Presented by Rahel Bailie at Documentation and Training West, May 6-9, 2008 in Vancouver,BC There are many ways to skin a content management project, and the skeletons of CM projects gone awry, or even abandoned before conception, line the ditches to prove it. Of all the critical factors on a content management project, why is all the talk about technology? Separate fact from fantasy, marketing from mayhem, and figure out where to focus your energies to make your content management process a success.

1. Content management success: Separating fact from fantasy, marketing from mayhem, silliness from sensibility

3. Fallacy: Tools are the engine

4. Fact: Tools are the caboose

7. Fallacy: Focus on features

8. Fantasy: Install, input, output

9. Fact: Build, buy, rent? Do you have enough in-house resources What kind of content processing power do you need Are your processes documented How much custom work is needed Can the software support your needs What is the TCO

15. Sensibility: Process-driven project Used under Creative Commons (c) 2006 CM Professionals

16. Insist on a project plan Activity Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Do this   Do this    Do this       Do this     Do this       Do this   

17. Handle process issues Where will the content be stored Will our docs get restructured Will we change production processes What about our translations Does the project fit with our corporate strategy Do we have to tag everything

18. Handle governance issues Who owns the content Who will enforce the processes Who will own the budget Is there enough political will Who will own the process Will our staff cope

19. Adopt a naturalistic system Better usability Better processes Higher rate of acceptance

20. Consider change management Get cross-dept buy-in Get exec. commitment Make it easy, easy, easy All clear about hows and whys Training, follow-up, evangelize, iterate Plan, decide, communicate