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Metadata, Search, and Productivity Practicum

Metadata & ROI

All organizations generate metadata, but not all get the maximum return on their investment. Metadata ROI can be increased by using it to make users more productive and by reducing metadata management costs.

User productivity depends not only on deploying metadata to enhance search engines but also on creating complimentary navigation tools such as topic browsing, A - Z subject indexes, and thesauri (synonyms and cross references).

Reducing management costs means eliminating the programming costs of accessing metadata locked in proprietary systems, making it easier for authors, editors and indexers to access preferred metadata values, and reducing staff time spent on converting, mapping, and synchronizing enterprise and local metadata.

Metadata repositories
Metadata repositories are key to increasing metadata ROI both in terms of user productivity and maintenance costs. These structures allow information managers to control the quality and consistency of names, subject terms, and content attributes at both the enterprise and local level.

The purpose of the Metadata, Search, & Productivity Practicum is to demonstrate how to increase metadata ROI by making it easier to design, implement, and use metadata repositories.

How does it work?

The Metadata, Search, and Productivity Practicum is a hands-on, guided process in which a cross-functional team creates a prototype metadata repository using a Web-based Lab program.

As metadata from their own business application is entered, team members and their colleagues can see how it behaves in searching, subject browsing, expertise location, Web publishing, news feeds, and personal knowledge management applications.

Activities & deliverables
The program consists of eight weekly sessions conducted via the Web and teleconference. Data is imported into the Lab program via Excel worksheets and can be edited manually via the Web.

In addition to a live metadata repository demonstration, the team creates an information model (high level drawing) that shows metadata sources, uses, and gaps as well as an implementation plan (written report) that outlines recommended next steps.

Community of practice
At the conclusion of the two-month planning and prototyping process, participants are invited to become part of a private community of practice that provides ongoing interaction with Montague Institute staff, other program participants, and Montague Institute invited experts.

The Practicum team

The Practicum team consists of three members from your staff that should include:

• a content manager (editor, Web publishers, corporate librarian, taxonomist, or information architect);

• a technology manager (IT project or application manager);

• knowledge base compiler (indexer, cataloger, database administrator, or anyone involved in the nuts-and-bolts of content editing or classification, data quality assurance, or similar activities).

Your team works with a group of Montague Institute support staff that includes:

• a program leader (conducts initial and and wrap-up teleconferences, reviews the team’s project plan, information model and implementation plan);

• knowledge base compiler (assists in importing and editing Lab data);

• guest presenters (practitioners in other organizations who share their experiences on special topics).

Agenda & options

The program consists of eight weekly sessions divided into three parts. Each session consists of an introductory teleconference, one or more worksheets, and a specific activity.

Part I: Project definition

Week 1: What metadata do you need?
Week 2: Project information model

Part II: Metadata entry

Week 3: Standard names
Week 4: Documents and content attributes
Week 5: Controlled vocabularies
Week 6: Thesauri & ontologies

Part III: Demonstration & plan

Week 7: Implementation roadmap
Week 8: Commercial products overview

Options
At the end of the program, your Lab data is exported and sent to you as a series of Excel files. For an additional fee, you can get your data exported in one or more custom XML formats, or you can continue to host your data on our server. Other options include:

• face-to-face orientation or wrap-up;

• customized metadata repository design;

• metadata integration services.

How to register

The Metadata, Search, and Productivity Practicum is offered three times each year. The next session dates are:

• June 5 - July 24

• September 4 - October 23

Weekly teleconferences are scheduled at the convenience of the team, usually on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Cost
The program costs $12,500 for a three-person team. The fee includes:

• an annual membership in the Society of Knowledge Base Publishers for each team member;

• Lab access and use of the collaboration Web site for the 8-week duration of the program;

• course materials;

• access to the private Metadata Repositories Community of Practice.

Practicum graduates are eligible to become Montague Institute Fellows who write, teach, and serve as expert presenters.

How to register
Call (423) 968-5584 to request a pro forma invoice or provide a credit card number (we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover).

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