Corporate Podcasting Expressway

In terms of costs, Knowledge Hemispheres experience reveals that a lot depends on a show’s (described as episodes) length, content development, subject, copyright / royalty payments, research, scripting, hosting costs and investment in equipment - and that is just for starters! In terms of the length, typically the length needs to be multiplied by a factor of 3 for post production activities.For example, if a podcast (aka episode) is to last 20minutes, then realistically there will be a need for up to 1 hour of post production per episode.

Charges could be divided into 3 main areas. These items could be consolidated into a one off set-up charge, for example:

1. Set-up of XML file and software elements
2. Podcast directories (normally free - inc: itunes)
3. Cost of equipment and technical infrastructure.

Typical monthly cost (if selected)
1. Voiceover charges : 1 hour (includes retries and refinement) = £150.00 (typical voiceover artist charges can start at £250/hr !)
2. Hosting charges (you could avoid this by hosting it on your own server) : £x
3. Agree Terms of reference and publication format for episode = (Half day meeting). NB Add also the cost of research and scripting.
4. Post Production (once the recording is made)
5. Statistical reporting on downloads and clicks through feedburner and other systems: £x
6. Finalise publication = £x (Half day meeting to meet and finalise the episode for quality) Total : approx £1000 per episode. (NB These are ball-park costs but provide a task breakdown of typical activities).These costs could be off-set by an organisation deploying commercial payback costs:

- Product Placement
- Recording Company conferences
- Sponsored adverts
- Sponsored pre-article inserted audio
- Sponsored post-article inserted audio
- Combined offers, for example: part printed classifieds and part audio
- Special product video podcasts featuring a show-case corner.
- Special documentaries with a chance to meet and interview industry leaders et al.
- Special Training podcasts
- Sponsored sales inductions’ - Revenue % to licensing bodies if the podcast is generates any revenue.

For example, Knowledge Hemispheres Ltd are licensed by the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society and Performing Rights Society.

This means we adhere to their rules on respective copyright and royalties to any podcast productions we develop.In addition, portable studio equipment hire is now available for developing high quality audio.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Establishing e-Induction

The aim of this video podcast is to establish a shared communication of both our and your knowledge in the arenas of Best Practice Project and Management Consulting - This week we discuss how an organisation can gain immediate productivity gains by implementing an eInduction system.

e-Induction reduces the productivity gap for new company starters and project entrants. It also provides a professional way of introducing core company disciplines.

Knowledge Hemispheres have divided e-Induction into 3 areas:

1. First day items, for example: Fire, security and operational guidelines (for example, using the phone system).

2. Essential administrative functions, for example, expense and holiday management

3. Rich content, for example, corporate videos, department manager introductions, skill assessments and reference guides.

All can be made available on CD or via the Internet.

Consider immediate gains a new employee can obtain after immediately accepting a new role. They will arrive on theor first day better informed and hopefully keen to get on with the tasks at hand. Typically productivity gains of up to 60% can be achieved by incorporating a e-Induction system into an organisation.

Interestingly, call centres typically have a 40% staff turnover per year. With an e-Induction system in place, disruption is reduced, consistency can be achieved and rapid skills transfer can be gained. e-Induction is ideal for dynamic organisations.

Knowledge Hemispheres have implemented e-Induction systems for the UK Department of Health and a number of commercial firms. Three versions are available:

1. ITX - Based on video tutorials and focused on establishing new Information Technology skills, ideal for helping companies migrate from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

2. HR - Baed on complementing an organisations Human Resource departments induction procedures.

3. Project - Helping new project entrants to rapidly gain an insight into a programme or project status and critical issues - to enable them to improve their potential in becoming more productive as soon as possible.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Although many industry observers still suggest that corporate blogging has still not come of age, is it simple a case that the technology is too complicated to implement, its applicability is still untested or is there a fear of cost / management control of this new media tool ?

A really interesting article on this issue is worth reading from: E-Consultancy.com

It is certainly impressive that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) are now offering video-podcasting downloads of selective programmes, for example: Breakfast (marketed / named at the BBC as The Breakfast takeaway) and Question Time (Yet another channel for David Dimbley to announce everyweek).

Internationally, this offers greater dissemination of information, yet the underlying assumption is that people have the technology and associated skills to receive this form of data.

However, will new channels emerge offering content that people really want?
i.e: It appears that although blogging and podcasting offers elements of interactivity, existing channels and media corporations appear to assume that they know what is good for us. Podcasting has been described as a vital element for the attention economy. However, attention will soon evolve or turn into boredom if such innovation is restricted.

In terms of new channels, already, new talent has begun to emerge from the Internet.

It would be a great step forward for knowledge management and employee communications if internal corporate channels could be developed. ‘Information for the people, by the people’.

