Open Industry Intelligence
The ECMINSTITUTE is taking a new, innovative approach to
solving problems in enterprise content management (ECM) and
Knowledge Management (KM). Thanks to advances Web 2.0, we are
building an unique, social network focused exclusively on solving
problems.
“Similar to open source software,
imagine a consulting practice where buyers and sellers come
together to innovate without any restrictions and problems are
solved through the collective intelligence of an entire
industry.”
Ray Chance,
Executive Director, ECMINSTITUTE.
Our Services
Our services follow a formalized business process that takes tasks traditionally performed by
employees or contractors and outsources it to a large group of experts in the form of open peer
reviews. For instance, why develop your own records management file plan when it may already exist?
Or maybe you have an image database and you want to improve search performance? Or you represent
a government agency and you need a customized solution that may already exist in the public sector has
already implemented the same solution?
Idea Building Process
Our idea building process focuses on connecting organizations with industry experts through a
series of both formal and informal peer reviews. Our guided process takes organizations from asking
simple questions, to developing problem summaries, solution analysis, and requests for proposals.
At discrete steps along the way, we cast details to our experts for critical review and
participation.
Peer Review
- a specific feedback from industry experts on questions and problems.
Question
- An informal request for a peer review.
Answer
- The results of a peer review for a question.
Challenge
- A formal request for a peer review. Challenges may include problem identification, analysis, solution resolution, and proposals.
We then capture this information, assimilate the results, and present the findings as the cornerstone of your solution. Our website manages the underlining business process by leveraging the latest in WEB 2.0 technology, bringing together aspects of social networking, collective intelligence, and crowdsourcing in a totally new way to manage and solve problems.
Questions > Problems > Solutions > Proposals
Our services follow a natural life cycle where initial questions inevitably lead to uncovering
larger problems. Problems are solved through a series of formal peer reviews where experts
propose alternative solutions. Proposals, in turn, are developed from solutions.
Proposals outline the final pathway to resolving the original problem the initial questions
uncovered.
Questions
A question is an informal request for a peer review. The ECMINSTITUTE manages questions to
flush out underlining problems. As a member of the ECMINSTITUTE you may submit questions to
our website forum on any topic related to content management. You may ask both private and
public questions directly to individual Solvers or post public questions to the entire community
of Solvers.
Challenges
If answers are not enough to solve your problem, you initiate a challenge. A challenge can be
either a single event, or a series of interactive steps intended to improve problem definition
and subsequent solution identification. Unlike questions, challenges have due dates and all
Solvers are notified for formal peer review.
The ECMINSTITUTE manages challenges in the same way as questions only adding professional
services as needed to support a more formalized problem resolution process. The
ECMINSTITUTE offers both full and minimum service approaches to fit the requirements of
any challenge.
Problem Summary Development
Following a full service approach, our first goal is to develop a clear and concise problem
summary statement. During problem analysis, we will closely work with you to define your
problem in detail. We will develop a problem summary in such a way that our Solvers will
readily assimilate and provide feedback. After we cast the problem summary to the Solvers,
we then explore additional options, incorporating their comments into the final document.
Solution Summary Development
With the problem fully defined, the next step is to explore possible solutions. During this step
we will rely heavily on the guidance and direction from the Solvers. During analysis we will
sponsor activities to promote rapid solution identification. Organized activities may
include site visits, online product demonstration, and organized knowledge transfer sessions.
At the end of the analysis we will develop a solution summary document for formal review by
the Solvers. With expert feedback we will then explore any remaining options, incorporating
the Solvers comments into the final solution summary document.
Request for Proposal Development
Anytime during the challenge process you may issue a request for proposal (RFP). A RFP request
specifically asks the Solvers to provide a written proposal outlining a solution for a given
fee. You select the winning proposal contributed by the participating Solvers. The RFP may be
structured for either a fixed price or variable cost solution. You may either work directly
with the ECMINSTITUTE to develop a RFP or create it on your own. Keep in mind, if you have
already developed an RFP without the Solvers participation, you may need to revisit your initial
assumptions and possibly explore alternative solutions suggested by the Solvers.
One popular technique in collective intelligence is to make the RFP process a contest where
the winner takes the cash prize in a fixed fee cash award. Proposing a RFP contest is best
for brainstorming ideas but may not be suitable for comprehensive ECM implementations. When
you are closer to submitting a challenge, the ECMINSTITUTE will work with you to decide the
best approach to take.
Open Industry Intelligence Reduces Costs
The ECMINSTITUTE has pre-designed "quick challenges" created to show how collective intelligence can help you solve real problems in both knowledge management (KM) and enterprise content management (ECM). Mirroring industry "buyers guides" we take it to the next level. For about the same price as a report we conduct a challenge or a formal peer review project. This means you walk away not only with a custom report but insight, contacts, and first hand experience to help you solve real problems.
The SharePoint Challenge
If you are considering implementing for the first time or expanding your SharePoint investment, this challenge was designed exclusively for you. You supply your current "as-is" conditions and goals for Sharepoint and our Solvers will help identify the missing gaps or potential bottlenecks. Along the way we will share with you our collective "insiders" knowledge on SharePoint technology. In the end, we deliver a comprehensive report written specifically for you.
The Enterprise Search Challenge
With constant data overload it is imperative for organizations to take control of their knowledge repositories. Enterprise search is a critical component to helping organizations share relative information across the enterprise. In our Enterprise Search Challenge we help you identify the right search tools for your organizations using our Solver community. Unlike pre-written reports, we work as a team to help identify a short list of search technology you need to move forward. We will also help you determine your own ROI through a cost analysis. As a collective effort, we will share valuable lessons learned and best practices in a comprehensive report delivered at the end of the project.
The Web CMS Challenge
Wikis, social networks, software as as service (SaaS), and blogging are completely changing the content management landscape. Forget the old methodologies of the past. Viral computing is challenging organizations as never before. For instance, what is the true cost if you go with an open source wiki today and need software integration or formal records management in the future? Should you wait or dive right in? In the Web CMS Challenge we will not only help you evaluate the technology but take you where no analysts dares to venture ? into the hearts and minds of your users. You select the target technologies, educate us on your environment, and we will let loose our Solvers to test your assumptions and realign your objectives to what will really work. We will also examine Measures of Performance (MOP) and Measures of Effectiveness (MOE) for the project.
The Enterprise CMS Challenge
It is very naive to claim that either a limited consulting engagement or a published users guide can shed light on an important decision related to enterprise content management (ECM). It is extremely difficult, for instance, to objectively compare ECM-related products without throughly understanding the particular needs of an organization. Rather than waste money presenting products you will never use, we take a different approach. In the Enterprise CMS Challenge we conduct a focused effort to help uncover a single solution that may help you turn the corner for an ECM initiative. You give us your conditions and anticipated outcomes and we will collaborate with our Solvers to help shed light on a difficult problem.