R4: Towards a holistic framework for designing and developing Social Web Applications

Social Web Application (SWA) design and development is a complex process that requires the understanding and coordination of several domains of knowledge. Yet there remain few if any holistic frameworks to manage this process. In this paper we present such a framework, R4. It coordinates and relates the different perspectives that inform the entire SWA design and development process. We base R4 on SWA design and development framework requirements derived from the literature. We formulate and relate four basic perspectives, the User, Culture, Technology and Business spheres and define stages, (Re)Design, Realization and Reformation (RRR), of the entire SWA design and development lifecycle. We then suggest basic SWA design and development guidelines derived from our R4 framework and develop an example methodology based on that framework.