GEM 801-1

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES

CLASS EXERCISE #2

MALIG, JOSE RAPHAEL V.

SN. 202161019

MASTER OF ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. RONALD A. TAN

NOVEMBER 6, 2021
1. What is the difference between a website and a portal? When should a company develop a
website and when should they use a portal? Explain you answers.

Difference between a Website and Web Portal

In recent years, web development has evolved, allowing businesses to take advantage of novel platforms
such as websites and web portals. A website, by definition, is a collection of interconnected web pages stored on a
single domain and accessible via the internet or a private network. A web portal, on the other hand, is a customized
website that integrates data from a variety of sources in a consistent and uniform manner.

When it comes to the distinctions between websites and portals, both are distinct and can be distinguished
in a variety of ways. Here’s a table of their differences:

Website Portal

• A collection of interconnected web pages • A custom-built website that incorporates information

from a variety of sources

• Intended to educate their site visitors about their • User-centric – a user can interact with the
industry, products or services information Portal
 • Users need not to log in for accessing the website. • Its interface could be public or private, and it could
The user can complete any task, and the website be password secured and user specific.
will assist them.

When should a Company Develop: a Website or a Portal

The decision to create a website or portal, like any other technology solution, is based on the company’s
specific situation and requirements. Because portal platforms and website platforms have a lot of features in
common, most projects can be constructed using either of these two options. Here are some guidelines when should
a company develop a website or a portal and if the company:

Website Portal

1. Audience/Users ➢ Interested to have an online ➢ Wants to cater a specific group of

destination which are open to a people such as students,
broader audience

2. Control of content ➢ Wants to focus on delivering and ➢ Needs advance control over what
managing content users see and advanced user
management and permissioning
features.

3. IT Ecosystem ➢ Doesn’t need multiple ➢ Want to work coherently with

integrations with other business internal and third-party applications
applications
Conclusion

In conclusion, both websites and web portals have their own set of advantages, and the company may
choose between the two depending on the business's needs. When the company want to develop a public platform
that can represent it on the internet and attract users from all over the world, a website is a good alternative to
consider.

Web portals, on the other hand, are ideal if the company need a private platform to target a specific type of
user. If the company want to limit what users can see, they can be a wonderful solution. The company may need
some advanced user management tools for this, and hiring an expert will undoubtedly help.

When picking between a portal and a website, we need to consider the project's requirements, the
requirements of the project management team, and the present technology investments. Portals may act as websites,
and websites can act as portals, so the technology the company will invest in should go beyond features and focus
on what you can support for the long run.

2. How can a website and a portal help a company and improve its operations? Provide examples
and elaborate your answers.

Introduction

Regardless of industry, a company's internet presence can have a significant impact on its success. Some
businesses still don't recognize that the majority of their clients will check their website or portal before making a
purchase. A great internet presence, particularly a website or a portal, can make or break your ability to generate
additional revenue.

Through a website, the company will improve in the following areas:

➢ Credibility
A website that looks attractive and effectively delivers great information to your customers is one
approach to stand out. People may doubt your credibility as a company if you don't have a website. Having
a website allows you to make a strong first impression and reassure customers that you're a legitimate
company.

For example, back then through the use of email and other communication devices, we will need
to message and ask the company to gather information particularly about their portfolio and projects to
ensure if they are a company.

➢ Brand
One of the most crucial things you can do is to show the brand to potential buyers. Customers are
more likely to buy from you if you clearly define who you are, what you represent, and what you stand for.
This is also something that might help the company stand out from the crowd. It's difficult to do this without
a website because people can't readily locate quality and reliable information about your company.

➢ Leads
People will know how to contact the company if they find it online, become interested in your
product or service, and want to learn more, due to the information on your website, which gives you the
possibility to improve your sales. Despite the fact that websites have a cost, they have a positive return on
investment when used effectively.
 ➢ Saving you time and customer service
Many businesses receive calls from potential or current clients inquiring about their location and
hours of operation. When you miss a call, the customer is dissatisfied. Calls can also divert your employees'
attention away from the most vital aspects of your business. These calls can be reduced with the use of a
website, which can also boost internal efficiency. At the same time, it assists clients in locating useful
information without having to contact, resulting in a better overall user experience.

➢ Digital Marketing
You'll probably want to drive traffic to a website or landing page if you want to use digital
marketing to increase leads and develop your business. To do this effectively, use historical traffic to your
website to target the most qualified clients and obtain the highest return on your ad investment. This is
something that can't be done later, so even if you don't plan on running advertisements right now, it's
essential to get your website up and operating as soon as possible.

