Lesson 2 — Metadata, Content Modeling & Delivery
Why Metadata matters more with unstructured content
A relational database exposes schema. A folder of PDFs, email exports, images and media may reveal little without additional description. Content Metadata makes information inventoryable, searchable, classifiable, securable, retainable, reusable and defensible.
Useful Metadata can answer:
- What is this?
- What subject does it concern?
- Who created/owns it?
- When was it created or approved?
- Which version is current?
- Is it a record?
- Which retention rule applies?
- Is it sensitive?
- Which controlled terms describe it?
- Which business entity or transaction does it relate to?
The Metadata approach depends on format, searchability, self-documentation, existing indexing patterns, content subject and retrieval requirements.
Content modeling
A content model converts logical content concepts into content types, attributes, datatypes and relationships.
Two levels matter:
- Information-product model: the whole deliverable, such as a website/publication.
- Component model: reusable pieces inside it, such as FAQ, Legal Notice, Eligibility Summary or Product Description.
More granular reusable components support adaptive and device-independent delivery.
Content Model vs Information Architecture
A Content Model structures the reusable pieces.
Information Architecture (IA) structures the information space for navigation, labeling, browsing, search and retrieval.
A site can have excellent navigation but badly structured blobs; or excellent reusable components but poor navigation.
Delivery models
Push: content is sent on a schedule/subscription basis; syndication/RSS is the classic example.
Pull: users request/retrieve content when needed.
Interactive: dynamic, often high-volume or real-time exchange between content experiences and enterprise applications.
Delivery does not replace governance. The same approved policy delivered on mobile and web is not automatically two different authoritative policies.
Source: pp. 291–293 and later IA sections.