Web Services

Web Services is responsible for maintaining and developing the member-facing Web sites and in assisting and leading corporate-wide IT projects. Our work is focused on developing innovative methods to deliver content to time-oppressed members and to facilitate member interactions. We seek those with the ability to run deep on logical problems and resurface with rigorous, original insight.

A Day in the Life of a Web Services Associate

The “average day” of a Web staff member is centered on the member-facing Web sites and cross- company Web initiatives. All Web positions within CEB are dynamic jobs with an array of different tasks undertaken each day. Within a given day, a Web staff member can be involved in writing content, designing page layouts and graphics for the member Web sites, examining statistics to inform business decisions, brainstorming on content innovations and new functionalities, managing projects with the business and IT department, and working as a strategic partner with the line to support business goals. Web staff not only work with the programs they are aligned with, but also assist in company-wide IT initiatives, making every day new and exciting.

Today I begin the day with a brief meeting with the Web team to review everyone’s current projects and disperse work across the team so that nobody gets too overloaded. We also address any foreseen roadblocks or current problems so that we can address them quickly and execute on all projects smoothly.

After checking my e-mails and voice mails and responding to critical issues, I knuckle down to one of the larger projects in my queue–creating Web personas. To optimize usability of the Web site, I am creating Web personas for all the main Web users so we can understand their behaviors and needs. After creating a draft, I sit down with a few colleagues get their input.

Tomorrow I have to present some statistics on Web usage to one of our senior executives. I log in to the reporting database and pull all of the relevant statistics.

A meeting reminder pops up on my computer alerting me to a vendor presentation in five minutes. I grab my notebook and run off to the meeting room. The vendor has flown in from New York to present their campaign and e-mail management solution to us. During the presentation, I take notes on the strengths and weakness of the company and my opinions on whether they can help us. Upon returning to my desk, I add all the information from my notebook into a comparison matrix so I can easily compare all vendors. Later in the week, I will meet with the rest of the team to get their thoughts before we make a final decision.

After lunch, I have to create some new online content for one of the programs. After analyzing Web trends and data, we discovered that more and more members are becoming interested in the subject of identity management, so we decide to create a new section on the site pulling together all the resources on this subject from both internal and external sources. I work on designing this section, run it by the team to get their thoughts and, if happy, forward for final sign off to publish the site.

Today I am training new staff on the Web and member-facing Web sites at CEB. The training goes according to plan and we round up the session with a few questions.

Returning back to my desk I remember I have to create some merchandizing material to be sent to the printers. We decided to create a brief overview of the Web site highlighting all of the great content and services available. I open up a design program on my computer and start creating the graphics and writing the content. Just as I start to wrap up, the phone rings, and a member CIO is on the phone. He is in need of some help in finding research on organizational structures. I scope his question a little further and then guide him through the site to all the relevant content. He is happy that we have so much research and thanks me for the help. A rewarding affirmation to end a productive day!