Technology and data; data and technology. Collect data, manage data, evaluate data, represent data, personalize data, manipulate data, display data, organize data, store data, track data, graph data, compile data........
This week I have been involved in looking at a knowledge management system service provider that is being considered for taking the place of our database and intranet including the e-library page on the intranet. This system -- as it claims to be -- resembles a juiced up version of our existing databases and intranet combined. The company that is selling this service says this system can do it all. It is able to allow multi-level access to multiple outside parties. It would allow individual participants to create and manage personalized information portfolios. It would be able to serve as a collaborative space for project creation, design, implementation and management. It would house a resource library where links and relevant digitized information pieces are stored. It would be able to analyze all important data for our projects in a customizable fashion. The list goes on and on! How do I feel about this. My first impression is the database developers are overstating the capabilities of the system. They have been able to give a capabilities presentation and the features they present look good, but I still believe presentations can be misleading. During the presentation, the developer maintains complete control of the program and any information used is maintained and generated by them. Thankfully, people in our Web and IT departments feel the same way and are requesting a more detailed and tailored trial phase before we sign on the dotted line. Regardless, it was very interesting to view the capabilities and interactive features built into this KMS system and it may be a wondrful tool for our particular data and information needs. If we do being to use this, the librarian would be resposible for keeping the resource library current with project specific articles, informational links and resources. We will see what happens.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Sometimes sales staff do not have a good idea of what exactly their product/service is. Or sometimes they want the product to perform in the that way to help the clients with out a good understanding of what must happen for that functionality to come to fruition. Early in my career, I was involved in a multi-million lawsuit where all my notes for a two year period were requested by the other company and I had to be interviewed by their lawyers. It taught me many valuable lessons at a young age. Fortunately the case was settled prior to going to court. I strongly believe "If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is."
Working for a software company, I became very aware of the tension between sales/marketing and systems development/customer support. Each side has a very different agenda, as well as an understanding of what it takes to develop, maintain and support a system. I always think it's essential to do site visits where you can see a production system and talk to the people using it.
Post a Comment