Knowledge Hemispheres Ltd (www.kh-2.com) offers a service entitled: Know Now. It consists of a wide range of possibilities for video, audio or text based podcasters. The service includes:

- Scripting
- Preparation guides
- XML templates
- Professional film crews
- Registration at multiple podcast listing sites
- Equipment and studio hire (inc: For portable podcasting)
- Consultancy to develop or harvest existing content/corporate assets
- Organisational analysis to develop effective corporate channels.
- Copyright guidance (audio or video)
- Development of customised feeds.

These tools could be used for immediate benefit in many corporations today. For example:

- CEO Address
- Department Address
- Intranet linked eInduction
- Training enhancement
- Sales communication
- Corporate refreshers
- Project announcements or updates
- Targeted marketing campaigns
- e-induction, e-Learning and Knowledge Management initiatives
- Cross industry coverage and Public Relations
- Product/Service placement

Popularity: 17% [?]

Knowledge Hemispheres commenced its business operations in 2001. Five years later it has had 6 releases of its website. Please be assured that this is not to imply that the company has an obession with branding or fashion. What is shows is that the company is reflecting and assuring a web strategy that is potentially best for business.

When our company webmaster was looking for a reliable content management site he discovered many open source content management engines available, for example: Joomla, Nuke and Post Nuke, Wordpress… All of these products are available on a range of platforms / operating options and programming languages.

Some of the most popular are Joomla (and Mambo), Nuke and Post Nuke. The advent of web 2.0 and increasing use of feeds means that there are some real benefits in developing a site that can encourage interactivity and dynamic content management. Another essential item is accessibility, for example: Bobby Compliance and the ability for readers, for example: Jaws and Browseloud.

Knowledge Hemispheres recently underwent a rebranding activity and considered that now was the right time to consolidate its sites into a central portal. The new site: http://www.kh-2.com eases access to the following web services from a single point of management and knowledge distribution:

- Press Releases
- Online Blog
- Service Descriptions
- Client feedback zone
- eCommerce functions
- Improved dialogue and communication channels
- RSS Feeds and associated links
- Subscription management
- Content back-up
- Speed of access

With regard to the latter point, website design can often forget that getting to information as fast as possible is important. Similar to TV channel ‘flicking’, a viewer attention can demand fast display and information.

During a recent Knowledge Hemispheres project one of our client’s expressed to us that both content management and the importance of developing a portal approach was key. However, Knowledge Hemispheres suggested and emphasised that just as important was the need to consider the target audiences past behaviours and needs. For example, in this case the company establishes business standards, therefore the current website is used by visitors to gain access to statistics. Therefore, Knowledge Hemispheres suggested that data provided must be reliable / accurate and made available in a timely manner. Another requirement was for quick access to information on corporate services and associated business partners. Both requirements require a web strategy that must be reliant on powerful content management and access design.

Interestingly, recently it has been reported that increasingly, TV viewers are abandoning their sets and spending more time on the Internet. Therefore, what better opportunity for organisations to reconsider the suitability and design of their Internet or Intranet’s.

In summary, changing the way an organisation’s website is structured has the potential to benefit a company’s Marketing and Knowledge Management Strategies.

Popularity: 36% [?]

Using Core Competency Frameworks

This week we discuss the management of Comptency Frameworks, an ideal tool for managers and Human Resource Management Teams to measure skills, reduce subjectivity during performance reviews and establish capacity & succession management strategies.

By adopting a core skills framework both positive and negative behaviours can be plotted.
Ideal for use during assessments.

For example, the video explains how scoring can be attributed to the demonstration of achieving a competency.
-1 = No demonstration
0 = Some signs of evidence demonstrated, say during an interview session
1 = Good level of evidence demonstrated
2 = Excellent achievement of skill level shown.

In addition, the potential exists for employees to benchmark their skills - therefore setting corporate standards.
Although this latter initiative could be construed as establishing a corporate ‘norm’ and potentially damaging for recognising the power of diversity, if used within the boundaries of clearly identified professional industry standards, benchmarking can be a useful aid to team development.

NB The following video is available through the Know Wow Video podcast available through itunes.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Using Core Competency Frameworks

This week we discuss the management of Comptency Frameworks, an ideal tool for managers and Human Resource Management Teams to measure skills, reduce subjectivity during performance reviews and establish capacity & succession management strategies.

By adopting a core skills framework both positive and negative behaviours can be plotted.
Ideal for use during assessments.

For example, the video explains how scoring can be attributed to the demonstration of achieving a competency.
-1 = No demonstration
0 = Some signs of evidence demonstrated, say during an interview session
1 = Good level of evidence demonstrated
2 = Excellent achievement of skill level shown.

In addition, the potential exists for employees to benchmark their skills - therefore setting corporate standards.
Although this latter initiative could be construed as establishing a corporate ‘norm’ and potentially damaging for recognising the power of diversity, if used within the boundaries of clearly identified professional industry standards, benchmarking can be a useful aid to team development.

NB The following video is available through the Know Wow Video podcast available through itunes.

Popularity: 14% [?]