n ot ed t h a t t h e t ech n ica l p r ot ocols w h ich a llow t h e op er a t ion of a n in t r a n et a r e com p a t ible w it h t h e exist -in g Wid e a n d Loca l Ar ea N et wor k p r ot ocols. As su ch , t h e op er a t ion of in t r a n et s d oes n ot r eq u ir e t h e d evelop m en t of a d d it ion a l n et -wor k s.
Extranet example
A p r ofessor a ccesses t h e a ca d em ic fa cu lt y ext r a n et fr om h is or h er h om e com p u t er a n d p er for m s a ll t h e fu n ct ion s d escr ib ed on t h e in t r a n et exa m p le.
An ext r a n et s h a r es t h e s a m e u s er i n t er fa ce a n d op er a t es s i m i la r ly t o a n i n t r a n et . H ow -ever, a u s er of a n ext r a n et d oes n ot h ave t o b e loca t ed w i t h i n t h e p h y s i ca l con fi n es of t h e LAN. T h e u s er ca n a cces s t h e e xt r a n et fr om a n y r em ot e loca t i on v i a t h e In t er n et . As s u ch , i n t r a n et s t en d t o b e m or e s ecu r e b eca u s e t h ey a r e les s v u ln er a b le t o ou t s i d e a t t a ck s.
Extranet applications of the
professional school
in t r a n et s h ave b een u s ed by m a n y in n ova t ive or ga n iza t ion s sin ce t h e ea r ly 1990s. H ow ever, t h e r a p id a dva n cem en t of t ech n ology a n d t h e ava ila b ilit y of a ffor d a ble soft w a r e p r esen t s
E-mail Fo rms Surve ys Graphic s Te xt Tuto rials
Te sts Syllabi
Audio Vide o
PC
Use r 1 Use r nPC
PC Use r 2
Ne two rk & Intrane t
Se rve r
Inte rne t, WWW Re so urc e s Information
Exchanged Figure 1
Paul Pre sto n and Ke vin Mc Cro han A strategy for extranet development for professional programs
Inte rnatio nal Jo urnal o f Educ atio nal Manage me nt 1 2 / 4 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 5 4 –1 6 2
ow n ed copy r igh t s m ay b e p r ot ect ed fr om ou t s id e v iola t or s t h r ou gh t h e u se of p a sswor d p r ot ect ed ext r a n et en t r y. T h u s, t h e ext r a n et secu r it y s y s t em sh ou ld on ly a llow r e gist er ed fa cu lt y a n d s t u d en t s t o a ccess in for m a t ion . T h is w ill a lso r eq u ir e t h e u s e of a n et wor k “fi r ew a ll” a n d t h e fr eq u en t t es t in g of levels of con t r ol a n d secu r it y.
It i s u n for t u n a t e t h a t s om e a d m i n i s t r a t or s a n d fa cu lt y m em b er s m a y s t i ll n ot b e u p t o d a t e w i t h t h e la t es t t ech n olo gi es. T h i s ca n
p r es en t t h e p r oject w i t h i m p lem en t a t i on p r ob lem s a n d d evelop m en t d ela y s. To b e s u cces s fu l, a n y ex t r a n et w i ll r eq u i r e t h a t fa cu lt y b e fa m i li a r w i t h w i n d ow s -b a s ed w or d p r oces s or s, la t e ver s i on w eb b r ow s er s, a s w ell a s GUI (Gr a p h i ca l Us er In t er fa ce) b a s ed e-m a i l s oft w a r e. Som e ea r ly r es i s t a n ce ca n b e ex p ect ed . H ow ever, u s er -fr i en d ly m a n u a ls a n d clea r p r oced u r es s h ou ld r es olve t h i s p r ob lem (s ee Ap p en d i x 1 for t h e t ech n olo gy d i ffu s i on p r oces s ).
Course 2
Surve y Syllabus Stude nt Re so urc e s
E-mail Tuto rials Co urse Mate rial
Online Te sts Co nfe re nc ing
Audio Vide o Course 1 User
Extranet Se rve r
FINANCE MARKETING
Password (Firewall)
World Wide Web
Figure 2
Paul Pre sto n and Ke vin Mc Cro han A strategy for extranet development for professional programs
Inte rnatio nal Jo urnal o f Educ atio nal Manage me nt 1 2 / 4 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 5 4 –1 6 2
Options
Ou t s ou r ci n g m a y b e com e m or e a ffor d a b le d e p e n d i n g on t h e n u m b e r of op t i on s t o b e i n clu d e d . It i s a ls o li k e ly t h a t , i n t h e ca s e of ou t s ou r ci n g, s t u d e n t s w i ll b e u t i li ze d . It s h ou ld b e n ot e d t h a t t h e a dv a n t a ge s of ou t s ou r ci n g m a y i n clu d e h i gh e r r e li a b i li t y for WWW-b a s e d s y s t e m a cce s s , fa s t e r t u r n a r ou n d , com m e r ci a l q u a li t y d eve lop m e n t a n d i m p le m e n t a t i on , a n d i m p e cca b le t e ch n i ca l s u p p or t (Ap p e n d i x 2 p r e s e n t s a li s t of op t i on s for e x t r a n e t d eve lop m e n t ).
