Editor’s letter

Welcome to the November issue of ei magazine, which features a 32-page special report on information-management compliance. With existing regulations starting to bite and new ones imminent, we felt it was time to look at the compliance market and see just how organisations are coping. What does the term ‘compliance’ mean to you? Which applications do you feel are the most important components of a compliance solution? What barriers have you encountered in your efforts to implement a compliance strategy? We surveyed 455 compliance and information managers across a wide range of industries to answers these questions (see page six of the report).

In the wake of recent high-profile corporate failures and fraud, information-management initiatives are enjoying renewed interest and investment. To help shed some light on these initiatives, Simon Lelic, managing editor of Knowledge Management magazine, talks to representatives from some of the leading vendors operating in the compliance marketplace to find out which issues are causing companies the greatest concern and what can be done to resolve them.

Departing from the compliance theme, Dennis Greene, head of operations of e-business for Royal Mail, explains how maintaining three websites that encompass the numerous services the group provides was costly and inefficient. Realising it had to maintain its competitive edge, the organisation decided to implement a portal to improve the online service it offers to its public and commercial customers.

On page 15, Simon Bingham explores the technical and cultural challenges posed by implementing a corporate knowledge portal at Caunton Engineering. Elsewhere in this issue, we announce the finalists of the 2004 IM Awards, discuss how a content audit can help you choose your CMS, and highlight how corporate standards can be the linchpin of your intranet’s success.

Last, but certainly not least, KM Europe 2004, the event that offers the inside track on the KM marketplace, takes place in Amsterdam this month from 8-10 November. Organised by Ark Group, the event has attracted a phenomenal response and delegates from all over the world are expected to attend. For further information, or to register, please visit www.kmeurope.com.

I hope you enjoy the issue. As always, we welcome your feedback, so if you have any comments on the magazine or ideas for future articles, please e-mail me at jschofield@ark-group.com.

Features

A KM force to be reckoned with Free
As a Northamptonshire police officer, Graham Cheeseman spent nearly 25 years in various operational roles. But following an incident that forced him away from the frontline, he dedicated his last three years of service to the world of knowledge and information management. Here, he talks about implementing a content-management system at Northamptonshire Police. He has since retired from the Police service and moved to Cumbria.

Setting the standard Free
There is much to organise and implement when undertaking a redesign of your intranet. With that in mind, it’s understandable that organisations sometimes lose sight of the small details that help give a project a cohesive form. Pauline Foley, intranet administrator at Cornwall County Council, explains how corporate standards can be the linchpin of an intranet’s success.

Look before you leap Free
Implementing a content-management system can be a boon to your organisation, but anticipating its benefits without knowing exactly what information it will control could end up costing you. Lynda Rathbone, managing director of Four Square Media, explains how a content audit can help you choose your CMS.

Customising Caunton for the 21st century Free
Systems integration was something that had never been a top priority for engineering firm Caunton until a pan-industry strategy forum forced them to look at their internal business systems, structure and processes in a new light. Simon Bingham of Caunton Engineering explores the technical and cultural challenges posed by implementing a new integrated system, and tracks the organisation’s progress over the past eight years.

Special delivery Free
Maintaining three websites that encompass the numerous services the Royal Mail group provides was costly and inefficient. Realising it had to maintain its competitive edge, the organisation decided to implement a portal to improve the online service it offers to its public and commercial customers. Dennis Greene, head of operations of e-business for Royal Mail, explains how the company accomplished the project in a little over nine months.

The compliance conundrum Free
Organisations in every industry face a maelstrom of legislative regulations and requirements that demand a clearly defined, integrated approach to information management. Simon Lelic talks to representatives from some of the leading vendors operating in the compliance marketplace to find out which issues are causing companies the greatest concern and what can be done to resolve them.

Regulars

So what? It’s content that counts Free
Each month ei magazine shines a fascinating spotlight on technology, but as the only member of the magazine’s editorial board who started life as a journalist I thought it was time to raise the standard for technology’s true partner in communications – content.

Transforming intranet content Free
In February 2004, defence and aerospace systems vendor Raytheon decided to optimise the organisation of its intranet information to better assist its 78,000 employees worldwide. Keith Cromack, director of information services for Raytheon, speaks to ei magazine about why and how the transformation was made.