In web portals, the following will improve in the company’s operations:

Internal Advantages:

➢ Companies' capacity to integrate and consolidate all consumer and company data in the back-end of a single
system can make data management easier.

➢ Companies can store and rely on consistent data that can be shared and collaborated on by integrating back-
end data across platforms and remotely via the Web.

➢ Portals can be designed to give specific users (including internal workers) personalized access, allowing
businesses to contextualize the experiences of both internal employees and external customers/clients.

External advantages:

➢ Companies can use secure authentication and authorization (web-based) mechanisms to control who can
access their internal cloud repositories and what they can access.

➢ Enterprises can give consumers and clients remote (and secure) access to their PII, easing customer access
and customer-facing activities.

➢ Marketing managers can also automate customer-related marketing campaigns and manage them via the
back-end system, thanks to the ability to personalize web portal access based on consumer behavior.

Using a web portal to give users access to internal resources, PII (Personally Identifiable Information), and
vital information helps to expedite processes, reduce customer churn, and save money. Banks, for example, offer
consumers to access and amend their financial account information via a web portal rather than having to visit a
real bank to do so.

When customer and other online portals are used properly, they lessen the stress on customer service
workflows and internal communication requirements, as well as the costs associated with time-intensive
communication operations. Customers can look for, obtain, and carry out all relevant data and information-based
activities without having to contact your organization for fundamental operations because of the online portal.
Internal members can collaborate on projects and share critical data via the internal web portal without having to
waste time on meetings and conferences.
 In conclusion, web portals can be designed to be customized for each user, providing clients and/or partners
with a unique insight into essential data and information that a firm wants to share with them. Utilizing web portals
is a critical way to implement robust remote access functionalities in association with your company’s private cloud
repositories for all relevant parties, which can significantly quicken operations, enhance collaboration and
communication, and streamline processes and even automate workflows via the Web.

3. Can social media platforms be use for business? How can social media platform be use as part
of the business operations? Provide examples and elaborate comprehensively your answers.

Social media nowadays are a big part of a person’s daily life. It has now become an avenue for all kinds of
things, from sharing and creating content to be shared through the online world. This was boosted by the sudden
spread of the pandemic throughout the world forcing people to interact and communicate online.

In terms of businesses, social media has also been an avenue for marketing and finding clients in different
ways. Businesses today use it to demonstrate and showcase what their company has to offer through websites,
videos, and other platforms. Social media also help improve visibility of a business through advertisements and
connecting with as much people by joining groups, online communities, or websites such as linkedin. It is also used
to build relationships with clients, customers, and other possible business partners.

The use of social media as part of business operations revolves in the concept of the content with the target
market in mind. This is where creating websites or other digital representation of your business comes to action.
The content that the platform should offer must have the goal to demonstrate the expertise of the company. An
example of this is a design-build company creating a website showcasing their portfolios of designs of residential
houses, their before-and-after construction photos of their previous projects, and the reviews of satisfied owners of
the said projects.

Image taken from RMJE Construction website. https://www.rmjeconstruction.com

In the image above, we can see that the company RMJE provides visual portfolio of their projects in the
websites which can attract possible clients. In addition to this, the website created allows possible clients to connect
with the company by having an option to request for an appointment or to have a dropdown-menu of contact details
of the company. This helps the business to expand their network online by just having a website created specifically
for their company.
Other than websites, social media also allows the owners of the businesses to connect personally with clients
and partners through platforms such as linkedin, facebook, twitter, youtube, etc. With these social media websites,
owners can easily find and approach possible clients by posting contents showing the goals and expertise of the
business. They can also use these platforms to recruit company members, or to find connections within the industry
that will be helpful in the company’s growth and success.

4. How can FACEBOOK and TIKTOK be used for business? Provide examples to illustrate and
further explain your answers.
A Facebook business page is one of the most effective ways to communicate with customers and grow the
brand's following. While Facebook started off as a method for college students and other young adults to connect
online, it has since evolved into a valuable resource for businesses and community organizations.
Facebook Business Page was used by business because of the following:
1. Learning about your Target Audience
A Facebook business page allows the business to communicate directly with its target audience.
Consider it a running focus group. The fans are there because they are interested in learning more about the
company. While customers may expect good information from the business’ Facebook page, we can also
obtain useful information from them by having them participate.

2. Humanize the company

Social media is all about making genuine connections and communicating authentically, and Facebook
allows the business to give its brand a face, name, and personality.

