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proposed in-house newsletter
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In this issue
TPS & Workflow 2
IPR & Image Services 3
Supplier Management 4
Publishing Technology 5
Support, Training, R & D 6
Content Structure & Standards 7
Paul Despins, HMH Senior VP,Publishing Services & Technology
YOUR SOURCE FOR PUBLISHING SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Vol. 1, No. 1 Fall 2008
A note from Paul Despins
Welcome to the first issue of “PS&T UPdate.” Moving forward, we want to ensure that the
Publishing Services and Technology (PS&T) department is communicating effectively and
updating everyone on our ongoing initiatives and projects.
In this first issue, we’ll focus on an overview of the departments that make up PS&T,
describe what we’re working on and some of the successes we’ve had to date.
In the future, we’ll be going into more depth with respect to specific initiatives and
introducing you to some of our extremely talented people.
Publishing Services and Technology is comprised of six centralized groups that drive
specific areas of focus to support all of the business units:
Technical Production Services & Workflow is focused on providing standardized
program setup materials that will allow for structured content to be more seamlessly
delivered for parallel publishing. The Workflow group continues to collaborate to define and
implement effective workflows as they roll out integrated publishing solutions.
IPR and Image Services works with the divisions to acquire high quality images for our
programs with appropriate legal compliance and effective management of our digital assets.
They also manage centralized file archiving, industry news, and editorial research tools.
Supplier Management is responsible for setting business rules for outsourcing of work, and
the evaluation and development of strong, successful partnerships with external suppliers.
Publishing Technology is responsible for the selection and development of publishing
solutions that drive effective product development through process change and technology
innovation.
Support, Training, and R&D provides a consistent and scalable training and support
structure and methodology. The R&D group provides quality and process oriented research,
discovery and testing. This group also manages the HMH correlations engines, STARS and
HMSI.
Content Structure & Standards is defining the technical content specifications to
ensure consistent and reliable content standards are adhered to across the organization.
This group also represents HMH with industry standards bodies and strategic partners.
Paul DespinsPaul DespinsPaul DespinsSVP, Publishing SVP, Publishing SVP, Publishing SVP, Publishing SVP, Publishing SVP, Publishing
Services & TechnologyServices & TechnologyServices & TechnologyServices & TechnologyServices & TechnologyServices & Technology
Reanne BardequezReanne BardequezReanne BardequezExecutive AssistantExecutive AssistantExecutive Assistant
Michael KelleyMichael KelleyMichael KelleyVP: TPS & WorkflowVP: TPS & WorkflowVP: TPS & Workflow
Annette RoyalAnnette RoyalAnnette RoyalAnnette RoyalAnnette RoyalAnnette RoyalVP: Supplier VP: Supplier VP: Supplier ManagementManagementManagement
Chris ChungChris ChungChris ChungChris ChungChris ChungChris ChungDirector: Content Director: Content Director: Content
Structure & StandardsStructure & StandardsStructure & Standards
Peggy BridgesPeggy BridgesPeggy BridgesPeggy BridgesPeggy BridgesPeggy BridgesVP: IPR & Image VP: IPR & Image VP: IPR & Image
ServicesServicesServices
Annette SaundersAnnette SaundersAnnette SaundersAnnette SaundersAnnette SaundersAnnette SaundersVP: Support, Training, VP: Support, Training, VP: Support, Training,
and R & Dand R & Dand R & D
Steven HayesSteven HayesSteven HayesSteven HayesSteven HayesSteven HayesVP: Publishing VP: Publishing VP: Publishing
TechnologyTechnologyTechnology
PS&T is on the Web!Check us out on the HMH intranet under Corporate Divisions, then click on the link for Chief Publishing Office.
Technical Production Services and Workflow
Technical Production Services (TPS) provides the technical and pre-press expertise to
support the product development efforts of HMH.
TPS consists of three broad areas:
1. The first area supports day-to-day product development in all HMH locations.
2. The second area models XML workflow and applications development.
3. TPS Operations Support links the areas above by defining best practices, processes,
and standardized approaches to common challenges across HMH, including spec
manuals, font policy, hardware and software selection, and coordination with
corporate support groups.
2008 Accomplishments • Development of a Structured Content System (SCS) with an initial focus on
ancillaries.
• Coordinating the purchase of hardware and software for the PS&T group.
• Standardizing the platform and process for how HMH provides fonts for those
developing product.
• Leveraging TPS resources across HMH
The Workflow group will be implementing re-engineered internal processes to maximize the
benefits of the integrated workflow technology solution (WoodWing) and align with product
development requirements.
This group is currently
• working on a project-by-project basis to determine specific workflows.
• overseeing day-to-day administration of the WoodWing platform.
• implementing additional workflow related tools.
