Break Open Your DAM With Intuitive Metadata
- Organizations are facing challenges from explosive information growth in both volume and complexity, as well as the need to use more new sources of information for social media just to remain in business.
- A lot of content can be created quickly, but managing those digital assets properly through metadata tagging that will be used consistently and effectively requires processes to be in place to create standardized and informational metadata at the source of content creation.
- Putting these processes in place changes the way the organization handles its information, which may generate pushback, and requires socialization and proper management of the metadata strategy.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Metadata is an imperative part of the organization’s broader information management strategy. Some may believe that metadata is not needed anymore; Google search is not a magic act – it relies on information tagging that reflects cultural sentiment.
- Metadata should be pliable. It needs to grow with the changing cultural and corporate vernacular and knowledge, and adapt to changing needs.
- Build a map for your metadata before you dig for buried treasure. Implement metadata standards and processes for current digital assets before chasing after your treasure troves of existing artifacts.
Impact and Result
- Create a sustainable and effective digital asset management (DAM) program by understanding Info-Tech’s DAM framework and how the framework fits within your organization for better management of key digital assets.
- Create an enterprise-wide metadata design principles handbook to keep track of metadata schemas and standards, as well as communicate the standards to the entire organization.
- Gather requirements for your DAM program, as well as the DAM system and roles, by interviewing key stakeholders and identifying prevalent pains and opportunities. Understand where digital assets are created, used, and stored throughout the enterprise to gain a high-level perspective of DAM requirements.
- Identify the organization’s current state of metadata management along with the target state, identify the gaps, and then define solutions to fill those gaps. Ensure business initiatives are woven into the mix.
- Create a comprehensive roadmap to prioritize initiatives and delineate responsibilities.
Break Open Your DAM With Intuitive Metadata Research & Tools
Start here – read the Executive Brief
Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should develop a digital asset management program focused on metadata, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.Besides the small introduction, subscribers and consulting clients within this management domain have access to:
- Break Open Your DAM With Intuitive Metadata – Phases 1-3
1. Build a foundation for your DAM project
Gain an in-depth understanding of what digital asset management is as well as how it is supported by Info-Tech’s DAM framework.
- Break Open Your DAM With Intuitive Metadata – Phase 1: Build a Foundation for Your DAM Project
- DAM Design Principles Handbook
- Where in the World Is My Digital Asset? Tool
- Digital Asset Inventory Tool
- DAM Requirements Gathering Tool
2. Dive into the DAM strategy
Create a metadata program execution strategy and assess current and target states for the organization’s DAM.
- Break Open Your DAM With Intuitive Metadata – Phase 2: Dive Into the DAM Strategy
- DAM Roadmap Tool
- DAM Metadata Execution Strategy Document
3. Create intuitive metadata for your DAM
Design a governance plan for ongoing DAM and metadata management.
- Break Open Your DAM With Intuitive Metadata – Phase 3: Create Intuitive Metadata for Your Digital Assets
- Metadata Manager Tool
Workshop: Break Open Your DAM With Intuitive Metadata
Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
1 Structure the Metadata Project
The Purpose
Develop a foundation of knowledge regarding DAM and metadata, as well as the best practices for organizing the organization’s information and digital assets for ideal findability.
Key Benefits Achieved
Design standardized processes for metadata creation and digital asset management to help to improve findability of key assets.
Gain knowledge of how DAM can benefit both IT and the business.
Activities
1.1 Build a DAM and metadata knowledge foundation.
1.2 Kick-start creation of the organization’s DAM design principles handbook.
1.3 Interview key business units to understand drivers for the program.
1.4 Develop a DAM framework.
Outputs
DAM Design Principles Handbook
DAM Execution Strategy Document
2 Assess Requirements for the DAM Program
The Purpose
Inventory the organization’s key digital assets and their repositories.
Gather the organization’s requirements for a full-time digital asset librarian, as well as the DAM system.
Key Benefits Achieved
Determine clear and specific requirements for the organization from the DAM system and the people involved.
Activities
2.1 Conduct a digital asset inventory to identify key assets to include in DAM.
2.2 Prioritize digital assets to determine their risk and value to ensure appropriate support through the information lifecycle.
2.3 Determine the requirements of the business and IT for the DAM system and its metadata.
Outputs
Digital Asset Inventory Tool
DAM Requirements Gathering Tool
3 Design Roadmap and Plan Implementation
The Purpose
Determine strategic initiatives and create a roadmap outlining key steps required to get the organization to start enabling data-driven insights.
Determine timing of the initiatives.
Key Benefits Achieved
Establish a clear direction for the DAM program.
Build a step-by-step outline of how to create effective metadata with true business-IT collaboration.
Have prioritized initiatives with dependencies mapped out.
Activities
3.1 Assess current and target states of DAM in the organization.
3.2 Brainstorm and document practical initiatives to close the gap.
3.3 Discuss strategies rooted in business requirements to execute the metadata management program to improve findability of digital assets.
Outputs
DAM Roadmap Tool
4 Establish Metadata Governance
The Purpose
Identify the roles required for effective DAM and metadata management.
Create sample metadata according to established guiding principles and implement a feedback method to create intuitive metadata in the organization.
Key Benefits Achieved
Metadata management is an ongoing project. Implementing it requires user input and feedback, which governance will help to support.
By integrating metadata governance with larger information or data governance bodies, DAM and metadata management will gain sustainability.
Activities
4.1 Discuss and assign roles and responsibilities for initiatives identified in the roadmap.
4.2 Review policy requirements for the information assets in the organization and strategies to address enforcement.
4.3 Integrate the governance of metadata into larger governance committees.
Outputs
DAM Execution Strategy