Content Management includes the processes, techniques, and technologies for organizing, categorizing, and structuring information resources so that they can be stored, published, and reused in multiple ways. The lifecycle of content can be active, with daily changes through controlled processes for creation and modification; or it can be more static with only minor, occasional changes. Content may be managed formally (strictly stored, managed, audited, retained or disposed of) or informally through ad hoc updates.
Content Management is particularly important in websites and portals, but the techniques of indexing based on keywords and organizing based on taxonomies can be applied across technology platforms. When the scope of content management includes the entire enterprise, it is referred to as Enterprise Content Management (ECM).
Content Metadata
Metadata is essential to managing unstructured data, both what is traditionally thought of as content and documents and what we now understand as ‘Big Data’. Without Metadata, it is not possible to inventory and organize content. Metadata for unstructured data content is based on:
- Format: Often the format of the data dictates the method to access the data (such as electronic index for electronic unstructured data).
- Search-Ability: Whether search tools already exist for use with related unstructured data.
- Self-Documentation: Whether the Metadata is Self-Documenting (as in filesystems). In this case, development is minimal, as the existing tool is simply adopted.
- Existing Patterns: Whether existing methods and patterns can be adopted or adapted (as in library catalogs).
