[Sigia-l] Distributed content authoring

[Gene Smith]

In my experience I've yet to see a case where distributed content authoring
(where people in different parts of an organization write and maintain their
own sections of the web site through some sort of CMS) really works.  I
typically find that, even with a style guide and training, the
inconsistencies creep in fairly rapidly.

Also, CMS vendors are touting distributed authoring and some people I know
are buying into this model of site maintenance when they purchase the
software (you might even say letting the software dictate the organizational
model).  Part of the rationale is to keep site operating costs down, or
hidden, by sprinkling them across the organization.  The problem is that few
resources are dedicated to looking after the site as a whole, and making
sure it aligns with business needs and users' needs.

So I thought I'd pose a few questions to the list:

* Does anyone work in an environment where distributed authoring is
successful?
* How do you balance the efficiencies with editorial and quality control,
and maintaining the integrity of a site's architecture?
* Is the fact that most CMSs encourage distributed authoring maybe a bad
thing?

Curious,

Gene
-------------------------------
gene at atomiq.org
http://www.atomiq.org