October 2009 Archives

For Immediate Release:

451 Group, Burton Group, Forrester, Gilbane and IDC Analysts to Debate What’s Real, What’s Hype, and What’s Coming at Gilbane Boston 2009

SharePoint 2010, Enterprise Social Software, Managing User-generated & Mobile Content, Multi-lingual Web Engagement Among Topics to be Discussed

Boston, MA - October 20, 2009 -- The annual analyst keynote panel at the sixth annual Gilbane Boston Conference, produced by The Gilbane Group and Lighthouse Seminars, to take place December 1- 3, 2009, in Boston, MA, hosts leading industry analysts who will debate What’s Real, What’s Hype, and What’s Coming in content management and collaboration. Industry analysts from different firms speak at all Gilbane events to make sure conference attendees hear differing opinions from a wide variety of expert sources. A second, third, fourth or fifth opinion will ensure IT and business managers don't make ill-informed decisions about critical content and information technologies or strategies.

"Industry Analyst Debate: What's Real, What's Hype, and What's Coming" will be a lively, interactive debate guaranteed to be both informative and fun. Participants include moderator, Frank Gilbane, CEO Gilbane Group, and panelists: Melissa Webster, Vice President, Content & Digital Media Technologies, IDC; Stephen Powers, Senior Analyst, Forrester; Dale Waldt, Senior Analyst, Gilbane Group; Kathleen Reidy, Senior Analyst, 451 Group; and Guy Creese, VP & Research Director, Collaboration and Content Strategies, Burton Group.

Some of the topics to be debated are: How the upcoming release of SharePoint 2010 & Office 2010 with affect the web and enterprise content management, search, and collaboration markets; What organizations are finding when they deploy enterprise social software; What companies should be doing about managing user-generated content; Whether it is time to seriously invest in mobile content applications, and; How companies are engaging customers with multi-lingual web sites.

Conference attendees are encouraged to come with questions, and can also suggest questions in advance via our social media channels or email. See http://gilbaneboston.com/conference_program.html#K2 for details. Join the debate!

Additional conference sessions and pre-conference workshops will offer enhanced programs tied to competitive business and productivity issues surrounding a company’s content, collaboration & customers. The conference tracks have been organized around the four major areas of how enterprises use web and content technologies as well as where they are most likely to invest.

Exhibitors
Attendees can also expect a world-class exhibit area, featuring the latest web content management tools, products, and services from 40+ conference sponsors and exhibitors, including: Microsoft, Alterian, atex, Coremedia, EPiServer, Jive, Just Systems, SDL Tridion, Sitecore, Across, Alcero, Backbase, Bridgeline Software, Connotate, Contextual, Day Software, dotCMS, Ephox, FatWire Software, GX Webmanager, Hippo, Inmagic, Kapow Technologies, Kentico, Magnolia, Mark Logic, mediumbold, mindSHIFT, MultiCorpora, Nstein, Nuxeo, Open Text, Pegboard, Percussion, Plone, SDL, Telerik, Translations.com and Vamosa. http://gilbaneboston.com/exhibitors_sponsors.html

Learn more about the Gilbane Boston Conference 2009 by visiting: http://gilbaneboston.com/

Receive updates and follow the conference on Twitter at http://twitter.com/gilbaneboston

Registration
IT and business professionals involved in content creation, management, delivery or analytics wishing to attend the conference may register at: http://gilbaneboston.com/registration_information.html

To Exhibit
Technology solution providers wishing to exhibit or sponsor should contact Marc Goldstein at 781-821-6652 or at mailto:mgoldstein@lighthouseseminars.com.

About Gilbane Group Inc.
Gilbane Group Inc. is an analyst and consulting firm that has been writing and consulting about the strategic use of information technologies since 1987. We have helped organizations of all sizes from a wide variety of industries and governments. We work with the entire community of stakeholders including investors, enterprise buyers of IT, technology suppliers, and other consultant and analyst firms. We have organized over 60 educational conferences in North America and Europe. Information about our widely read newsletter, consulting & advisory services, reports, white papers, case studies and analyst blogs is available at http://gilbane.com.

