Data

Factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation.

Data vs. information

• Data: recorded facts

• Information: patterns underlying the data

Raw data is useless: need techniques to automatically extra tract information from it

Knowledge Management

Knowledge is information you possess, you understand and can recall at will. It therefore requires the inherent understanding of information. It's the value you get out of it. So, knowledge management effectively, is the process of identifying ways to maximize the value of information.

Imaging

Imaging is a method for converting paper documentation into an electronic format, using scanners and associated techniques such as Optical Character Recognition, etc.

Although clearly related, Imaging is only one of the techniques used to introduce documents into a Document Management environment. Today, most documents start life in electronic format and, wherever possible, you should try to use the original source of the document rather then a scanned image.

Document Management

Document Management is the process of managing documents through their lifecycle. From inception through creation, review, storage and dissemination all the way to their archival or weeding out.

Electronic Document Management is one of the tools used to manage knowledge.

An electronic document management system

It is an integrated application used for managing a composite repository of documents. It provides the user a single desktop to store, manage, query and locate documents, which can be routed in a common business workflow.

Content Management vs. Document Management

Content management systems vary from document management systems in one key area – the type of information they manage. Document management solutions are designed specifically for data contained in structured documents and files like Word, PowerPoint, Excel spreadsheets, PDF, and other popular formats. Their purpose is primarily to digitize and archive files, and track and manage new documents throughout their lifecycle, as they are written, revised, and updated. Many of them include advanced imaging and scanning capabilities (for digitization of hard copy files), that can’t be found in most content management systems.

Content management systems, on the other hand, are more about the logical organization and improved accessibility of various types of structured and unstructured electronic information. This includes not only the kinds of files that are managed by document management applications, but a broader range of digital assets. For example, audio, video, Flash, and multimedia files, as well as raw data collected from various third-party Internet sources.

Workflow

Workflow is an IT technology which uses electronic systems to manage and monitor business processes. It allows the flow of work between individuals and/or departments to be defined and tracked. Although Documents are often used as a medium for transporting information in a Workflow system, it is mostly associated with Document Management where the Workflow system is used to track the process of creating and reviewing and distributing Documents.

Workflow vs. Business Process Management (BPM)

The BPM market is composed of vendors whose products address the market needs from four different perspectives:

• Business Process Modeling and Analysis – which is focused on gaining a detailed understanding of business processes and the potential impact of changes to those processes..

• Workflow Automation – which is focused on automating human-centric processes.

• Enterprise Application Integration – which is focused on the exchange of information between heterogeneous systems.

• Business Activity Monitoring – which is focused on analyzing the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and activities.

A complete BPM solution must provide capabilities in all of these areas.

Enterprise content management

Enterprise Content Management (ECM) is the strategies, methods and tools used to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content and documents related to organizational processes. ECM covers the management of information within the entire scope of an enterprise whether that information is in the form of a paper document, an electronic file, a database print stream, or even an email.

The latest definition encompasses areas that have traditionally been addressed by records management and document management systems. It also includes the conversion of data between various digital and traditional forms, including paper and microfilm.

ECM is an umbrella term covering document management, web content management, search , collaboration, records management, digital asset management (DAM), work-flow management, capture and scanning. ECM is primarily aimed at managing the life-cycle of information from initial publication or creation all the way through archival and eventually disposal.