Hello Christine,
Thanks for another stimulating discussion topic.
'Content' has become the term du jour that embraces both documents - the
mainstay of bureaucracy and other workplaces - and the contents of web pages
that mostly provide a platform for documents (and let us not get into a tedious
analysis of what constitutes a document :))
Most organisations have devolved responsibility for intranet publication from
IT to staff - with the results you'd expect. This has been enabled through
content management systems like Sharepoint et al. (My shop uses Interwoven
TeamSite).
There is an abiding fallacy in all organisations that software can organise
information for you. (Tantamount to throwing a running power saw into a pile of
timber and expecting a coffee table to emerge). In fact, only people can
organise information.
So, back to your question ...
I've long observed that there is no certificate-level training available for
intranet design (as opposed to web design - intranets are their own kind of
beast).
Organisations buy CMSs and EDMSs with the expectation that only minimal
training is required for their staff. Any such training focuses on the
production rules of the software but neglects to train people in organising
information. Nor do those organisations put in place an information governance
structure that ensures the quality of information and the quality of the
content architecture.
So, where are the capability gaps in content management?
- Organisation of information
- Information governance
- Intranet design (information architecture for enterprise-internal websites)
- Intranet development
- Content maintenance
I'd be glad to talk to you about this more off-line.
Bede
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christine Kent
Sent: Wednesday, 6 July 2016 1:43 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Content management
Thanks, Jenny
Your response tells me I am not so far behind the game. But as for entry
points, I wonder if it is like Tech Writing was years back. There were no
qualifications and no standard pathway. Promoted secretaries, and sideways
moving trainers and IT geeks all fell into tech writing when they showed an
aptitude. I came from the teaching and then training direction via reference
based training (for which I am still grateful, thankyou Tactics). I wonder if
that is how the content management is now working? A talented admin person, or
TW et al starts to take responsibility for something that is a mess, and
eventually moves sideways into that role.
I might post the question on the Slack "Write the Docs" group and hope I don't
sound too foolish.
Cheers, Christine
From:
austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jenny Crotty
Sent: Wednesday, 6 July 2016 12:42 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: atw: Re: Content management
Hi Christine,
I can only determine there's possibly a pathway through Knowledge Management
type roles.
In my organisation we are provided with Network drives and a SharePoint site to
store content and this just provides a place for each business unit to keep
their outputs from the use of Microsoft Office suite. In our documentation
team we use a Team Foundation Server to manage our XML files and will be moving
to GIT but this is purely based on the need to back up, have version history
and provide some security to the information we create and manage. The rest of
the IT team here use a product called Service Now that has a knowledge centre
space and people submit articles to build a library of info for their business
unit. Each is responsible for their own design and organisation. Our Intranet
content management is structured by the application used by the digital team,
which for us, is Oracle Webcenter. Our online help doesn't integrate at all
with Webcenter, which is such a pity.
All of the content management solutions we've ever used end up creating a big
mess because the lack of structure and consistency. Any new appointments,
junior roles or otherwise learn how to manage their team's content based on
existing process. Most people just go with the flow. Big clean ups are rare
because of the time they take. People just learn to work around it.
Maybe the concept of content management is touched upon in courses related to
the use of these applications? Maybe it just comes down to good old fashioned
common sense and having a logical approach to storing information. Maybe we've
all become dependent on the powerful "Google-like" search tools in available? I
know my Sister is dependent on her iMac's search tool to find anything and
everything in her small business.
I can only dream of the efficiencies we would gain if there was proper content
management in our organisation.
Don't know if that's what you were looking for but I hope it was useful.
Cheers
Jenny
Jenny Crotty
Technical Writer
ITS Business Engagement
Bunnings Group Limited
126 Pilbara Street, Welshpool WA 6106
Locked Bag 20, Welshpool DC WA 6985
Phone : (08) 9365-1568
Fax : (08) 9451-5754
E-mail : jcrotty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:jcrotty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Website : www.bunnings.com.au<http://www.bunnings.com.au>
From:
austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christine Kent
Sent: Wednesday, 6 July 2016 8:54 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: atw: Content management
We all know "content management" by some name or another (the whole "Write the
Docs" thingy) is an emerging area for writers, but does anyone know what the
pathway is into it?
I am currently writing some TAFE courses, and , on the whole, the VET sector
has not grasped that the whole of the business world has been disrupted. The
training very much represents the past state, not the future state, so where I
can, I introduce more up to date information. However, I am also falling behind
and whilst I can see the new state from afar, I do not always know the
mechanics of how it works.
I decided to add the concept of Intranet/Internet content management in a low
level "Organise Workplace Information" course, and put a note explaining how
someone can specialise in this. I do this for other skills skimmed over in the
Unit like communication skills, where I referred the students to more detailed
courses on specialist topics.
I scanned every business course and could find nothing that seemed to bear any
relationship to what I am calling "content management" - nothing on intranets,
SharePoint, Lotus notes etc - for non IT people. That includes data storage and
management systems in modern organisations that are NOT either databases or
Office documents, but that can, nonetheless, involve junior staff in their
creation or management. The term XML does not appear anywhere in any course,
but surely junior staff are going to become involved in tagging and managing
XML files etc, or creating files for Intranet distribution other than PDF?
(Even managing PDF files does not come up in these courses.)
Do junior staff get involved in any aspects of "content management" as I am
defining it above. I need some insight on this one as I have not worked in a
modern large corporate environment for a few years now. Is the area monopolised
by IT graduates or is there a pathway in for the newly recruited junior office
person?
Cheers, Christine
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