About Lighthouse Seminars
Lighthouse Seminars' events cover information technologies and “content technologies” in particular. These include content management of all types, digital asset management, document management, web content management, enterprise portals, enterprise search, web and multi-channel publishing, electronic forms, authoring, content and information integration, information architecture, and e-catalogs. http://lighthouseseminars.com.

Contact
Lighthouse Seminars
Jeffrey V. Arcuri, 508-759-8180
mailto: jeff@lighthouseseminars.com

D: Managing the Web: The Fundamentals of Web Operations Management
Instructor: Christine Pierpoint, Partner, Welchman Pierpoint

Where: Gilbane Boston Conference, Westin Copley
When: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

It is becoming increasingly essential for organizations to gain better operational control of their online products and services. Traditionally, organizations of all sizes have managed their Web properties in a largely ad-hoc manner, usually leveraging the expertise of a few highly-skilled knowledge workers and technical resources to maintain basic Web site production, editorial, and transactional control. This tactical approach to Web management has proven effective to a certain degree as most organizations have managed to establish and maintain a Web presence. However, as the sophistication and impact of the organizational Web presence broadens, it is necessary to adopt a more mature approach to Web Operations.

This course will detail the 10 concerns that must be addressed to successfully manage a high-value, efficient Web presence and present the starting tactics for transforming your organization’s Web operations. Specific areas that will be examined include:

• Web Strategy: Engaging the executive suite and enabling the organization through appropriate resource allocation.
• Web Governance: Determining who is “in charge” of your Web presence and how decisions will be made regarding technology adoption
• Web Execution: Building an effective and complete Web team
• Web Measurement: Measuring the success of your Web properties

This course will include hands-on exercises and take-aways that attendees can put into action in their organization.

All pre-conference worshop descriptions: http://gilbaneboston.com/workshops.html
Main conference program: http://gilbaneboston.com/conference_program.html

Register today!

For Immediate Release:

Cambridge MA, October 14, 2009. Gilbane Group Inc. today announced that Ted Treanor has joined Gilbane Group as Senior Consultant, Publishing Strategies. At Gilbane Group, Ted will focus on helping publishing and enterprise clients develop sustainable digital publishing strategies. Ted is a seasoned executive who has been involved in digital publishing and ecommerce since the early 1990s. He was founder of Earthcare Technologies, NetGalley.com and the Electronic Commerce Resource Center.

"We are thrilled to have Ted join us," said Bill Trippe, VP and Lead Analyst for Content Strategies at Gilbane. "He brings a terrific background as a publishing executive, entrepreneur and leading thinker in digital publishing. He has deep knowledge of how the market and technological forces are compelling publishers to look at new products, and new business models, to transform their businesses."

"These are the most turbulent waters that I've ever seen in industry, yet these are exciting times sporting opportunity to help clients to successfully compete. It is a great honor to join The Gilbane Group." said Ted Treanor, Senior Consultant, Publishing Strategies at Gilbane. "I believe that all companies and organizations have a mandate to evolve and become stronger. They must develop a 'Sustainable Business' model that excites and exceeds the expectations of their customer-base. Companies must take a market-centric approach to product and service development. So how do you accomplish this lofty goal of being the business winners of the 21st century? We provide our clients with third party expert help; developing bullet-proof strategy, implementing scalable recommendations, ongoing counsel for continuous improvement to the sustainable business model and operations. I look forward to being a valued strategic partner that is trusted by our client’s management teams."

"Ted's extensive senior management experience and digital publishing industry knowledge and visibility bring a valuable strategic and business perspective to our publishing consulting practice," said Frank Gilbane, Gilbane Group CEO. "The scope of the changes facing publishers today requires committed participation at all levels of the organization, and I am thrilled to be introducing Ted to our customers' management teams."

