Presentation at AAUP 2012 discussing opportunities for publishers to market and sell their content in small chunks: Chapters, images, cases, etc. What are the motivations and what are the hurdles.
2. Introduction
Michael Cairns is a publishing and media executive with over 25 years experience in
business strategy, operations and technology implementation. As a business
executive, Mr. Cairns has successfully managed several troubled and under-
performing businesses, creating new business opportunities, developing new funding
sources and enhancing shareholder value for investors. His years spent as an
operating executive have largely been with brand-name publishing companies such
as Macmillan, Inc., Berlitz International, Wolters Kluwer Health, Reed Elsevier and
R.R. Bowker. As a consultant, Mr. Cairns has worked with clients as diverse as
AARP, Hewlett Packard, InterPublic Companies and Reed Elsevier with an emphasis
on business strategy, market development and corporate development.
His skills and experience include:
Business and corporate strategy development and implementation
Operations management and business transformation
Traditional and digital publishing and operations
Print-to-digital transformation and adoption of new business models
Software development and software services
Mr. Cairns holds an MBA (Finance) from Georgetown University and a BA from
Boston University. He has served on several boards and advisory groups including
the Association of American Publishers, Book Industry Study Group and the
International ISBN organization. Additionally, he has public and private company
board experience.
2
Michael Cairns
Information Media Partners
Strategy Consulting
New York, London, Melbourne
Tel: 908 938 4889
Michael.cairns@infomediapartners.com
Find me:
LinkedIn Twitter Blog Flickr InstaGram
3. Information Media Partners
Michael Cairns established Information Media Partners in 2006 as a boutique strategy
consulting firm focused on the information and education publishing segment. The work
conducted by the firm includes product development, corporate development, sales
management and corporate reorganizations. We work with established businesses, private
equity owners and potential acquirers.
Examples of our work include:
Reorganized and re-focused a $25 million software publishing company by aligning
business operations with client priorities; implementing internal collaboration tools and
project management standards; re-building executive team to focus on effective and
efficient management
Defined a new business strategy for a large non-profit association and advocacy group,
expanding their business model into global markets to exploit their core knowledge and
expertise across a broader market
Led an information technology capabilities review at a large international advertising
holding company. Completed over 200 interviews in 15 international offices and multiple
group focus sessions to define the operational ‘gaps’ between existing agency capabilities
and those necessary and important for client delivery by region
Completed a sales management effectiveness review for a global software company and
defined six key project initiatives to improve sales effectiveness, market development and
account management
We approach our client engagements in a standardized, logical manner which creates the best
environment to identify key business drivers, administrative and logistical road blocks and/or
product or market definition issues. Our investigative approach leads to better insights into
your businesses and supports the development of workable solutions and recommendations
for success.
Visit the Information Media Partners website for more information.
Sample Client List
4. Chunking Content Real or Hype?
Chunking educational content is inexorable
Large textbook publishers may be
disadvantaged
Potential for price erosion
Many media examples
Music
Newspapers
Television
Journals
COPE:
Create Once Publish Everywhere
4
5. Educational Content in Market Context
Ref: Bowker Pubtrack BISG Making Information Pay Conference
5
6. Pricing Always Slopes Up
Ref: Bowker Pubtrack BISG Making Information Pay Conference
6
7. Individual Books Are Big Business
Ref: Bowker Pubtrack BISG Making Information Pay Conference
7
9. Custom Small but Growing
Ref: Bowker Pubtrack BISG Making Information Pay Conference
9
10. Addressing the Changes in Education
Managing the cost of education & materials
Faculty and educators demand more choice
Seeking intuitive and flexible content creation
processes
Expect to share content and collaborate across
‘networks’
Migration to electronic delivery of content
Growth of open-access and ‘free’ content
Growing expectation for highly customizable
solutions for publishers and institutions
10
11. Thoughts and Trends
‘Traditional’ content structured linearly
Books/Textbooks all inclusive monoliths
Generally to a set formula
Movement from ‘Creamy’ to ‘Chunky’: Digital
components
Chapters, summaries, tests, supplemental material, etc.
Higher Ed leading progression inexorably
Cost drivers
Open source
Foundations and government
Technology enabling this transition
11
12. Some Examples
Indiana University
Digital platform
Content agreements with publishers
California State University
Publisher agreements: Cengage
MIT Open Courseware
Web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content
Students and ‘self-learners’ account for 85% of access
University of Minnesota
12
13. Publisher Value Challenges
Permissions revenues considered incremental
will become a primary revenue source
Participating on/in platforms to for broad
distribution
Improve metadata at the ‘unit’ level
Offer your own custom publishing solution
Link content across library: Leverage the
principles of cross and upselling
13
14. Bookstore Value Proposition
Exclusive content for the bookstore: Single source for
student
Implement a flexible, specific business model for each
bookstore
Custom content drives student demand*
Higher sell-through: 91-99%
Lower (none) custom returns
Increased foot traffic: Students buy more
Students more satisfied with content’s higher utility
No product substitution available: custom by definition
Presents opportunities to reduce labor & production
costs
* Research: NACS, Pearson Education14
15. Protecting Content and Copyright
Georgia Case;
Making content easily available and priced reasonably
Fact: Users want to pay for content
Apple experience with music
Clearing copyright – either via CCC or directly with a
publisher – has been cumbersome
Users give-up and/or steel
Technology enables better solutions
More policing – specifically LMS restraints.
Easier access to appropriate permissions will drive
revenue
Permissions models will become more simple &
transparent
15
17. Please review my blog post associated
with this presentation:
http://personanondata.blogspot.com/2012
/07/aaup-panel-meeting-content-
chunking-and.html
Michael Cairns
Managing Partner
Michael.Cairns@InfoMediaPartners.com
908 938 4889
LinkedIn Twitter Blog Flickr InstaGram
17