An abstract scenario based on an actual RivCom project for a multinational corporation. Until recently, these have only been available in printed form. Because the information content is dynamic and the recipients are located throughout the world, distribution has been time-consuming, costly and inefficient.
Users needing electronic access can only get the printed documents.
Further, the information is complex, full of cross references, defined terms, lengthy footnotes, graphical examples, etc. As a result there is no single, straightforward path through it, and no single best way to format it on the page or screen. While a first-time user may need to read most of the information in order to understand it, experienced managers will want to ignore much of it and drill into the specific topic they are looking for. The inability to do so has caused some managers to ignore the guidelines and develop their own procedures, at significant additional cost to the company. The company is not getting an appropriate return on the investment it made in developing the information in the first place.