Oracle Portal

Functions

Oracle describes its portal product as 'the industry's most complete, pre-integrated out-of the-box portal solution available.'

Whilst Oracle Portal is not a complete content management system in itself, when combined with Oracle Content Management it does have the capacity to manage web content within a portal framework. Oracle Portal identifies several key functions through which it can aid in the management of web content and development:

1. Content management and integration
   Oracle Portal notes several ways in which content can be managed using it's product; through applying approval and editorial processes to it, enabling 'bulk actions' (in which content can be dealt with in large groups rather than individually), and by integrating content from external sources into Oracle Portal.
2. Page design and publishing
   'Rich, powerful page design and publishing tools' is a feature claimed by Oracle Portal. This includes many 'easy-to-use tools' for creating layout creation, style application, content creation and development, navigation development.
3. Integration tools and technologies
   The ability to integrate numerous external sources, as well as other Oracle applications, is a feature of Oracle Portal's functionality. For example, external databases can be assimilated to present as part of the Oracle Portal interface. Another example is the ready ability of Oracle Portal to integrate with Oracle's identity management systems to improve user management and administration.
4. Portlet development
   'Portlets' are the individual components of a portal page or, as Oracle describes them, the 'building blocks'. As example of a portlet is a 'News and Events' box on a page, which can be set to display on different pages, or to display different content depending on the identified user accessing the page.
5. Administration
   The ability to effectively administer a website is critical. Oracle Portal has various functionalities with regards to obtaining administrative information; who is using the site, how they're using it, and so on.

Much of the above information is a shapshot information available under the heading 'Portal Focus Areas' on the Oracle Portal homepage.

How to use

To obtain Oracle Portal could be a costly and involved process. It is a licensed product, and requires the involvement of Oracle analysts to set up and project-manage the implementation. Costing for the product is complex, with variations on cost highly dependant on the level of customisation required, the involvement of Oracle in the process and the requirements of the website. It would not be unreasonable, however, to expect the product to effectively cost somewhere in the (high) ten of thousands of dollars.

Oracle provides information about Getting Started with Oracle on their website. However, this information presumes a high level of technical proficiency and prior knowledge of Oracle databases and applications. Oracle provides little, if any, support for those not from a technical background, and to effectively use this product, it would be necessary to employ someone with significant technical skills.

Improving IA

The Oracle Portal website does not easily reflect the role good content management plays within the context of improving information architecture. There is minimal discussion about product features that enhance information architecture or improve website structure.

Having said this, the 'page design and publishing' component of Oracle's feature information, does allude (albeit in a very roundabout manner) to some functionally that may improve information architecture, through the ability manage visual templates and navigational features. Control of design and structural templates can maintain consistency across a website, thereby improving information architecture, and the ability for it to be effectively managed, tremendously.