Step 1: Create a vision of your users' experience

We create a vision of your users' experience with information, both inside and outside your organization. That means we gather information on the current user experience by understanding the successes and failures of that experience.

After information gathering comes analysis. If your users' experience is not optimal today, we define how it should change if your content-management solution is to succeed. The focus of our analysis is understanding the dimensions of your content-management solution—the point of view of each relevant group in the user community as well as that of the authors. We identify the many ways in which you might want to target information specifically to particular staff members, customers, and partners.

Step 2: Conduct an inventory your current information resources

We conduct a complete inventory of your current information resources. Not only must we catalog and categorize the information you now produce, but we must compare what you have today with what we have discovered is really needed by your users or might be needed in the future. Remember that just because information exists does not mean that someone, somewhere, finds it useful.

Step 3: Look at the processes your organization uses

We look closely at the processes that are used throughout your organization to produce, approve, and disseminate information resources. We find out who authors, who reuses information coming from other parts of the organization, and who reviews and approves information. We learn what tools are used to create your information resources and how well they are used. We ask if authors use format styles in their documents. We identify how your information resources are currently disseminated or published at present—in print, in HTML, on CD-ROM, in help systems, and on the Web.

Step 4: Learn what technologies your organization uses

Finally, we learn what technologies your organizations uses to author, store, retrieve, and publish information. We investigate systems that are already in place in your organization, especially if they are home-grown or specialized proprietary solutions serving the needs of one department. We understand how your information is stored and accessed. We discuss with your Information Technology (IT) organization which database systems your company already owns and what their capacity might be. We find out if any other part of the organization is already investigating a content-management solution.

Deliverables

From our Phase 1 investigation, we prepare a report and recommendation. The report will include our analysis of the business problem at hand and how its solution will improve your company's profitability. Our business case for content management will show what it costs to continue handling content as it is done today, what the short-comings are of the current approach, and what efficiencies and cost savings might be realized with a new and better solution.

We propose a time line for a project to implement a content-management solution and recommend who should be involved in the project. We include your most experienced people, those knowledgeable about the process, as well as new people who bring a fresh perspective. We note if additional human resources are needed or how people might be trained in the process.

Once the plan has been accepted, we help you ensure that you have the funding and staffing you need to move to Phase 2.

If you would like to learn more about any of our consulting services or you would like to talk to a representative about scheduling an activity, please email or call 303-232-7586.