About Gilbane Group, Inc.
Gilbane Group Inc. is an analyst and consulting firm that has been writing and consulting about the strategic use of information technologies since 1987. We have helped organizations of all sizes from a wide variety of industries and governments. We work with the entire community of stakeholders including investors, enterprise buyers of IT, technology suppliers, and other consultant and analyst firms. We have organized over 60 educational conferences in North America and Europe. Our next event is Gilbane Boston, December 1-3, 2009 - http://gilbaneboston.com/. Information about our widely read newsletter, reports, white papers, case studies and analyst blogs is available at http://gilbane.com.

Follow Ted and other Gilbane Group analysts on Twitter, or Facebook.

Contact:
Gilbane Group, Inc.
Ralph Marto, 617-497-9443 ext 117
ralph@gilbane.com

For Immediate Release:

Panel of Senior Web Executives to Discuss Online Engagement with Customers

Boston, MA - October 8, 2009 -- The opening keynote at the sixth annual Gilbane Boston Conference, produced by The Gilbane Group and Lighthouse Seminars, to take place December 1- 3, 2009, in Boston, MA will be a special panel made up of practitioners discussing Content, Collaboration & Customers.  In our opening keynote panel we will have a candid conversation with senior managers that are responsible for large public web presences that are critical to their organizations’ mission:

As Director of Mass.gov, Susan Parker has responsibility for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' official website, actually comprised of 75 websites with different combinations of requirements dictated by agency, resident, business, and visitor needs.

Michael Edson is Director, Web and New Media Strategy, Office of the CIO, at the Smithsonian Institution. The world's largest museum complex and research organization composed of 19 museums, 9 research centers, and the National Zoo, the Smithsonian is a public institution with lots of competitors, and even more types of content to manage.

Luuk de Jager, Senior Director, B2C Organizational Empowerment, Central Marketing Office Online, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, is helping marketing managers more effectively engage 100 million online consumers with 5000 new products each year in 42 languages.

How do you effectively engage online with your customers? How can you be sure to reach all your customers? How do you meet the sometimes-competing needs of different constituencies both externally and internally? How do you manage collaboration between content contributors for consistency and quality? How do you implement social software and support user generated content so that it is a valuable addition to site visitors? How much control do you exert? These are some of the questions the panel will address.

Join us for an interactive and educational opening session. Conference attendees are encouraged to come with questions, and can also suggest questions in advance via our social media channels or email. See http://gilbaneboston.com/conference_program.html#K1 for details.

The additional conference sessions and pre-conference workshops will offer enhanced programs tied to competitive business and productivity issues surrounding a company’s content, collaboration & customers. The conference tracks have been organized around the four major areas of how enterprises use web and content technologies as well as where they are most likely to invest, including: Managing enterprise social content; Managing enterprise mobile content; SharePoint & Office 2010 and web content management and E-government & transparency.

Exhibitors
Attendees can also expect a world-class exhibit area, featuring the latest web content management tools, products, and services from 40+ conference sponsors and exhibitors, including: Microsoft, Alterian, atex, Coremedia, EPiServer, Jive, Just Systems, SDL Tridion, Sitecore, Across, Alcero, Backbase, Bridgeline Software, Connotate, Contextual, Day Software, dotCMS, Ephox, FatWire Software, GX Webmanager, Hippo, Inmagic, Kapow Technologies, Kentico, Magnolia, mediumbold, mindSHIFT, MultiCorpora, Nstein, Nuxeo, Open Text, Pegboard, Percussion, Plone, SDL, Telerik, Translations.com and Vamosa. http://gilbaneboston.com/exhibitors_sponsors.html

Learn more about the Gilbane Boston Conference 2009 by visiting: http://gilbaneboston.com/

Receive updates and follow the conference on Twitter at http://twitter.com/gilbaneboston

Registration
IT and business professionals involved in content creation, management, delivery or analytics wishing to attend the conference may register at: http://gilbaneboston.com/registration_information.html

To Exhibit
Technology solution providers wishing to exhibit or sponsor should contact Marc Goldstein at 781-821-6652 or at mailto:mgoldstein@lighthouseseminars.com.

