Content Quality
Management
The need for measurements and metrics with meaning
by Scott Abel, TheContentWrangler.com

What is content?
The stuff that runs your business

What is management?
In a word: Control

Are you in control?
Chances are you’re not

Why control?
Content is a business asset worthy of being managed
just like any other business asset

1
Paradigm shift
Documents aren’t authored, they’re manufactured
example: films and music

2
Paradigm shift
We create content for reuse in a variety of mediums
example: modular, reusable, structured XML, syndication

3
Paradigm shift
Work shifts from authors to content managers
example: managers track hours, personnel, cost per reuse unit

4
Paradigm shift
New tools, standards, and customer-expectations
example: DITA, XML authoring, “the perpetual beta”

does anyone know?
1
Current state
Tech pubs is often viewed as a cost center
...but no one really knows what the actual costs are

2
Current state
It’s difficult - if not impossible - to get funding
...so we chug along, doing our best with what we have

3
Current state
We lack the ability to quickly see what’s going on
...we can’t easily provide actionable data to decision-makers

4
Current state
We often settle for mediocrity
...and we make excuses for our inefficiencies

1
Solving the problem
Admit that we must manage content as an asset
...content management involves imposing order

2
Solving the problem
Capture exactly how we do our jobs today
...detect patterns that may have eluded us before

3
Solving the problem
Make intelligent decisions based on metrics
...metadata must be accessible and used to guide decisions

4
Solving the problem
Changing our roles and communicating business value
...sell both the value of improvements and their benefits

5
Solving the problem
Speak to leaders in a way they understand
...it’s about profitability, plain and simple

6
Solving the problem
Work like a professional
...prove your ideas have merit and are based on fact

Inmedius Horizon
® TM
Dashboard acts as a content command center
...define and control tasks, employees, processes, and content

see things that were previously invisible
1
Inmedius Horizon helps you
® TM
Determine the cost of creating information products
...work hours, number of staff, cost per unit

process costs may surprise you
2
Inmedius Horizon helps you
® TM
Determine the actual cost of reusable content
...measure creation, compilation, and reuse costs

easily making the business case
3
Inmedius Horizon helps you
® TM
Professionally manage your content life cycle processes
...and can help you make the case for change

More information
Scott Abel scottabel@mac.com
www.thecontentwrangler.com

For more information
about Inmedius Horizon call
® TM
1-800-697-7110 or visit
www.inmedius.com