When one size does not fit all - distributing content management and web publishing in a large university Rhys Williams, Troy Boulton, Izabella Bartosiewicz, AusWeb'2003
Abstract
RMIT successfully deployed a new corporate web/content management system approximately 14 months ago. A key feature of the system is a widely distributed publishing system, which a large number of staff are required to use in the publication of core university corporate content.
This paper discusses how RMIT went about designing and implementing this fundamental change in approach to web publishing, how the system works, issues encountered, and how a process of continuous assessment and improvement is being embedded, based on a large usability analysis undertaken at the conclusion of the first iteration of the change process.
Heather Smith, James McKeen, Developments in Practice VIII: Enterprise Content Management, Communications of the AIS, 11, pp 647-659
Abstract
Enterprise content management (ECM) is an integrated approach to managing all of an organization’s information including paper documents, data, reports, web pages, and digital assets. ECM includes the strategies, tools, processes, and skills an organization needs to manage its information assets over their lifecycle. While many vendors would suggest that their software is a panacea, most knowledge managers recognize the greater challenge – to develop an overall ECM strategy that will ensure good information practices are in place and effectively integrated with technology where appropriate.
An effective ECM strategy should address each of the four lifecycle stages:
- Capture – all activities associated with collecting content.
- Organize – indexing, classifying and linking content and databases together to provide access within and across business units and functions.
- Process – sifting and analyzing content in ways that inform decision-making.
- Maintain – ensuring that content is kept up-to-date.
A guiding principle at all stages is flexibility. Methods of collecting, organizing, processing and maintaining content that “casts it in concrete” could become a liability in the near future.
While the top-down vision for ECM includes improved decision-making, better utilization of information and the collection of competitive intelligence, most ECM initiatives take a bottom-up approach that focuses on delivering immediate benefits through projects such as intranet portals, information searching, and web content management. However, knowledge managers also recognize that greater value can be gained from taking a more strategic approach to ECM. The research shows that those organizations that can marry effective content stewardship practices with appropriate information behaviors and values and information technology on a broader scale can have a significant effect on their organization’s performance.