If you create web content these pain points probably sound familiar: Tasks assigned to you in a flurry of “urgent” tasks with unrealistic timelines The assumption that there is a “Photoshop button” which magically makes things pretty Inadequate access to skilled content creators and subject matter experts Agile content strategy can help you prioritize tasks, bite off only as much content work as you can realistically chew in a given time, and build the capacity of your team so they can accomplish more. Rebecca Wyatt spoke recently on these points and about her experience developing and upgrading content in an iterative, incremental way for the National Park Service.

1. Agile Content Strategy
@RebeccaChilali
FOR QUOTES AND SUCH

2. AGENDA
KEY CONCEPTS
AGILE CONTENT TEAMS
CONTENT BACKLOG
COLLABORATION & ITERATION
QUESTIONS

3. KEY CONCEPTS

4. WHAT IS AGILE IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT?
• Vertical Slices
• Incremental production
• Continuous delivery
• Analysis
• Design
• Create
• Test
• Consistent validation

5. MEASURE
Success and
improve iteratively
COMMUNICATE
Early results using
two ways channels
LISTEN
To feedback and
show its impact on
the project
COLLABORATE
With users to create
understanding
AGILE CHANGE MANAGEMENT
EK’s
Change
Model
Change Management: a
discipline focused on increasing
adoption of a people, process, or
technology change
Tools of the trade:
communication, engagement,
training, and coaching

6. AGILE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
PEOPLE
PROCESS
CONTENT
CULTURE
TECHNOLOGY
EK has coached nonprofit
and commercial clients to
iteratively grow and
improve their COPs and
COES. Some agile tactics
include a topic backlog
and retrospectives to
empower these self-
organizing teams.
Many of our clients have
overly complex processes for
their KM initiatives, such as
publishing, approval, or
collaboration. An agile
approach allows small
adjustments, minimizing
disruption as processes
become more efficient over
time.
A KM system developed in
an agile way is only as good
as the quality of its content.
EK has worked with clients to
create a content backlog,
test content effectiveness,
and invest incrementally
rather than in a large
campaign.
Culture change is a large part
of an effective KM program.
EK takes an agile approach
to change management,
such as working in
increments for
communications and
training, and engaging
people fully in the effort.
KM systems benefit from
agile as much as other IT
systems. Iterative,
incremental software
development leads to more
frequent releases, better
return on investment, and
better engagement with
customers and end
users.
6

7. AGILE BEYOND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Self-directed, cross functional and collaborative teams with
the responsibility and authority to get things done as a team.
In-depth customer collaboration
Continuous process improvement

8. SCRUM vs. AGILE
Scrum is a methodology for iterative software development
Agile is an approach that can be applied inside or outside
IT products

9. AGILE CONTENT TEAMS

10. AGILE BEYOND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Self-directed, cross functional and collaborative teams with
the responsibility and authority to get things done as a team.
In-depth customer collaboration
Continuous process improvement

11. CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMSFUNCTIONAL TEAMS
Writers/Editors
Graphic Designers Accessibility SMEs
Content Team

12. PRODUCT OWNER
COMMUNICATION: Gains executive sponsorship; keeps in touch with every stakeholder regularly; share insights throughout the company (i.e.
Internal news releases about status/analytics/upcoming releases etc.)
PRIORITIZATION: Maintains focus on strategic vision of content; grooms content backlog; plans “releases”; deciding what content to create and
what to shelve
LEADERSHIP: Giving feedback to the content team; teaching every member of the content team about content vision and business objectives;
Give clear instructions for new content to be created (aligned with business objectives)
PARTICIPATION: Participate in all content team meetings
ASSESSMENT: Measure content success (Did content help achieve strategic vision & business objectives?)

13. ScrumMaster
CONTENT TEAM DYNAMICS: Coaching team members; facilitate team decision making; helping team organize their time/priorities
PROTECT THE TEAM: Help team report to managers; protect the “contract” of the sprint plan; remove roadblocks; remove distractions/facilitate
focus
MEETINGS: Facilitate content team meetings (prepare, moderate, reflect, publish)
COMMUNICATE: Create systems to transparently share progress/status; give team feedback
CONTENT: Help team break business requirements into actionable tasks; cultivate familiarity with team’s work (the content); help team identify
“definition of done”

14. CONTENT BACKLOG

15. Release 2:
New Training Series
Release 1:
New Communities of Practice

16. CONTENT BACKLOG Current
Sprint

17. VELOCITY

18. 0 5 10 15
15
10
5
Value(greaterimpact)
Complexity (less complex) 
20

19. COLLABORATION &
ITERATION

20. AGILE BEYOND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Self-directed, cross functional and collaborative teams with
the responsibility and authority to get things done as a team.
In-depth customer collaboration
Continuous process improvement

21. MEASURE
Success and
improve iteratively
COMMUNICATE
Early results using
two ways channels
LISTEN
To feedback and
show its impact on
the project
COLLABORATE
With users to create
understanding
FOCUS ON USER EXPERIENCE
EK’s
Change
Content
Model
Think like a user:
▪ User stories
▪ User personas
▪ User journey maps
Assess:
▪ Analytics
▪ User surveys
▪ User interviews
▪ Heatmaps

22. QUESTIONS?
HTTPS://WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/IN/REBECCAWYATT
@EKCONSULTING; @REBECCACHILALI
571-403-1109
RWYATT@ENTERPRISE-KNOWLEDGE.COM