Conclusions
Soci a l, econ om i c, a n d p oli t i ca l t r en d s t h r ou gh ou t t h e w or ld p oi n t t o a n en v i r on -m en t of v a r y i n g t h r ea t s t o u n iver s i t i es a s w e p r es en t ly k n ow t h em . T h e d evelop m en t of d i s t a n ce lea r n i n g p r ogr a m s, t h e v i r t u a l
u n iver s i t y b ei n g d evelop ed by Wes t er n St a t es i n t h e Un i t ed St a t es of Am er i ca for exa m p le, p oi n t s t o t h e t i m e w h en s t u d en t s w i ll h ave t h e op t i on of t a k i n g cou r s es a n y w h er e i n t h e wor ld . Cou p led w i t h t h i s t h r ea t i s t h e exp a n -s i on of b u -s i n e-s -s t r a i n i n g p r ogr a m -s t h a t a r e offer ed t o t h os e con cer n ed w i t h s k i lls r a t h er t h a n d e gr ees. T h e com p a r a t ively s t r on ger fi n a n ci a l p os i t i on s of t h e com m er ci a l en t er -p r i s es, cou -p led w i t h t h ei r g r ea t er effi ci en cy i n t h e a p p li ca t i on of i n for m a t i on t ech n ology, i s a n a d d i t i on a l t h r ea t a d d ed t o t h i s
d i lem m a .
T h e t h r ea t s fa cin g st a t e or gover n m en t u n iver sit ies a r e com p ou n d ed by d eclin in g p u blic su p p or t t o t h ese in s t it u t ion s. T h e over a ll im p a ct of t h ese en v ir on m en t a l t h r ea t s b od es p oor ly for r e gion a l p u blic u n iver sit ies in p a r t icu la r. Wh a t a ll u n iver sit ies r eq u ir e, a n d in p a r t icu la r t h e r e gion a l p u blics, is a ju d iciou s im p lem en t a t ion of ext r a n et d evel-op m en t a lon g t h e lin es a s p r esen t ed in t h is p a p er.
Table AI
Te c hno lo gy diffusio n sc he dule
Objectives Components
Prephase To c onfirm the need for an extranet and to determine First
the requirements, features and attributes of Fac ulty survey
suc h a system Student survey
Administration survey
Phase 1 To introduc e a prototype extranet to students and Student ac ademic sec tion fac ulty, educ ate opinion leaders, and use word-of-mouth • Syllabi
to hasten ac c eptanc e. The prototype will be tested • Class notes
for effic ienc y and effec tiveness Student news and announc ements • Canc ellation
• SBA News Password ID system • PIDS
Web administration system • Logging database • Request/ performanc e
Hardware, c onnec tion, maintenanc e • Hardware and software • Connec tion
• System maintenanc e Training and support • Online student manuals • Fac ulty training
Phase 2 To c ontinue with fac ulty training and introduc e Sec ond additional options to be determined from the Fac ulty survey
sec ond series of surveys Student survey
Administration survey
Development of optional c omponents
Phase 3 To institutionalize the use of the extranet, Fac ulty and student surveys provide further training, and improve quality Training and seminars
Paul Pre sto n and Ke vin Mc Cro han A strategy for extranet development for professional programs
Inte rnatio nal Jo urnal o f Educ atio nal Manage me nt 1 2 / 4 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 5 4 –1 6 2
Table AII Fe ature s
Features Priority Description
Student career section:
Internships Optional Will allow students to view all available internships. Will allow administrators to edit and post listings through their WWW browser
Job fairs Optional Will allow students to view c urrent job fair information. Willow allow administrators to post or edit job fair information through their WWW browser
Scholarships Optional Will allow students to view c urrent sc holarship listings. Will allow
administrators to post or edit sc holarship listings through their WWW browser
Career seminars Optional Will allow students to view c areer related tips and information. The information has to be prepared by c areer spec ialists
Customizable Optional Will allow students to c ustomize the above options as they pertain to their requirements (WWW browser)
Student academic section:
Syllabi Required Will allow students to view the c urrent c lass syllabi for the c ourses they are registered for. Will allow fac ulty to edit or post a syllabus through their WWW browser
Class notes Required Will allow students to view c lass notes for the c ourses they are registered for. Will allow fac ulty to post c lass notes through their WWW browser. (Word, Exc el and Powerpoint doc uments will be edited by fac ulty)
Tutorials Optional Will allow students to view tutorials for the c ourses they are registered for. Will allow fac ulty to c reate and edit tutorials through their WWW browser
Online tests Optional Will allow students to take online moc k tests for the c ourses they are registered for and view test results, answers and statistic s automatic ally. Will allow fac ulty to post online tests and solutions through their WWW browser and view test results and statistic s automatic ally
