# User Experience, Functionality and Aesthetics Evaluation in an Academic Multi-Site Web Ecosystem
## 2 Literature Review  
### The Evolution of Content Management  
Over the past two decades, there has been a substantial evolution in the field of Web content management, with more and more vendors requiring advanced software solutions to achieve their content dissemination goals [2]. Web content management systems (WCMSs) are increasingly used by organizations to make Web applications faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective to develop [1; 3]. Essentially, the rise and expansion of the Web accelerated the evolution of digital content systems, since they provide an easier way for Web content editors to create and publish content on a large scale [2]. [PERSON] [2] defines content as \"Information produced through editorial process and ultimately intended for human consumption via publication\". An early definition of content management by [PERSON] [4] describes it as the process of collection, organization, and publication of content. The systems themselves can be defined as software tools that simplify the processes involved in managing content efficiently [2] and store, organize, and share digital information [5]. A WCMS allows content providers to update a website without programming knowledge; it separates the content from aesthetics, and it allows for content and code reuse [6]. WCMSs are considered the best option for making website content changes easily in a quick and simple manner [7]. Additionally, WCMSs have emerged as pivotal instruments for facilitating the creation, administration, and maintenance of Academic digital content [8]. Selecting an appropriate WCMS requires more than just comprehending the content management requirements of an organization [9]. Various factors must be taken into account, including user interface, workflow management, content accessibility, and security [10; 11]. Over the years, WCMSs have evolved from basic systems to smarter and more powerful tools that allow for greater customization in terms of aesthetics and functionality [11]. Advanced features may occasionally require the involvement of a developer, but the main purpose of WCMSs remains to serve as website management tools for non-technical workers. [PERSON] et al. [12] asserted that only through the use of advanced WCMSs can organ nizations achieve an elaborate Web presence, featuring thousands of pages with frequently updated content. [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2018) identified access control, content development, storage, transfer and publication, and workflow and time management as important features of advanced WCMSs used in publishing. [PERSON] et al. (2018) concluded that the key functionalities of an advanced WCMS must include source code manipulation, content organization through tagging, import capabilities from diverse formats, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor integration, restricted access controls, backup systems and more. Moreover, in terms of performance, [PERSON] et al. (2018) demonstrated the importance of content caching techniques, and other studies ([PERSON] et al., 2018; [PERSON] et al., 2018) highlighted the necessity of security features and the identification of vulnerabilities. Finally, as Internet technologies move toward the future, WCMSs also evolve to encompass Web 3.0 technologies, content quality analysis features, AI algorithms, and more ([PERSON] et al., 2018). Another advanced feature of WCMSs is the ability to use a unified infrastructure to create multiple websites or a network of interconnected websites. This approach allows for both resource sharing and advanced management functionality, as well as advantages in deployment and upgrading ([PERSON] et al., 2018). Modern general-purpose WCMSs such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal all provide some sort of multi-site functionality ([PERSON] et al., 2018; [PERSON] et al., 2018; [PERSON] et al., 2018) through either their core files or through plugins. On the other hand, this approach may cause problems with administrator confusion ([PERSON] et al., 2018) or data integrity and security ([PERSON] et al., 2018).