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The usage of data-intensive web applications raises problems concerning consistency, navigation, and data duplication. Content management systems (CMSs) can overcome these problems. In this research, we focus on special types of web content management systems—web-based CMS applications. Currently, no general available methods exist for implementing and configuring these applications. In this research, an assembly based situational method engineering approach is proposed for constructing an implementation method for web-based CMS applications. The approach consists of four steps: (a) identification of implementation situations, (b) selection of candidate methods, (c) analysis and storage of relevant fragments in the method base, and (d) assembly of the new method using route maps to obtain situationality. This method engineering approach is supported by a meta-modeling technique, resulting in a process-data diagram, which integrates UML (Unified Modeling Language) activity diagrams and class diagrams. To validate the method, two case studies were performed at a large health insurance organization and a telecommunication organization in the Netherlands. The new implementation method performed well in both case studies, and the project workers were satisfied with the associated templates and instructions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Web applications are evolving into enterprise software applications accessible through the Web. Web applications are often constructed based on Web Content Management Systems because a Web Content Management System provides the development team with a cost-effective platform for Web Engineering during the development process. Moreover, it allows non-technical users to maintain the Web application once the application has been deployed on the production environment. Web Engineering, the research field concerning high quality and cost effective development of Web application development, has little research on Web Content Management System-based Web Engineering. We argue that there are some specific development challenges that needs to be addressed. In this paper, we propose a method for the development and deployment of Content Management System-based Web applications. We designed the two methods based on the challenges specifically related to Content Management Systems. Based on project evaluations and interviews within a case study company, the designed method is validated by expert reviews.

The process of Web applications engineering can be complex and time consuming. We argue that Web engineering based on a standardized platform with reusable components is a logical next step in the evolution of Web application development. One popular platform to create Web applications is called a Web Content Management Systems (WCMS) which allows organizations to develop Web applications in a time and resource efficient way. This paper presents a method to identify software commonalities in WCMS-based Web applications to improve the software product for future implementations based on feature modeling and e-business models. The resulting method provides insight in relevant e-business models and their corresponding functionalities. Moreover, this paper shows how these commonalities can be identified and how that could influence the software product line. The approach has been applied in a practical case study of a series of Web application engineering projects within the publishing vertical market. We have validated the approach with experts within the case study company and found that the approach is useful in aiding requirements engineers in the Web application engineering process and product managers in the software product management process.

With the growing use of Web Content Management Systems for the support of complex online business processes, traditional implementation solutions proofed to be inefficient. Specifically the gap between business requirements and the realized Web application should be closed. This paper presents the development of a modeling tool for the automated configuration of Web Content Management Systems (WCM) which aims to reduce the complexity and increase the transparency of implementations. It allows business users to configure the business processes without technical support. We combine fragments of existing Web Engineering methods and specify an abstract and concrete syntax based on a domain model and end user analysis. The resulting WebForm Diagram has been implemented in a prototype and validated by subject matter experts. This research is part of a project to develop the Web Engineering Method (WEM) which provides an overall method towards a full coverage of the specification, design, realization, implementation and maintenance of WCM-based Web applications.

The process of implementing a Web Content Management System (WCM) can be complex and time consuming. We argue that there is a need for a web engineering methods specifically addressing WCM implementations. In this paper we present the design phase of our Web Engineering Method (WEM). The design phase of WEM addresses fourteen identified key WCM concepts and consists of the main activities: Conceptual Design, Architecture Design, Presentation Design and Detailed Component Design. The proposed method is validated through an expert validation and a case study. Based on the outcome, we developed a prototype of a CASE-application supporting the Conceptual Design activity. Future research includes further development of the CASE-application including the abstract syntax and automation of the transition.

Content management systems provide a modern method of Web engineering to improve development speed and maintenance effectiveness. Organizations increasingly use these content management systems to leverage their Web applications. However, organizations lack the organizational processes and structure to effectively maintain content management system-based Web applications. In this paper, we provide a framework for the operation and maintenance phase of Web engineering, consisting of guidelines for managing Web content management systems. It includes processes for Web content management on a strategic, tactical, and operational level. The framework is validated through a case study at an inter-municipal cooperative union.

Web applications are evolving towards strong content-centred information systems accessible through the web. The development processes and implementation of these applications are unlike the development and implementation of traditional information systems. In this paper, we propose a Web Engineering Method (WEM): a method for developing Content Management System (CMS)-based web applications. Critical to a successful development of CMS-based web applications is adaptation to the dynamic business. We first define CMS-based web applications and identify their specific characteristics. Combining these characteristics with situational factors in projects, we show that by taking parts of proven methods, such as UML-based Web Engineering (UWE) and the Unified Process (UP), a unique method can be assembled for situational development of CMS-based web applications. We successfully validated the method at GX, a web-technology company specialised in developing and implementing CMS-based web applications.