Michael Kelley, VP,Technical Production Services
Barbara SullivanBarbara SullivanBarbara SullivanExecutive AssistantExecutive AssistantExecutive Assistant
Hugh FlynnHugh FlynnHugh FlynnWorkflow ManagerWorkflow ManagerWorkflow Manager
Joan WerlinskyJoan WerlinskyJoan WerlinskyJoan WerlinskyJoan WerlinskyJoan WerlinskyTPS Operations TPS Operations TPS Operations
SupportSupportSupport
Susan HarveySusan HarveySusan HarveySusan HarveySusan HarveySusan HarveyTPS ManagerTPS ManagerTPS Manager
BostonBostonBoston
Jennifer MinoffJennifer MinoffJennifer MinoffJennifer MinoffJennifer MinoffJennifer MinoffTPS ManagerTPS ManagerTPS Manager
OrlandoOrlandoOrlando
David Van AbelDavid Van AbelDavid Van AbelDavid Van AbelDavid Van AbelDavid Van AbelTPS ManagerTPS ManagerTPS Manager
EvanstonEvanstonEvanston
Jeff RobinsonJeff RobinsonJeff RobinsonJeff RobinsonJeff RobinsonJeff RobinsonTPS ManagerTPS ManagerTPS Manager
AustinAustinAustin
Michael KelleyMichael KelleyMichael KelleyMichael KelleyMichael KelleyMichael KelleyVP: TPS & WorkflowVP: TPS & WorkflowVP: TPS & WorkflowVP: TPS & WorkflowVP: TPS & WorkflowVP: TPS & Workflow
2
Intellectual Property Resources & Image Services provides support in three areas: product file archiving, image acquisition and licensing, and business research.
Intellectual Property Resources (IPR) The IPR team collects, catalogs, archives, and retrieves product files. We manage HIP—the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Intellectual Property database of owned and royalty-free images—and support HMH School and Holt McDougal content in the new file Archive system.
2008 Accomplishments • HIP now contains legacy collections of royalty-
free and owned images, available for use in HMH product.
• There is now a single process for requesting HMH School Archive product files. Requestors can track the status of their file order on an intranet site.
Current Initiatives • Collaborating with Publishing Technology and
division teams to test and implement the new HMH Product Archive system.
• New business rules, processes, and roles are being defined to take advantage of functionality in the Archive.
• Migration tools are being built and tested to support file ingestion. We’ll upload files in the priority order that the divisions provided.
Image ServicesImage Services researches and acquires high-quality photos, art, and illustrations for use in division products. We’re responsible for securing and tracking the rights to third party images through the life of the product.
2008 Accomplishments • Established an organizational structure with three
levels of support—a team of image managers and researchers for each division; one K-12 Photo Studio; and a small operations team to support centralized and standardized functions.
• Designing and implementing new business rules and processes to support legal compliance and market demands.
• Standardized project management templates and procedures to support clearance of rights by FTP dates.
• Permission negotiation training programs for photo researchers are in place. Legal escalation processes are being clarified.
• In collaboration with the CPO, Strategic PMO, and division finance teams, we’ve implemented processes to collect and validate the set of image rights needed for each component.
Business Research The Business Research team acquires, organizes, and distributes information to support business strategy and editorial research. We offer company-wide access to a variety of K–12 market information, reference databases, and e-book collections.
2008 Accomplishments • Access to market and editorial research
e-content extended to all HMH employees. Employees may receive this content via e-mail by going to the HMH intranet at http://centrecourt.harcourt.com/market_research/index.php (click on the Sign Me Up link)
• Delivery of Daily Industry News has been extended to all HMH employees.Employees may sign up to receive the news via the HMH intranet at: http://centrecourt.harcourt.com/market_research/subscriptions/subscription_form.aspCurrent initiatives
• Creating training classes in collaboration with Text Permissions.
• Centralizing training materials that support photo research, permission-seeking, art buying, and K–12 Studio tasks.
• Standardizing vendor training material across divisions
• Developing a pool of “pre-approved” suppliers who agree to HMH terms.
• Gathering requirements (in collaboration with CIT and HMH divisions) for the new Digital Asset Management system.
Peggy Bridges, VP, IPR & Image Services
Intellectual Property Resources & Image Services
3
Supplier Management
The Supplier Management group works with divisions to set business rules and best
practices for outsourcing of work. They evaluate and foster strong and successful
partnerships with external suppliers. Our areas of focus are:
• Composition (e.g., pre-press assignment for programs; capacity planning;
rate scales and purchasing
• Collaboration on strategic use and development of full-service partners.
Full service negotiations.
• Developing structure around Editorial and Design vendor management
• Image Services
• Content Conversion
• Translation
2008 Accomplishments • Implemented composition and productions scales with an average savings of 13%
• Developed a corporate-wide Master Supplier Agreement (MSA) for vendors, to be
implemented by the end of November
• Sending a new photo agency MSA to our suppliers
• Sending Design, Editorial and Translation Request For Information to suppliers.
Data will be collected and distributed to inform budgets, develop price tolerances for
development work that’s consistent across the company, and target areas of savings
for 2009. This will be complete by the end of this year.
