Content migration at the top of everyone’s list
By swilson | January 26, 2012
When did content migration – or “cleanse” as one client calls it – go to the top of the list of important intranet topics?
We just signed a contract for such work and I’ve got no fewer than three more in process. Everyone has suddenly got religion about fixing their intranet content.
We’ve been helping clients with this for a while now and I see some consistencies:
- Most clients can’t tell me how many different sites make up their intranet or portal, much less how many documents
- Most clients have had absolutely no governance controls that dictate periodic reviews of content by content owners
- Most clients have content that is a decade old and unvisited for at least the past 18 months
- Many, many, many companies are in the process of moving to a different platform – they don’t want to simply move the junk over
- There’s a new acceptance of the fact that poorly crafted content damages usability, readability and comprehension – the research bears this out and people are finally listening
- Employees are fatigued and overwhelmed with the shear volume of content
- Bad content is causing bad business decisions
- Get the tools you need to inventory your sites and content – if you don’t know what you have, how can you help your content owners fix it?
- Use these tools to identify content that has been unvisited and untouched for the past 18 months and archive all of it – note I said “archive” because your document record management schedule may not allow you to actually delete it, but delete what you can and archive the rest
- Make the content owner role part of people’s job description and performance management plan – a volunteer crew won’t result in great content
- Provide the right tools and training for those creating content, remembering that most of them are not professional communicators but can learn
- Melcrum’s SharePoint: Connecting Employees to Drive Productivity and Increase Collaboration – a three-day workshop that includes content migration and my crash course on writing killer intranet content, scheduled for February, June and November
- IABC’s World Conference – I’ll bring an abbreviated version of my content migration module to this June Tuesday afternoon session.
Being responsible
By swilson | October 11, 2011
I’ve been observing with interest all the back and forth about the occupy Wall Street protesters and Herman Cain’s response to them. It reminded me of an exchange I had a couple weeks ago with a United flight attendant.
She and her fellow attendant were grousing about how hard their work is: “my back hurts, I don’t know how long I can keep this up.” He lamented about limitations in the job: “it’s tough to get the schedule I want.” She replied about how tough the job market is, so she doesn’t want to look for another job. The line was backed up and I was privy to the entire conversation.
I turned to them both and said, “as a self-employed consultant for the past ten years, I am constantly looking for the next job. Everyday I must reach out to people to ensure I have new assignments, billable time, which means income and food on the table.”
It’s true. Those of you who are self-employed know it. There is no rest from the constant job hunt. Now, I will say, I actually enjoy that hunt. I’m certain I’m in the minority.
For me, it is a way to take control of my own destiny. To be responsible for myself and my family. It’s a choice I made ten years ago and I’m sticking with it. Working with amazing companies and clients on interesting work makes it an especially shiny brass ring.
Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. I get that. But taking responsibility for yourself sure feels better than the alternative of being taken care of.
Where the education rubber meets the road
By swilson | October 5, 2011
Part of my restart commitment on this blog is to not be quite so restrictive about my topics. It’s kept me from writing more. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about school.
I went to a public school. My husband did too. We figure we turned out ok — at least so far. So, our kids have been in public school from the start. Wow is it frustrating! They don’t want to listen to parents, they teach in ways that we believe cause learning to slow down, and they waste a lot of time. The last one is a real hot button for me. I hate wasting time. Of course, this contributes to my inability to relax and chill out. So be it.
My daughter’s class had a party during class time because they were “good.” My son’s class had a reading party where they read all day, skipping all other subjects. He wisely observed that the teacher is trying to “help the kids who don’t read well, mom.” Even with this cushy schedule, they still don’t have much homework. And more recently, it came to our attention that our son’s teacher was seating him next to the rambunctious kids because she can count on him to keep them in line.
Don’t get me wrong here, I actually really liked this teacher — former military dog trainer — perfect for elementary school. Smart, capable, willing to challenge them. Challenges herself too. Which is why she’s returning to middle school after one year at elementary.
In light of all this, and being strong believers in the wisdom of Gladwell’s Outliers, we are doing virtual school with my daughter. It’s not home school. She interacts with teachers virtually, attends virtual classes. My husband is her learning coach, supplementing what she learns in class or from a faculty member.
Our daughter is enthusiastic. We’ll see where it goes.
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