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 COLUMN
Picking the right CMS AS THE TECHNOLOGY world continues to blaze by and talk of Web services heats up the land, one issue continues to pop up in nearly all of my conversations with technology folks: CMS (content management systems).
For one thing, choosing a CMS is more confusing than ever, even as the generally down market has winnowed the list of possible vendors and products. According to CMSWatch.com, a new Web site focused on providing information from the implementers' perspective, approximately 180 products are now calling themselves content management systems, suggesting that market is not as mature as it appears to be on the surface. Anecdotal evidence from my conversations with other technology professionals suggests that a surprising number of CMS implementations are still homegrown, a strategy that Forrester Research decried when it released a report in December 2000 entitled "Homegrown Content Management: Pull the Plug." Both Vignette and Interwoven, the two ostensible market leaders in the CMS space, list in-house development first in the sections of their latest Securities and Exchange Commission filings that discuss competitive pressures. So with that in mind, if you're a CTO trying to find a CMS, this does not bode well for a search with much clarity. Having been through a number of CMS implementations myself -- some of which were successful and some of which were, let's say, challenged -- I offer a few suggested resources for navigating what is truly a technology minefield. * The content management mailing list (www.camworld.com/cms). Established in July 2000, this is hands down the best resource for gathering others' unfiltered opinions of various CMS choices. As with most mailing lists, it contains occasional childish vendor-bashing, but in general the signal-to-noise ratio is very positive and contributors to the list provide solid information. Archives of the list are available on the Web, making it easy to drop in and be up-to-speed at any time. * CMSWatch.com. CMSWatch.com is offered by Idev, a consulting shop specializing in content management solutions. The content on the site is nicely done, informative, and -- although Idev obviously hopes this site will drive business their way -- it doesn't reflect any particular bias that I can discern, except perhaps against companies pursuing the 100 percent "do-it-yourself" approach. This negligible bias aside, the site takes a balanced approach and links prominently to open-source efforts, even providing an e-mail address for vendors to request a listing. (For the record, my relationship with CMSWatch.com is limited to an interview with them about my experiences with content management.) * Your peers and your own judgment. Just as you should with other big decisions, talk to people you trust in your industry and learn from their experiences with various vendors. If a vendor doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and walk away. For many businesses, the content management choice is the most important decision made -- be sure to make an informed decision. You will be living (or dying) with the results for a long time. What has been your experience with content management, warts and all? Write to chad_dickerson@infoworld.com. MORE > SPONSORED WHITE PAPERS 
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