In this continuing series about finding pertinent content on our knowledge repositories we must not forget about how we are going to get the content on to the knowledge repository. Having a clear, concise and workable plan for content migration is a critical ingrediant in our ability to later find “knowledge nuggets” that will help us in performing our tasks. The following steps outline best practices that should be considered when developing your content migration strategy:

1. Content Identification – Each business area involved in the content migration to the new/existing knowledge repository must perform a knowledge audit, developing an inventory of what the area has and how it relates to the users. This is the most time consuming task in the effort.
2. Content Analysis – Once existing content has been inventoried the analysis of this content can begin. This analysis will determine what content is to be moved, re-purposed, archived, or deleted. At this stage content can be properly tagged with appropriate terms/keywords. In addition during this step discovery of knowledge gaps will occur and must be documented.
3. Stakeholder/Management Engagement – In managing this effort it is essential that stakeholders understand the effort, it is properly scheduled, staffed and expectations managed.
4. Knowledge Repository Design – Before content migration begins the Knowledge Repository design must be completed with all associated components including look-and-feel and navigation of the environment.
5. Taxonomy, Content Types and Metadata Mapping – Content mapping activities provide the opportunity to understand how content will be placed into the taxonomy of the Knowledge Repository.
6. Training – In order for the appropriate staff to start migrating content on to the Knowledge Repository they must be trained on how the system works and the steps necessary to “on board” content on to the environment.
7. Content Migration – Now it is time to populate the Knowledge Repository with content. In order to successfully perform this task specific steps communicated in training must be executed.

For additional information on crafting your Content Management Strategy check out the resources below and I look forward to comments and discussion!