Mekon Ltd., the UK’s leading content creation, management and publishing consultants, today announced the completion of a project with Micro Focus® (LSE.MCRO.L), the leading provider of enterprise application management and modernization solutions. The project goal was to re-engineer processes and select a third party Component Content Management System (CCMS) to support new, innovative ways of working.
Mekon’s expert consultants worked closely with Micro Focus’s User Information teams - based in the UK, US and Bulgaria - for eight weeks to determine the optimum CCMS solution to migrate their existing XML-based authoring process over to the Darwin Information Typing Architecture. Following the review process, Micro Focus, under Mekon’s advice, decided to work with the Rockley Group, thought-leading information architecture specialists, to help re-engineer their content system.
Micro Focus’s User Information teams support a complex suite of enterprise products and Fortune 500 customers that demand excellence in software and its documentation. Mekon is the leading UK content and publishing specialist consultancy firm and have 18 years of experience helping organisations turn their business and technical content into a competitive advantage.
With over ten years of independently developed XML-based authoring processes to manage, and experienced development staff nearing retirement age, the Micro Focus User Information team recognised the need to refresh an ageing and complex system to keep up with corporate growth and acquisitions. With sustainability and transferability of the new system as top priorities, Micro Focus defined an aggressive timescale to:
- Finalise a business case for management
- Evaluate migrating content to the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) XML DTD from their custom Micro Focus DTD
- Evaluate a move to 3rd-party-supported Component Content Management System (CCMS)
- Shortlist costs and evaluate suppliers
To achieve these objectives against fixed timelines and budgets, Mekon used components of their proven content project methodology including: a Mekon Content Strategy Audit (CSA), a Project Scoping and Planning consultancy, and Mekon Conference Room Prototypes (CRPs) for systems under evaluation. The project was completed in eight weeks.
Chris Hadley, User Information Manager, Micro Focus, said: “As a market leader in application and modernisation software, Micro Focus is dedicated to delivering world-class information to its customers. We understood the business need for moving to a CMS, but on our own, we would not have been able to survey such a complex software market quickly or effectively. By combining our specific business needs with their project framework, Mekon helped us to make the most of our available budget and provided an unbiased view of the software available. As a result, we were able to make informed choices on how best to balance financial, resource and time considerations to provide maximum benefit to our customers.”
Noz Urbina, Principal Consultant, Mekon, said: “Internally built XML content systems require expensive maintenance and support from hard to source staff. As well, we are seeing increased industry awareness that selecting and migrating to supported third party options requires broad skill sets, experience and time if it is to be done properly. Micro Focus recognised that our support would bolster success and allow them to focus on their key goals. Thus, on a project moving this fast, with potential for a high return on investment but also significant risk, we organised ourselves to work closely with them in an extended team.”
“With the Mekon Consultancy and Implementation Methodology, we support the end-to-end migration of processes and tools. When combined with our skills in deploying and supporting content management systems - specifically around the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) - we help companies like Micro Focus maximise overall efficiency and financial return.”
Investing in specialist training and guidance allowed Micro Focus to streamline the high-risk tasks of technology selection and skills enhancement. Mekon’s understanding of the complex technologies involved will combine with ongoing consultancy in the coming months to see this project through 2008.
For a full case study, see
www.mekon.com <
http://www.mekon.com/>; or email
info@mekon.com <mailto:
info@mekon.com> with a request.
About Micro Focus
Micro Focus, a member of the FTSE 250, provides innovative software that allows companies to dramatically improve the business value of their enterprise applications. Micro Focus Enterprise Application Modernization and Management software enables customers’ business applications to respond rapidly to market changes and embrace modern architectures with reduced cost and risk. For additional information please visit
www.microfocus.com <
http://www.microfocus.com/>;
About Mekon
Mekon are leading UK systems integrators with over 18 years’ industry experience. Mekon are focused on increasing the effectiveness of their client’s business information and technical documentation. Mekon have a well defined methodology for investigating client processes and business, to truly understand the overall strategy and deliver scalable systems that focus on a business’ ROI. By having cross-vendor knowledge of the major DITA and XML software options gives Mekon a unique and un-biased insight into which technologies are suitable for specific client needs. As a result Mekon are ideally placed to help organisations leverage content as a critical strategic business asset.
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Micro Focus is a registered trademark. All other products mentioned in this announcement are trademarks of their respective owners.
