KMS on steroids

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.