Top 10 similarities between a home renovation and a content transformation
How your last kitchen renovation can help you write your next business case
We have all seen the proliferation of home improvement shows on TV. I go back to “This Old House” hosted by Bob Vila, as the first show that detailed the work required, and the hidden issues that can derail any renovation. Now we can watch The Property Bothers, Love it or List It, and many shows that focus on flipping homes, by purchasing low, renovating and then reselling at a good profit.
These shows highlight the value that can be achieved by relying on the experts, who themselves rely on their experience to uncover those hidden issues. But in the end the results are always spectacular, and the home is more functional and shows better with modern upgrades.
A lot of us live in outdated, poorly designed homes, just as a lot of us work with content that shares similar traits.
Many of us have likely taken the plunge into at least one home fixer-upper project. But how many of us have tried to rewrite a 10,000 page policy and procedure manual? We’re guessing not that many. But the considerations, risks and advantages are very similar in both projects. For example,
- Should you hire experts or do it yourself? Or a combination of both?
- How are you going to maintain operations during the project (i.e. if you’re renovating the kitchen, where are you going to eat? Or, if you’re rewriting the call centre manual, who will manage escalations when SMEs are in project meetings?)
- How will you decide on design and style?
Comparing these roles and activities:
| Home Renovation | Content Transform |
| 1. Home Inspection | Current State Assessment |
| 2. Architectural Plans | Content Roadmap |
| 3. Demolition & Reconstruction | Content Analysis |
| 4. HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Code standards | Technology Assessment |
| 5. Interior Design | Content Standards |
| 6. Renovate, Build & Inspect | Content Transformation Workflow |
| 7. Home Staging | Publishing |
| 8. Home Maintenance & Upkeep | Information Governance |
| 9. Landscaping & Community Standards | Enterprise Content Management |
| 10. Warranty & Home Owner Responsibilities | Hand-Off & Training |
We think about high-value enterprise content strategy a lot. We’ve been involved in several large scale content transformation projects. We know these projects are complex and difficult to get funded. Developing a compelling business case is key. Perhaps this kitchen renovation analogy has resonated with you. We’d be happy to help you define and articulate your vision for that new dream kitchen … I mean knowledge base!
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