Copyright © CREDO Systems, LLC.

Building Bridges Between the Professional Searcher and

Enterprise Search Solutions

Helen Mitchell, Senior Search StrategistCREDO Systems, LLC.

Gilbane Conference, San FranciscoApril 11, 2007

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Disclaimer

• The views expressed in this presentation do not necessarily represent the views of FDA or the United States

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Overview

• Definitions

• Key Challenges• Searcher & ESS Goals• Why Is There a Disconnect?• How can we Build Bridges?• Lessons Learned• Attain Win-Win Results

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Definitions

• Professional ‘Searcher’• For purposes of this presentation:

• Any Professional Seeking Information related to an area of expertise, business, issue, interest, role or responsibility

• Enterprise Search Solutions (ESS)– To provide a single integrated view

of data – like a library’s catalog - that provides easily accessible and relevant search results across internal and external electronic data and document repositories

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Key Challenges

• Cultural Migration to a Collaborative Learning Environment

• Establishment of a Common Language and Data Standards

• Alignment of Solutions to Discrete Problems

• Simplification

• Planning for Tomorrow’s Problems Today

• Knowledge Capture and Refresh

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Searcher & ESS Goals

• Easily Identify & Create Secure Information Access

• Achieve Relevant Information Discovery • Improve Business Processes and

Productivity• Enhance Quality of Work Products• Provide Harmonization across Corporate

Boundaries• Develop a Competitive Advantage for the

Organization• Streamline Operations• Accelerate Development & Innovation in

Evolving Enterprises

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Why Is There a Disconnect?

• Poorly Defined Business Processes• Multiple, Independent, Non-

integrated Data Repositories• Lack of Enterprise Search Capabilities• No Strategic Search Plan or Vision • No Integration between Searcher and

Information Needs• Failure to Consider Persona

Requirements• No Standards or Governance

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How Can We Build Bridges?

• Conduct High Level Knowledge Architecture Audit– To Identify Resources & Problems– To Understand Political & Cultural

Environments– To Conduct Contextual Interviews with all

Stakeholders– To Catalog the Content Repositories and

Data Bases – To Catalog Community Profiles: formal,

informal, real & virtual – To Conduct User Interviews, Surveys,

Ethnographic Studies – To Conduct Technology Needs Analysis

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Professional Searcher Bridges

• Clarify Information Access Issues– Organize Info Based on Interest, Need or

Expertise• Categories, Facets, Classifications, Taxonomies…

• Simplify Navigation– Ex., No more than 3 clicks to find relevant info

• Consider Persona Differences – Use Collaboration Tools – Develop Nomenclature Standards– Learn to Listen…Talk With Them

• Educate Managers, IT & Users

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Architectural Bridges

• Consolidate & Standardize Hardware Investments

• Develop Robust HW Infrastructure to Support Requirements

• Establish Governance Policies• Ensure Performance Goals are Met • Standardize Secure Management of

Content Repositories • Use Scalable & Flexible ES

Products• Consider SOA – Reuse Code

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Administrative Bridges

• Resolve Cultural and Political Barriers• Deliver Return on Investment• Demonstrate Value Added• Ensure Adequate Funding• Identify Project Champions• Get Management & User Buy-in• Ensure Business Mission & Goals are

Met• Move From Reactive to Pro-Active

Management of Increasing Data Generation

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Benefits To Be Gained

• Building Bridges Can Result In:– Improved Search Experience– More Quality Work Products– Tasks Completed On Schedule– Challenges Met & Exceeded– Employee Excellence & Customer

Satisfaction– Increased Revenue

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Attain Win-Win Results

• Organizations Making Best Use of Their Institutional Capital Will be Winners in the Knowledge Economy

• The Current State of Organizations, for the most part, are Not Compatible With that Vision

• Change in Information Technology Will Ease the Migration to an Integrated Environment

• Companies Must Pro-Actively Develop the KM Strategies to Effectively Utilize the Growing Mountains of Information

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Get In The Drivers Seat

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Stay On Course

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Get On Track

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Grab the ‘Dog’ By the Horns

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Think Outside the Box

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Gain Positive Momentum

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By Building Bridges

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So…At the End of the Day

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You’ll Achieve Your Goals!

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Thank You!

Helen L. MitchellSenior Search Strategist

CREDO Systems, LLC

PH: 609-844-7525FX: 609-895-2666

MOBILE: 410-259-7766

helen.mitchell@credosystems.com

www.credosystems.com