Economic and Social Research Council

Reports

CLIENT ASSIGNMENT:

Procurement and implementation of a web based portal

Duration: 21 Months

Location: Swindon

EiB Role:

Assignment Director

Project Overview:

ESRC had identified that their core audiences (including academics, businesses, the media and government) needed to be able to access up to date information about research in the economic and social field from a single source, rather than through many different possible routes. 

The strategic solution desired was for a single web-based Portal, providing sophisticated searching facilities across a wide range of research resources, many of which were independent of the ESRC.  Additional facilities needed included single point authentication, personalisation features, email alerting to new topics or articles of interest and topic based discussion fora.  ESRC required the use of leading edge technology, the establishment of a 5 year partnership arrangement for hosting, support and data management, and an infrastructure that would allow updating and technology refreshment throughout the Portal's life.  The commission was to provide end to end project management to this complex procurement, development and implementation project.

Project Outcomes/Impact:

1. The project successfully achieved positive Gateway reviews at each point;
2. The Portal was launched on time and on budget, ready for the Office of Science and Technology's public announcement of the Research Council's new delivery plans;
3. The Portal quickly became established as the resource of choice for a wide variety of researchers, academics, media and others seeking information on economic and social matters.

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