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Title:

Enterprise Search Guidebook

Review:

Martin White has many years experience in information management and intranets and is the Managing Director of Intranet Focus Ltd. In this field he is perhaps most widely known for his expertise in the content management arena (and since we are about to discuss 'search' here - a Google search on 'Martin White' and 'intranet' demonstrates this clearly!).

In this new report, White shows enterprise search to be another area of extensive experience and sound advice.

If you are in the middle of such a project, about to embark on one, or just want to understand more about this subject area, this guidebook provides a concise, clear and refreshingly not-too-technical view of enterprise search.

White describes the need for a cross-functional project team, with varied specialities, to deliver an enterprise search project. Such a team could use this concise report as an excellent starting point. If everyone read this, they would all start talking the same language and have a common understanding of the different project challenges. This alone is worth the investment.

White starts the Enterprise Search Guidebook by stating 'The overall awareness of search by many managers has been limited to the experience of using Google ... and there is little understanding of the differences between web search and intranet/enterprise search'. This is a reflection of the current situation in many organisations, and yet the same organisations have managers asking for 'a simple search box that will help me find corporate content'.

As a reader, you first review different types of search, which helps you to understand true enterprise search. The following chapter runs through the technology aspects you need to consider. Don't be frightened off by this (I admit I started this chapter with some trepidation) - it's an excellent introduction and will arm you with enough detail to have sensible and meaningful conversations with your more technical colleagues.

Next is a step-by-step process for specifying your enterprise search requirements. This includes how to understand the types of content to be searched and, importantly, understand the requirements of the searcher. This latter area is sometimes missed in other literature.

You are then taken through the processes of business case development, vendor selection and implementation, all good project management skills - but here described in the specific context of delivering an enterprise search solution.

A report of this size could be seen as skimming the surface of such a deep and diverse area. However, enough information is given for most needs, and the plethora of links to Internet resources allows the reader to delve into any area further if required.

Implementing enterprise search is not easy. People's preconceptions can hinder you from the start. It is a complex and serious business and this report clearly explains so, while at the same time giving you a practical road map to success.

FreePint Reviewer:

Helen Day is an independent consultant. She is an information professional with 15 years blue-chip experience in marketing research, information provision & procurement and intranet development. Helen has implemented a content management system, migrating seven intranets into one, while delivering targeted content to different business audiences. Most recently, she has been developing a portal for retail stores, targeting content to different roles and locations within the high street store environment. She has also led the building of the governance model and ongoing management structure to support this portal going forward.

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