Surveys Optional Will allow students to fill out online surveys for the c ourses they are registered for. Will allow administrators or fac ulty to post surveys through their WWW browsers and view survey results automatic ally
Chat/ conference Optional Will allow students to partic ipate in an online c onferenc e moderated by fac ulty or to interac t live with other students. The interac tion c an involve the exc hange of images, live voic e and sound
FAQs Optional Will allow students to view FAQs pertaining to the c ourses they are registered for. Will allow fac ulty to post and edit their answers through their WWW browser
Interactive Q&A Optional Will allow students to post questions or c omments for other students or for fac ulty. Will allow fac ulty to post responses and c omments
Search engine Optional Will allow students to searc h for resourc es for the c ourses they are registered for. Will allow fac ulty to post resourc es through their WWW browser
Student news and announcements section:
Cancellations Required Will allow students to view c ourse or c lass c anc ellations. Will allow administrators to post c urrent c lass or c ourse c anc ellations. Automatic e-mail notific ation c an also be implemented
SBA news Required Will allow students to view updated SBA news. Will allow administrators to post news through their WWW browser
GM U news Optional Will allow students to view updated GMU news. Will allow administrators to post news through their WWW browser
Paul Pre sto n and Ke vin Mc Cro han A strategy for extranet development for professional programs
Inte rnatio nal Jo urnal o f Educ atio nal Manage me nt 1 2 / 4 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 5 4 –1 6 2
Features Priority Description
National Optional Will allow students to view updated national headlines from the information site of
headlines their c hoosing
Speakers Optional Will allow students to view a list of upc oming GMU speec hes. Will allow
administrators to post and update upc oming speec hes through their WWW browser
From the dean Optional Will allow students to listen or view a message from the dean. Will allow the Dean to post a message through a WWW browser
From the Optional Will allow students to listen or view a message from the president. Will allow president the President to post a message through a WWW browser
Customizable Optional Will allow students to c hose whic h of the above options they would like to have on their personal interfac e
Student personal section:
Customizable Optional Will allow students to c hose WWW resourc es (options) to be displayed on their personal interfac e
Faculty news and announcements section:
Customizable Optional Will allow fac ulty to c hose WWW and GMU resourc es to be displayed on their personal interfac e
Faculty research section:
Customizable Optional Will allow fac ulty to post researc h requirements and will allow c olleagues or GRTAs to post related resourc es or findings
Password ID system:
PIDS Required Will protec t the intellec tual rights of all online material by allowing only registered students to view them. Requires the integration of a database extrac t from the registrar
Web administration system:
Logging database Required Keeps rec ord of every type of ac c ess and request and stores in database Request/
performance
monitor Required Monitors system performanc e
Feedback analysisOptional Performs statistic al analysis of requests and ac c esses
Indecency monitorOptional Monitors c hat rooms and online c onferenc es and logs the identity of indec enc y regulations violators
Emergency Optional Monitors c ontent and c reates bac kups for emergenc y replac ement replacement
system
Dean’s system Optional Allows the dean to view usage statistic s and other information through a
evaluation page WWW browser
President’s Optional Allows the Ppresident to view usage statistic s and other information through a
system evaluation WWW browser
page
Hardware, connection, maintenance:
Hardware and Required Two dual P6 Web servers running NT4.0 and Netsc ape Enterprise Web server software software and network hardware. Less c ostly alternatives would involve the
purc hase of a single server at a c ost of $11,000. (Performanc e c onc erns will warrant the two server alternative at some points)
Paul Pre sto n and Ke vin Mc Cro han A strategy for extranet development for professional programs
Inte rnatio nal Jo urnal o f Educ atio nal Manage me nt 1 2 / 4 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 5 4 –1 6 2
Features Priority Description
Connection Required T1 (1500kbps). In the c ase of GMU a network LAN c onnec tion will be used. Higher reliability c an be ac hieved with a sec ond T1 c onnec tion from a different Telec om sourc e (this option would double the c onnec tion c ost to $48,000 per year)
System
maintenance Required Annual system maintenanc e and management
Training and support: Online manuals and seminars
for students Required Online materials will help students make batter use of the extranet Training sessions
and seminars for
