Content Management - Step by Step
- Dr. Moria Levy
- Nov 1, 2001
- 2 min read
An important component in knowledge management is content, which we have mentioned in the pages of this monthly publication on multiple occasions. Handling content is not limited to just collecting content from various sources. The required content handling includes many stages, which we will detail below:
The first stage is defining needs, which involves identifying the content that the user community requires. One must consider what knowledge topics are worth managing (ILPs - Information Leverage Points) in terms of resource investment (human and financial) versus the benefits associated with managing them. When selecting content, it is essential to consider both external and internal content sources for initial construction as well as for future updates. To address the needs of the user community, the best approach is to collaborate with a representative group that thoroughly understands the required information.
The next stage is organizing the content that has been decided upon for management. Using taxonomy (characteristics that will serve as content catalogers). The organization will facilitate navigation within the content and its location when needed. There are several methods for building the taxonomy and characteristics (you can contact the newspaper editors for additional details on the above).
After defining the required content and organizing it, the next stage is to collect and approve the material. Since the information is supposed to serve many users, there is great responsibility for content reliability. Processes must be defined for content approval. This can be achieved in several ways, including appointing a content expert for each of the defined topics who will review the information before it is published and distributed to all users.
So, after we have defined what content we will manage, organized it, collected it, and approved it, all that remains to do is move to the next stage: selecting a tool for storing the information, one that is user-friendly and has an efficient search engine. And just before distribution, it's essential not to forget to define ongoing content update processes. Content that is not updated in real time is as good as unmanaged and may cause serious damage. Integrating update processes into existing work processes will ensure high responsiveness and information currency.
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