Overview

Web site globalization is first and foremost a process. The term globalization is far broader in context than the terms regional, international, or local. The scope of a globalization effort includes, extends, and complements internationalization and localization activities to also address the data- and transaction-oriented requirements of a Web site. Even when the site has been engineered to address the language and presentation characteristics of an international audience, the ability to capture globally diverse data, process transactions, and service an international customer requires alignment with and support for data standards. Without the ability to accurately and effectively capture globally diverse information, a Web site will not be able to process, integrate, and exchange the necessary operational data with traditional enterprise applications.

Internationalization, localization, and globally diverse data are critical to Web site globalization. However, jumping to Web site design and engineering without a defined strategy and process would be a critical error. Before engaging tactical language translation and Web site development activities, the business should have adopted a Web site globalization process that further supports an overall globalization strategy.

A successful Web site globalization process will include the following activities:

• Formalization of business requirements

• Identification of candidate markets

• Development of market profiles

• Validation of candidate markets

• Decomposition of business requirements

  • Functional requirements (internationalization, localization)

  • Data requirements (dimensional affinity, data concepts, data standards)

• Web site engineering

  • Development

  • Testing

  • Documentation

  • Implementation

The integration of a globalization process with technology development methodologies may take several forms. One of the...