I use the example of email.  Everybody gets the "to" and "from"  
fields in emails, metadata that is readily available for use in  
managing the records--bringing benefits without causing users extra  
work.

People generally seem to value knowing that we are looking out for  
their daily (workload) intersts by identifying metadata that already  
exists...then they are less burdened (if not exactly happy) when they  
realize that for real value, they may need to add some more user  
defined metadata.

Like Peter, I also reference tagging, with attention to generational  
differences.  Tagging also can imply that there is no need for a  
taxonomy.  You cannot manage records without context. You cannot  
establish context without a taxonomy (ok, ontology) or map of some  
form.  that's what enables systematic management of records relative  
to value.   And most importantly, there is no such thing as "the  
user".  There are many, many users for whom a taxonomy can identify  
different needs and tolerances so that you don't scare them off by  
overwhelming them with detail they do not need to know.  Many users  
need never know that the metadata is what makes it all work behind  
the scenes.  Some need to know how they can improve their experience  
through well crafted metadata, and how common language leverages  
collective intelligence where silos work against that.  Others (like  
the RMgr) need a deep grasp of how it all comes together.

One guy's thoughts on a day that begs for leaving the computer and  
going hiking in the 60% green that is Hong Kong ;-)  Might just do that!

John

John James O'Brien, BA, CRM, MALT
[log in to unmask]

Partner & Managing Director
IRM Strategies
Hong Kong: +852 3101 7359
Bangkok: +66 2 207 2530
www.irmstrategies.com

Associate Partner, S4K Research
Stockholm www.s4k.com
______________________________

Note: This email (including all attachments and content conveyed  
hereby) is intended for the addressee, in person or position, only.   
Unauthorized use, distribution or action based on this email is  
prohibited. No rights of ownership are waived or lost through  
misdirection or interception. If you are not the intended addressee,  
kindly notify the sender immediately and delete/expunge all record of  
this email from all relevant systems.

> On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 3:52 PM, Brent Reid <[log in to unmask]>  
> wrote:
>
>>
>> How would you explain meta data so that engineers, HR people,  
>> etc., can
>> define what fields they want to use ?
>>
>
>
> the latest Web 2.0 term is tagging. compare metadata to tagging. If  
> these
> folks are in anyway web-savvy they'll understand tagging. Another  
> analogous
> term is indexing. Finally explain consider using the term keyword.
> Explain to them that metadata is what they will be using to find the
> documents/records.
>
> -- 
> Peter Kurilecz CRM CA
> [log in to unmask]
> Richmond, Va
>
> List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
> Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
> To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already  
> present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body  
> of the message.
> mailto:[log in to unmask]

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]