Re: process docs or document management system

["Brian Das" <brian_das -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

Mark wrote:
> Can a document management system be the right solution to ensure a
standard workflow instead of framing a process document, which I believe has
little chance of being complied.

Hi Mark,

I recommend you avoid buying a document management system until you have
designed a valuable process. Having a DMS in place won't necessarily force
compliance -- or worse, it might force compliance with a process that isn't
best for your organization. Either way, it will drain your budget. Quickly.

First, design the process and manage your writers and reviewers through it,
rewarding people for following it. Hey, maybe following the process will
have its own rewards! If it's a good enough process, you'll be able to
demonstrate it's value from the get-go, and people might get and stay
on-board without much intervention.

Then, once you have a good process in place, shop around and see if there's
a DMS that supports it, automates it, or helps you scale it up.

Until then, save your money!

Tip for designing the process: Start by talking to the people involved and
finding out how they work. Present your needs as you've described them in
your post (i.e. the latest version, at the right time, from the appropriate
author). The process doc will be a snap to write, and the process will have
some buy-in before it's even committed to paper.

Good luck,
Brian

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