In performing its core mission, this global relief organization collects data about not only its own efforts, but also conditions in the field in 98 countries. The agency realized how valuable this information could be to the world -- but only if it was standardized and structured in ways that would support analysis. Such discipline would also help the organization reduce operational expenditures, since it could make reporting and operational analysis faster and better.
The organization designed and built a Knowledge Management system based on Microsoft SharePoint technology; the system would initially focus on information associated with the organization's relief programs around the world. The system had a strong ROI, it was anticipated to generate savings of tens of millions of dollars and millions of person-hours.
These savings -- and the promise of actionable, sharable information about health and economic conditions for the world's poor -- were based on assumptions about the format, quality, and auditability of information collected. The challenge was bringing together experts, field workers, and other stakeholders from offices around the world to agree on those standards and then implementing processes and controls.
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