Enterprise Content Services: Connecting Information and Profitability

The biggest misconception in technology management and delivery is that the technology creates the solution. In fact, the business strategy and approach create the solution and the technology is a tool to make that strategy come to life. This book addresses and provides a framework for overcoming this roadblock and will help companies maximize the return on their investments in information and content management."
--Ron Markezich, General Manager, General Manager Finance and Administration IT, Microsoft Corporation

In many ways, content management is the Achilles heel of the IT practitioner. Organizations have spent billions on technology, but have neglected the necessary strategy for identifying, organizing, and accessing needed information. The result is not only disappointing returns on these investments, but a step backward. This step backward is "infosmog"--a haze of valuable information that cannot be used for effective action or informed decisions because it is disorganized or inaccessible. To avoid infosmog, businesses need to consider information management practices and policies as carefully as they consider their investment in technology.

Written for executives, managers, and information technology professionals, Enterprise Content Services will help you identify the most important content driving your business, improve its accuracy, and make it more usable for all of your audiences. This book will teach you how to bring together your organization's people, processes, and technologies for effective content management. In addition, you will learn about the specific tools, techniques, strategies, and approaches for the implementation of an effective content services program.

This book includes a useful guide for content managers. Focusing on vendors and products, it describes key features, strengths, and drawbacks of relevant companies, terms, and technologies. Real case studies illustrate the value of comprehensive content services and techniques for successful implementation. You will also learn practical advice on important topics such as:

• Developing a knowledge storyboard--a step-by-step guide
• Taking a content inventory by identifying documents, their owners, and their lifecycles
• Creating an Enterprise content catalog with document metadata, subject language, and security
• Measuring ROI for content services
• Assembling and managing the content services team
• Using portal technology for sharing and manipulating knowledge

Table of Contents

Foreword.
Preface.
Acknowledgments.

I. WHY CONTENT SERVICES?

1. Content Services and Business Performance.
2. The Infosmog Challenge.

II. IMPLEMENTING CONTENT SERVICES.

3. Ground Rules for Managing Enterprise Content.
4. The Knowledge Storyboard.
5. The Content Inventory.
6. The Enterprise Content Catalog.
7. Building the Content Services Team.
8. The Space of Flows.

Appendix: Content Services Vendors.
Glossary.
Works Cited and Further Readings.
About the Authors.
Index