Iknow - Iknow Content Management

One of Iknow's core strengths is content management. Broadly speaking, content management describes any system that allows an individual or group to more easily change and update content, especially for intranet and Internet websites. A content management system (CMS) helps collect and create the content in ways that makes it easy to reuse; it can schedule pages to appear and disappear at designated times; and it can archive old pages with versioning and revision control. Content “reuse” means an item can be edited in one place and then be formatted and published instantly to multiple channels, including the web (HTML and PDF), print, wireless handheld devices, and cell phones.

Enterprise CMSs may control hundreds of thousands of pages on hundreds of websites with many dozens of contributors, allowing each user to work on the same pages without conflict because of check-in/check-out and workflow control. Midrange CMSs support corporate departments and smaller organizations, while smaller CMSs are designed for a single authors working on one or a few websites.

Some CMSs edit whole web pages; others edit a content template for a page and individual content elements. Both kinds may have form-based text editing, source editing of the markup language, or WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) visual editing. Enterprise CMSs use content templates and usually store content elements as information chunks in XML. Some systems tag and store the information with RDF (Resource Description Framework) metadata for the Semantic Web. Smaller CMSs tend to be page-oriented and store HTML.

Business value from content management is achieved in numerous ways. CMSs facilitate the process of capturing, storing, finding, and reusing an organization's intellectual assets; built-in workflow functionality aids in the review and approval of new content; and many software products provide on-demand content formatting and publishing to multiple delivery channels, including the web (HTML and PDF), print, wireless handheld devices, and cell phones. Content management systems support key business business processes and functions, such as helping market or sell products or services, supporting existing customers, supporting sales channels, and helping educate customers, employees, and business partners.

Iknow has deep expertise in managing all phases of content management projects, from initial requirements gathering through system selection, customization, and deployment. We have worked on projects of various sizes and scopes--from a single Internet website for a small or medium-sized business to large corporate websites and intranets that support large content repositories for information-rich business processes and functions. A few examples of the work we do for our clients include:

Foundation Elements

ROI and business case
Common standards, platforms, and environments
Enterprise content management versus Web content management
Content management leading practices
Process-based integration
Personalization

Content Creation

Templates
Desktop application authoring
Metadata and taxonomies
Multiple language support
Incorporating rich media
Static and dynamic content considerations
Authoring communities

Content Control

Workflow
Security
Deployment

Content Management

Version control and rollback
Rendition management
Users’ roles and responsibilities (Developers, Authors, Editors, Publishers, Reviewers, Owners, and Stewards)
Audit trail
Site management

Governance and Administration (Creating the processes and organizational enablers for managing and continually improving the system’s content)

Business rules for content publication and authorization
Implicit models versus explicit models
Leading practices
Optimizing your governance model to your organization
Syndication, synchronization and information integrity
Standards (XML, HTML, Section 508, and internal standards)

Performance Measurement

Detailed assessment and review of end users’ comments and feedback
Performance improvement recommendations

Product Vendor Assessment

Product evaluation criteria based on business and technical requirements
Key vendor strategies
Content management product selection

Our consulting recommendations are always unbiased and independent, and we work jointly with our clients to reach and agree on the best technical direction for moving forward. Iknow is not a distributor or reseller of software or hardware products, so our technology recommendations will never be influenced by sales commissions or other incentives from software or hardware vendors.

Why do companies rely on Iknow's consulting advice?

Companies choose Iknow to help them with their content management challenges because Iknow has:

Deep expertise in content management software and systems, as well as a solid understanding of the entire spectrum of KM, collaboration, and related information management software and technologies;
Exceptional business management consulting skills, including strong analytical, process design, and organizational change management capabilities;
Knowledge of most industry verticals, business processes, and business functions; and
An extensive project portfolio demonstrating experience in delivering complete end-to-end KM solutions.

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Please see the Iknow article, Knowledge and Content Management Technologies for Market Research and Competitive Intelligence Functions, published recently in EuropeanCEO.

Are you looking for help with content migration, conversion and clean-up? Please see our Content Management Outsourcing and Advisory Services.