3. Build a Community
Facebook business pages are a great opportunity to gather reviews, exchange thoughts, voice concerns,
and get input from your customers, prospects, and followers. On your Facebook page, you can create a
community in a variety of ways, including:

➢ Posting links that are informative, relevant, and interesting

➢ Fans are being asked to contribute by leaving comments.
➢ Contests and promotions planning
➢ Creating a space for customers to write ratings and other input
➢ Providing rewards for page activity

4. Good for Search Engine Optimization

Facebook may be a powerful tool for driving visitors to your company's website and blog. If search
engines index your posts, links, and other actions on the company’s Facebook profile, they can help you
rank higher in search results.

5. Your competition already has one

It's not enough to do something just because your competitors are doing it. However, failing to have a
Facebook page or a presence on other social networks can cost the business opportunities, especially it fits
 competitors are using social media effectively. Many of the clients are yearning for this type of social
contact, and if the business not providing it, then the competitors will.
Here is an illustration regarding the steps in creating a Facebook Business Page and depicting the above’s reasons:

Creating the Business Page

Figure 1 Go to Facebook and Click “Create a Page”

Figure 2 Click “Business or Brand”

Figure 3 Before Creating a Page you need to Log-in with your Personal or Business Account
Complete the Business Page Information and Details

Facebook business page allows the business to submit profile and cover photos. It's a good idea to do so
because appealing graphics lead to higher levels of interaction with the business content.

Figure 4 Create Page - Provide necessary Page information such as your Business Name, Company Category and Description. It's
important to include as much information as possible so that customers can easily recognize your page and find information about your
business.

Figure 5 Set Up Your Page – Add your Business Logo, Add a Cover Background then Click Save

Figure 6 Manage Page

 In addition, to keep your followers engaged and informed, fill out as many sections of your Facebook
business profile as you can. Consider which Facebook for Business features are most applicable to your small
business.

Business Page Sections and Tools

Figure 7 Business Apps – these are used to help the company maximize the resources and the page itself

Figure 8 Business Resources – these tab provides an additional features of the business page that cater some of the customers needs
The Page Insights
Facebook Insights can help the learn more about the fans and how they interact with the page. Facebook
fans, as the target market, may teach you a lot about what they want through participation, comments, and
feedback. Another option to engage your audience is through Facebook groups.

Figure 9 Page Insights – Page Summary

Figure 10 Page Insights – Pages to Watch and it shows the numbers of engagements
Figure 11 Ad Center – this tab provides an information about the ads your avail which it shows the summary of people who engaged with
the advertisement

Figure 12 Business Suite – this application combines access to the business’s key updates and priorities, and offers a way to draft and
schedule feed posts for both Facebook and Instagram, view insights and create ads.
Figure 13 The Business Suite Page
Figure 14 The Business Suite Tabs

Figure 15 The Business Page

 Most people now use Facebook every day, regular status updates, shared links and videos, and other
information allow the business to communicate with your customers on a daily basis.

Potential clients can easily find a business on Facebook and other social media platforms. And when they
do, they're more likely to remember the brand and tell their friends about it. Futher, creating a branded Facebook
page for your company can be an effective approach to broaden your reach and raise awareness of your brand
online.

Other than Facebook, another social media platform has emerged and it is called Tiktok In definition,
TikTok is a social media platform for short video creation, sharing, and discovery. Young people use the app to
express themselves through singing, dancing, comedy, and lip-syncing, and it allows them to make videos and share
them with others.
Tiktok has also a centralized platform to help online brands/company to produce authentic advertising that
will earn them views, engagement, and brand exposure, online brands can unleash their creative side. This social
media platform were used because of the following:
➢ User-Generated Content
Encouragement of users to develop their own content for small businesses is one of the main benefits
of social media for small enterprises. This material, in addition to being free, has the added benefit of better
reflecting the audience's tastes than anything developed by a marketing staff.
➢ Influencers Marketing
Influencers can help you attract the correct audience to your social media campaigns and promotions.
They already have those audiences and the skills and expertise to engage with them, and TikTok has a
whole new crop of celebrities that are exclusive to the platform.
➢ Hashtag Challenges
Anyone who uses social media knows how important hashtags are for gathering content around a
specific topic, and they're just as important on TikTok. Many brands have run hashtag challenges, in which
they assign a task to their followers to complete and then post to their own accounts.
➢ Live-stream content
Running a live stream is an excellent method to interact with users while showcasing products or events,
or simply answering questions in a Q&A. Live streaming have been popular, especially during the
epidemic, with brands like Balmain broadcasting from a runway event on a boat on the Seine to make fans
feel like they were there.
Here is an illustration regarding the steps in creating a Facebook Business Page and depicting the above’s reasons:
Creating your Tiktok Business Account

Figure 16 Sign-up your company Figure 17 Edit Profile: Complete Company Figure 17 (continuation)
Profile Information

Figure 18 Switching to Business Account: Figure 18 (cont) Switching to Business

Click Manage Account Account
About Tiktok Business Account

Figure 19 Tiktok Business Uses Summary

Figure 20 Analytics Description Figure 21 Posted a Public Post about a

Construction Item to turn on Analytics
About Tiktok Business Account: Business Creative Hub

Business Creative Hub helps the content creator who uses the company’s account to seek ideas and
choose the right content as per the needs of the company’s viewers. He/she must select the right category that will
cater the audience.

