Project: The Web Widget - Rapid Application Development
A client that was building their intranet wanted each department
to control its own content and forms. They didn't want to have to
become web experts, though. VVS Inc. created a web widget (reusable
piece of code). When invoked with a department name as an argument,
it would find the correct location in the file system and find all
the forms for the department in an n-level deep hierarchy. It then
rendered the hierarchy using JavaScript with links to each form.
This one-day project allowed all the departments to publish all
their forms in their own organized hierarchy. When any department
had an update, they simply updated their file hierarchy.
The simple widget allowed the client to get configuration management
on all of its forms. The intranet became the source of record for
the forms. Users printed the forms on demand cutting waste and eliminating
usage of "out of date" forms company wide. This web widget empowered
all the departments to get their information out to users quickly
using the simplest technology possible. It dramatically reduced
usage of incorrect forms. Someone estimated the widget saved the
company over $20,000 per year in printing and rework for the one
day spent developing it.