A WEB-BASED ANNOUNCEMENT SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

Abstract

Communication is essential for the operation of any learning institution, particularly in keeping students informed about institutional matters and engaged with activities within the university environment. Currently, Universiti Utara Malaysia uses a decentralised approach, with multiple platforms for disseminating information to students. This approach has frequently led to issues such as information overload, redundancy, and uneven message reach. To address these challenges, this paper develops and evaluates a prototype web-based announcement system that serves as a centralised platform for educational, administrative, and club-related announcements. The development process employs the Rapid Application Development methodology to accelerate progress and adapt to user feedback. Usability testing involving 33 respondents revealed high satisfaction with the system’s usefulness, ease of use, smooth communication flow, elimination of duplicate postings, and improved accessibility and information retrieval. The results suggest that the system can effectively mitigate the identified problems and enhance information dissemination within the university environment. Its design and functionality offer broader applicability to other higher education institutions facing similar challenges in managing and communicating student-related information. In conclusion, the proposed prototype demonstrates the potential to streamline communication processes and improve the overall information experience for students across universities.