Tiktok for Business

Tiktok explains that, with a business account you can:
• Tap into endless discovery – a home to a vast array of subcultures, which means there’s a place for all kinds
of businesses on the platform
• Learn about Trends – posting from a Tiktok Business Account means finding a place within the platform’s
cultural landscape in a way that builds awareness and helps drive sales.
• Become a Tiktok pro – it offers exclusive access to specialized resources that help businesses up their
Tiktok game and build strong content strategies

For example, Chipotle, a restaurant company, launch a Tiktok Business Account to better connect with younger
generation and establish their brand personality in a genuine way where in they were looking for a way to personally
engage with customers.

To maintain a sense of authentic, Chipotle shies away from

traditional branding videos, opting for a more casual vibe content
is kept very down-to-earth and human such as users sharing their
favorite chipotle hacks.

Business accounts allow brands to set up a profile, build brand

presence with organic content, and grow their business through a
variety of tools, including real-time metrics and follower insights
to better understand their audiences.

How to Start Advertising with Tiktok Ads Manager

Tiktok Ads Manager provides the tools the company need to create and manage ads on Tiktok. It also
offers access to a global audience across both Tiktok and our family of other apps. You don’t need any expertise
to get started – it only takes a few minutes.
Here’s how the company use the Tiktok Ads Manager (Source: Tiktok):
 In conclusion, if the company decide to include TikTok's new service in there marketing
strategy, it can be a powerful growth tool. While the app does require specific content, brands and
enterprises may broaden their marketing strategies and reach a new audience.

Whatever selection you make, TikTok For Business is available to individuals and businesses
who wish to take advantage of the app's advertising capabilities.

References

1. Bhaskar, J. (2020). Key Differences between websites and web portals. https://customerthink.com/key-
differences-between-websites-and-web-portals/
2. Business Victoria (n.d.). Use social media for business. https://business.vic.gov.au/business-
information/marketing-and-sales/social-media/use-social-media-to-boost-business
3. Business Queensland. (n.d.) Using social media to market your business: the basics.
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/marketing-promotion/online-
marketing/social-media
4. Freedman, M. (2020). Facebook for Business: Everything you need to know.
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7761-facebook-business-guide.html
5. Forbes. (2020). Why every Business needs a website.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2020/02/03/why-every-business-needs-a-
website/?sh=329a2f5d6e75
6. Gregory, A. (2019). Why you need a Facebook page for your small business.
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/facebook-pages-for-business-2951737
7. Ilyushina, D. (2020). Website vs. Web Portal: How Are They Different.
https://www.scnsoft.com/blog/website-vs-web-portal
8. Nagar, T. (2019). What are business benefits of the web portal.
https://nagartarun.medium.com/what-are-the-business-benefits-of-the-web-portal-20bd2d77c33b
9. Orases. (n.d.). Why your business should consider web portal development.
https://orases.com/why-your-business-should-consider-web-portal-development/
10. Pediaa. (2018). What is the Difference Between Portal and Website. https://pediaa.com/what-is-the-
difference-between-portal-and-website/
11. Plasma. (2015). The Difference Between A Web Portal and A Website.
https://www.plasmacomp.com/blogs/the-difference-between-web-portal-and-website/
12. Reyes, C. (2017). Portal vs. Website: When to use each. https://www.liferay.com/blog/en-us/digital-
strategy/portal-vs-website-when-to-use-each
13. Sreenivasan, S. (n.d.) New York Times Business. How to Use Social Media in your Career
14. The Hartford. (n.d.). What website model is right for our business.
https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/strategy/building-website/choosing-right-website
15. Turner, M. (2020). Using Tiktok to build your business.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marciaturner/2020/03/31/using-tiktok-to-build-your-
business/?sh=188612e05846
16. Valuewalk. (2021). Six ways small business can use tiktok. https://www.valuewalk.com/six-ways-
small-businesses-can-use-tiktok/https://www.valuewalk.com/six-ways-small-businesses-can-use-
tiktok/
17. Waykar, S. (2021). Why Website is important for a business.
https://www.infidigit.com/blog/importance-of-website/
18. YSTL. (2020). Benefits of hving a web portal for oyur business.
https://ystl.ca/technology/benefits-of-having-a-web-portal-for-your-business/