Content Management

What is content?

In recent times information is typically referred to as content. Content is any type or unit of information. It can be text, images, graphics, video, sound, documents, records, etc. It can be in digital format or it can be in hard format. Digital content may take the form of text, such as documents, multimedia files, such as audio or video files, or any other file type which follows a content lifecycle which requires management.

We all use content management to some degree. In the early stages of the company's life, information is stored in the folder system on a network hard drive. This folder hierarchical system is set up by one person and as the company grows the location of content within the folders is passed on via written procedures or more likely through word-of-mouth.

It is cheap and easy to use when the amount of content is small. As the company starts taking on more projects, developing more products, and hiring more employees the amount of content increases and so does the amount of people needing access to that information.

Content Management is the set of processes, strategies, methods, tools, and technologies used to capture, manage, store, publish, preserve, and deliver content.

These processes, strategies, methods, tools, and technologies allow managing content through its lifecycle from its creation, review, storage, and dissemination to destruction.

Main goals are accessibility, findability, and re-use of content.

How do we achieve this? This is the talk for tomorrow.

Solution to Information Overload

“The information in the world doubles every day. What they don’t tell us is that our wisdom is cut in half at the same time.” -- Joey Novick

Management of information is the solution to the information overload. The true value of information is not its immediate use. In order to effectively use information, it must be readily available for analysis and synthesis with other information.

In recent times information is also referred to as content. Content usually follows life cycle. Information or content management covers the entire scope of content whether it is in the form of a paper document, an electronic file, a database, audio, video or an email.

Why do we need to manage content?

There are few reasons to manage content:

1. Central documents repository


2. Enable collaboration


3. Eliminate paper records


4. Automate processes


5. Protect sensitive information


6. Improve control of information


7. Increase efficiency, and productivity


8. Reduce cost


9. Improve legal and regulatory compliance

Tomorrow, I will talk more about content management.

Information Overload

“Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across electrified borders”. -- Ronald Reagan

In our society recorded information and knowledge are growing in volume and complexity. Companies, universities, laboratories, government, schools, etc. are acquiring and using information at greater rates than at any time in the past. Information appears in many diverse forms.

Information can save time, money, and sometimes lives. Therefore more and more people of all ages and occupations are becoming increasingly dependent upon efficient access to information.

In today's volatile marketplace, businesses are in a never ending search for information. Businesses and individuals alike are being assaulted by a barrage of information that exceeds their ability and/or time to analyze, synthesize, and disseminate it. Everybody has the information, most are being asphyxiated by it.

Tomorrow I will talk about the solution to this problem.