About Gilbane Group Inc.
Gilbane Group Inc. is an analyst and consulting firm that has been writing and consulting about the strategic use of information technologies since 1987. We have helped organizations of all sizes from a wide variety of industries and governments. We work with the entire community of stakeholders including investors, enterprise buyers of IT, technology suppliers, and other consultant and analyst firms. We have organized over 60 educational conferences in North America and Europe. Information about our widely read newsletter, consulting & advisory services, reports, white papers, case studies and analyst blogs is available at http://gilbane.com.

About Lighthouse Seminars
Lighthouse Seminars' events cover information technologies and “content technologies” in particular. These include content management of all types, digital asset management, document management, web content management, enterprise portals, enterprise search, web and multi-channel publishing, electronic forms, authoring, content and information integration, information architecture, and e-catalogs. http://lighthouseseminars.com.

Contact
Lighthouse Seminars
Jeffrey V. Arcuri, 508-759-8180
mailto: jeff@lighthouseseminars.com

October 29, 11:00 am ET

Attracting, converting, and retaining customers is the mission of every corporate marketing organization. Content is obviously central to executing the mission. The key to success, though, isn't just delivering content on websites -- it's leveraging content to wring out its maximum value for the business and the customer.

Leading publishers have deep expertise in solving the knottiest problems associated with leveraging content. How can corporate marketers put a publisher's knowledge and experience to work in their own domain? We discuss the issues and trends with Diane Burley, Industry  Specialist at Nstein, in a lively online conversation. Attend Everyone is a Publisher: No Matter What Industry You're In, and gain insights into solutions that top media companies have put into practice to survive the digital economy. Topics include:

• Engaging customers with content, and metrics to gauge performance.
• Managing corporate marketing and brand content from multiple sources.
• Streamlining web content workflows.
• Creating demographic-specific microsites.

Registration is open. Sponsored by NStein. 

Coming soon: a Gilbane Beacon on publishing as every organization's second business.

For Immediate Release:

Cambridge MA, October 6, 2009. Gilbane Group Inc. today announced that Scott Liewehr has joined Gilbane Group as Senior Consultant, Web Content Management. At Gilbane Group, Scott will focus on helping enterprise and government agency clients to develop strategies and roadmaps to ensure they get the most from their intranets, knowledge management systems, and public web sites.

Scott is a current board member of CM Pros, the Content Management Professionals Association. Scott was also the founder of onesta, a knowledge management consulting firm headquartered in New York City, where he led the content management Strategy Practice.

"I have known Scott through his work at CM Pros as well as his participation as a speaker at our conferences, where he always receives excellent reviews." said Frank Gilbane, CEO of the Gilbane Group. "I am very pleased we were able to recruit Scott to our growing content management consulting team. Scott is highly regarded in the practitioner community, and is a valuable addition to our organization as we continue to grow. I look forward to working with him."

"I am thrilled to be a part such a well-respected organization, and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work on all things WCM!" said Scott Liewehr Senior Consultant, Web Content Management. "I consider myself a passionate user advocate, and I empathize with the marketer who knows there must be a way to put all this content to work in her next pull-through campaign, and I sympathize with the Intranet Manager who has been directed to deploy more Web 2.0 tools into the enterprise, even in the absence of an obvious business case."

Meet Scott at Gilbane Boston where he will be participating in the Analyst Insight consultations with other industry analysts, in addition to coordinating the Web Business & Engagement Track.

About Gilbane Group, Inc.
Gilbane Group Inc. is an analyst and consulting firm that has been writing and consulting about the strategic use of information technologies since 1987. We have helped organizations of all sizes from a wide variety of industries and governments. We work with the entire community of stakeholders including investors, enterprise buyers of IT, technology suppliers, and other consultant and analyst firms. We have organized over 60 educational conferences in North America and Europe. Our next event is Gilbane Boston, December 1-3, 2009 - http://gilbaneboston.com/. Information about our widely read newsletter, reports, white papers, case studies and analyst blogs is available at http://gilbane.com.

