Everything You Wanted to Know About Content Management* * But were afraid to ask Presenter: Rahel Ann Bailie, Content Management/Content Development, Strategy A Consulting Group Information Architecture/Usability, Intentional Design
What is content management? Technology that controls content at various stages through the content lifecycle to support a business goal
What is content management? Technology that controls content at various stages through the content lifecycle to support a business goal Manage websites Manage a corporate portal Manage digital assets Manage knowledge bases Multi-channel publishing (single-sourcing) Content management Structured authoring XML publishing Support e-commerce initiatives Streamline marketing initiatives Share content across enterprise Manage access rights to content
Many flavours within CM DM WCM DAM LM PIM RM KM ECM CRM XCM Documents Web content Rich media Online courses Catalogue data Records Business intelligence Structured and unstructured docs Customer data XML structured content (technical publishing)
Where do we fit in the CM picture? CMS suitable for technical documentation is considered a niche market At last count, thousands of WCM vendors About a dozen vendors for Segment with no name : XCMS Structured content software Dynamic publishing software Multi-channel publishing software Globalization solutions software Content component management
WCMS components FIREWALL FIREWALL Uploads CMS Content management ( rules ): -Permissions -Workflow (approval) -Scheduled publication Content & expiration -Recurrences entry & notifications -Archiving and deletion Downloads DATABASE
XCMS components XML authoring tool CMS Publishing engine PDF xhtml XML PostScript Upload digital assets More complex processing rules DATABASE Generate aggregated content Specialty conversions
Role of publishing engine Download peripheral tasks: Font assignment Pagination Table of authorities Formatting Graphics manipulation and much, much more
WCMS as definitive source Output: Web pages Definitive Source: Database with Approved Content Chunks A1.1 B1.1 D1.2 E1.3 DATABASE A1.1 B1.1 C1.1 D1.2 E1.3 E1.3 A1.1 B1.1 C1.1
XCMS as definitive source Definitive Source A: Approved Content Chunks Definitive Source B: Generated Aggregate Content A1.1 A1.1 A1.1 A1.2 A1.2 A1.1 B1.3 D1.3 DATABASE B1.2 D1.2 B1.1 C1.1 D1.1 E1.3 E1.2 E1.1 B1.1 C1.1 D1.1 E1.1 B1.2 C1.1 D1.2 E1.2 B1.2 C1.1 D1.3 E1.2 B1.3 C1.1 D1.3 E1.3 Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Version 4
Choosing a CMS Basic framework Contextual choice Meet requirements Strategic adoption
Contextual choice Which vehicle is best? What is the purpose? Taking children to school Taking flowers to the neighbors Taking workers to an offshore oil rig
Contextual choice Best really means best of class
Meet requirements 1. Business analysis Business needs analysis Process analysis 2. Content analysis Content audit Content architecture Metadata and taxonomy 3. Technology analysis
Strategic adoption Unified content strategy* Adopt standard content format Structure content Strategic decisions Turn costs into assets Examine total cost of ownership Fit into future corporate strategy *Ann Rockley, Managing Enterprise Content
Common mistakes #1 Project-level mistakes Buying the tool before setting requirements Mistaking features for requirements Deciding based on price Not getting professional help Understanding budget implications
Common mistakes #2 Content-level mistakes Skipping or skimping on process Lack of content standardization Underestimating content migration efforts Keeping old work-arounds
Resources Strategy A articles and podcasts www.strategya.ca and www.intentionaldesign.ca CM Professionals www.cmprofessionals.org CMS Watch ww.cmswatch.com/ The Rockley Report www.rockley.com/ Blog post on Astoria site www.astoriablogs.com/blog/2007/01/post.html Malcontents podcast http://themalcontents.blogspot.com/2007/01/episode-5-xmlpublishing.html rahelab http://del.icio.us
Questions? Contact information: rabailie@strategya.ca +1.604.696.1993