• Developed a Supplier Management plan for corporate social responsibility.
Annette Royal, VP,Supplier Management
Annette RoyalAnnette RoyalAnnette RoyalVP: Supplier VP: Supplier VP: Supplier VP: Supplier VP: Supplier VP: Supplier ManagementManagementManagementManagementManagementManagement
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Publishing Technology
Publishing Technology is responsible for the selection and development of publishing
solutions that drive effective product development through process change and technology
innovation.
2008 Accomplishments Integrated Publishing System (IPS)
• All users consolidated into one platform on WoodWing SCEnt
• Growing usage of the IPS to include new projects form School, Holt McDougal,
Riverside, Supplemental, and Trade.
• Tested XML extraction and product planning/tracking software; expected launch late
this year or early in 2009.
Archive • Developed an enterprise product archive solution to store and retrieve all finished
final product files at HMH.
Digital Asset Management (DAM) • Kicked off the enterprise DAM solution to resolve current problems with photo
rights and facilitate greater reuse of content and streamlining of image acquisition
workflows.
• Began requirements analysis and architectural design.
• Examined the latest technology on image and metadata search and user interface
from EMC Documentum. Collaboration
• Successfully upgraded the HMH eRoom environment to a more stable and
supportable solution.
• Completed migration of content from all Orlando and Austin eRooms to the
Wilmington Data Center.
Standards Alignment • Evaluated the HMSI and STARS correlation tools, providing cost saving plan for
usage going forward.
• Looking at the company’s long-term approach to standards alignment.
Authoring Tools • Enhancing both Test Item Authoring applications to provide increased functionality.
• Transitioning support and growth of Riverside’s WebCMS test item authoring and
management system to the Publishing Technology team. Publishing Business
Systems
• New releases of HOTS for the School division, providing greatly improved tracking
and spec capabilities.
• New database for the CPO and Divisions to manage company-wide publishing plans.
• Enhancements to SPUDS and SOS image spec systems to meet new legal image
rights requirements.
Steven Hayes, VP,Publishing Technology
Steven HayesSteven HayesSteven HayesVP: Publishing VP: Publishing VP: Publishing
TechnologyTechnologyTechnology
5
Support, Training, and R&D
Support, Training, and R&D (STR&D) provides support and training of publishing tools and
processes to business units, external partners, and vendors. We also manage and maintain
the correlations systems and perform and manage the R&D that takes place within PS&T.
2008 Accomplishments• Establishing cross-site, cross-divisional teams with staff in all locations to train and
support publishing technologies used in product development.
• Training nearly 500 users, both internal and vendors, in our integrated workflow
technologies (SCEnt, MediaBin).
• Consolidating several different support models across locations into a single interim
model. In 2009, STR&D will work to establish a permanent support structure for all
publishing technologies.
• Rolling out User Boards which will be established for all publishing technologies by
the first half of 2009.
• Successfully executing R&D Proofs of Concept and testing with cross-site, cross-
divisional teams.
• Assisted with evaluation of the the existing correlations engines (STARS, HSMI)
and made recommendations for how to move forward with an enterprise wide
system in 2009.
Annette Saunders, VP,Support, Training, and R&D
Annette SaundersAnnette SaundersAnnette SaundersVP: Support, Training, VP: Support, Training, VP: Support, Training, VP: Support, Training, VP: Support, Training, VP: Support, Training,
and R&Dand R&Dand R&Dand R&Dand R&Dand R&D
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Content Structure & Standards
The Content Structure & Standards team is responsible for defining, maintaining, and
upgrading the technical content specifications for HMH, to ensure that consistent and
reliable content standards are adhered to across the organization.
They also represent HMH with industry standards bodies and strategic partners, and
assist with defining and implementing content management structures and workflows.
2008 Accomplishments • Kickoff of the basal and ancillary Schema Development project.
• Driving the IMS Common Cartridge Definition for K–12.
• Engaging K–12 publishers and vendors in solving curriculum standards challenges.
Common Cartridge is a set of open standards, freely available and without royalty,
developed by a global industry consortium with over 80 voting members. These standards,
if followed by content developers and learning platforms, enable strict interoperability
between content and systems.
The Content Structure & Standards team is involved in an advisory group that’s
defining K–12 enhancements related to common cartridge, initially something for higher
education only.
In regards to curriculum standards, there is an increase of new digital technologies for
learning, including online courses, online references, and online assessment systems.
The lack of an agreed-upon standards database, however, in which each published
standard has a unique identifier, limits the use of standards by these new technologies.
Chris Chung, Director,Content, Structure & Standards
Chris ChungChris ChungChris ChungDirector: Content, Director: Content, Director: Content, Director: Content, Director: Content, Director: Content,
Structure & StandardsStructure & StandardsStructure & StandardsStructure & StandardsStructure & StandardsStructure & Standards
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