Follow Scott and other Gilbane Group analysts on Twitter, or Facebook.

Contact:
Gilbane Group, Inc.
Ralph Marto, 617-497-9443 ext 117
ralph@gilbane.com

C: How to Validate a Taxonomy
Instructors: Joseph A. Busch, Founder & Principal, Taxonomy Strategies LLC &
Dave Cooksey, Founder & Principal, saturdave

Where: Gilbane Boston Conference, Westin Copley
When: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Taxonomy is the key to being able to supply the appropriate content in dynamic user interfaces, and supporting information services such as personalization (e.g., portals), syndication (e.g., RSS feeds), and harvesting (e.g., search). Taxonomy development and validation is on the application development critical path. Effective methods to provide confidence that the taxonomy is good enough to develop against is very important. The goal of taxonomy testing is to confirm that a taxonomy will work for tagging content, publishing content and finding and using content in user-facing applications. This workshop will discuss taxonomy validation methods, present case studies that go beyond typical card sorting, and conduct hands-on activities for participants. The validation methods include:

• Working with most popular queries,
• Delphi card sorting, and
• Task-based usability.

The workshop will describe metrics for successful task completion and consensus, and best practices around evaluating validation test results. Topics covered during the workshop will include:

• Need for taxonomy validation
• Description of typical card sorting methods
• Strengths and weaknesses of typical card sorting methods
• Alternative card sorting methods
• Benefits and outcomes of alternative sorting methods
• Analyzing and presenting results of alternative sorting methods
• Case studies of alternative methods
• Description of task-based test methods
• Strengths and weaknesses of task-based methods
• How to analysis and present results of task-based methods
• Case studies of task-based validation methods

The audiences for this workshop are librarians, information scientists, information architects, application developers, systems analysts, quality assurance managers, project managers, and business analysts.

All pre-conference worshop descriptions: http://gilbaneboston.com/workshops.html
Main conference program: http://gilbaneboston.com/conference_program.html

Register today!

B: Managing Smart Content: How to Deploy XML Technologies Across Your Organization
Instructors: Geoff Bock, Dale Waldt, Bill Trippe, Barry Schaeffer & Neal Hannon, Senior Analysts, Gilbane Group

Where: Gilbane Boston Conference, Westin Copley
When: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Smart content holds great promise. First with SGML and now with XML, we are marking up content with both formatting and semantic tags, and adding intelligence to electronic information. Using richly tagged XML documents that exploit predefined taxonomies, we are developing innovative applications for single source publishing, pharmaceutical labeling, and financial reporting. By managing content snippets in a granular yet coherent fashion, these applications are revolutionizing our capabilities to meet business needs and customers’ expectations.

What’s working and why? What are the lessons learned from these innovative applications? Does the rapid growth of web-based collaborative environments, together with the wide array of smart content editors, provide the keys to developing other business solutions? There are many promising approaches to tagging content while doing work. Yet we still face an uphill battle to smarten up our content and develop useful applications.

In this workshop, we the five members of the Gilbane practice on XML technologies will share our experiences and provide you with practical strategies for the future. We will address a range of topics, including:

• The business drivers for smart content
• Some innovative content management techniques that make authors and editors more productive
• The migration paths from ‘conventional’ documents to smart content
• How to apply industry-specific taxonomies to tag content for meaning
• The prospects for mash-ups to integrate content from disparate application communities

We will discuss both the rapidly developing technologies available for creating, capturing, organizing, storing, and distributing smart content, as well as the organizational environment required to manage content as business processes. We will identify some of the IT challenges associated with managing information as smart content rather than as structured data, and map strategies to address them. We invite you to join the conversation about how best to exploit the power of XML as the foundation for managing smart content across your organization.

All pre-conference worshop descriptions: http://gilbaneboston.com/workshops.html
Main conference program: http://gilbaneboston.com/conference_program.html

Register today!