Evaluating and selecting tools is a large part of implementing a unified content strategy. There are numerous tools available for every type of task your organization could possibly require assistance with. New tools are being announced regularly and existing vendors with a solid offering in one particular application are continuously upgrading and extending their tools to better meet market needs. In other cases, products are purchased by other vendors and integrated into their product offering and yet other tools are disappearing in the wake of tough economic times.
The number of tools available makes it very hard to know which one to select. Naturally, you want a tool that meets your specific needs, and you want it provided by a vendor with a solid reputation and financial standing. Finding such a tool is not an easy task. To start, it is important to understand that there is no perfect solution. There are pros and cons for every tool and supporting technology. What works well for one organization may not work well for another. Your best defense is to be armed with as much information as possible, to develop detailed evaluation criteria, and to test before you buy. Chapter 13, “Evaluating tools,” provides you with an understanding of how to evaluate tools for selection.
One of the decisions you will have to make is whether you want to work with XML-based tools. Chapter 14, “The role of XML,” describes XML and its origins and explains why XML is so valuable in a unified content strategy.
The unified content life cycle is dependent upon a variety of tools (authoring, content management, workflow and delivery). The remainder of Part IV focuses on these tools, what they do, and how you can use them to support your unified content strategy. Each chapter also includes vendor questions or considerations to help you figure out what you want the tools to do in your organization.
Before content can be managed, manipulated, or reused, it must be created. Authoring tools enable authors to create content. Chapter 15, “Authoring tools,” helps you to understand the pros and cons of staying with traditional authoring tools or moving to XML or other structured authoring tools.
Content management is an integral component of a successful unified content strategy and selecting the right content management system can be a lengthy investigational process. Chapter 16, “Content management systems,” provides you with an understanding of the different types of content management systems and their functionality.
Workflow systems are critical in a unified content strategy because they help to ensure that content flows through the content life cycle. Workflow systems make sure that everybody contributes their required content, that content is reviewed and approved at the necessary stages, and is delivered to its various outputs. Chapter 17, “Workflow systems,” describes the functionality of workflow systems.
Content is created in authoring tools, managed in a content management system, processed through workflow then assembled, formatted, and delivered to users through a delivery system. Chapter 18, “Delivery systems,” describes the capabilities of delivery systems.
As you work through the tools and technology chapters and formulate the directions you want to take with your unified content strategy, remember that tools alone are not the solution—tools enable solutions. Never pick the tools before determining your strategy. Always understand your issues and goals, develop your unified content strategy and vision, then pick the tools to support you in achieving this vision.