The neglect of my blog over the past few weeks has had me thinking about content management in general. It seems that I spend hours chasing content, harrassing content experts for information, chasing managers for approvals (which was ‘urgent’ until it gets to their desk). Sound familiar?

I presented at a GOVIS forum event in 2002 on this topic. My arguement was simple: content management is a ‘people issue’, not a technology. The right tools make it easier (and can help encourage participation), but the issue is primarily trying to motivate content authors, contibuters and subject experts to give you their stuff.

I don’t know what the answer is, but from my experience the following helps (a mixture of carrot and stick, not all will work in all situations and everyone’s different):

  • Ensure accountability

    Build it into contracts, whether employment contracts, development contracts, memoranda of understanding or whatever. Make sure someone is accountable and hold them to it.

  • Play dumb

    Give experts a chance to show off. Do it in a manner that allows them to demonstrate their expertise.

  • Demonstrate value

    Show the expert that providing you with content will benefit them

I’ll add more as I think of it…

Others’ contributions welcome…