Groupware Function: Electronic Document Management Software (EDMS)

While a standard word processor can be used to manage production of documents in a workgroup, more powerful software is needed to enable large documents sets to be created, reviewed, edited and approved and subsequently accessed throughout an organization. This process is known as the document lifecycle and consists of the stages of:

An example of a package that is used to help in this lifecycle is shown in Figure 3.11. Document management software (DMS) or electronic publishing software is used to enable people to collaborate in the production of such documents and also provide tools for the distribution and sharing of documents through the enterprise. Three of the best known companies providing document management software are Interleaf, Documentum and Filenet/Saros Mezzanine. All are in the process of introducing web browser based access for their products. Many startups are also beginning to introduce similar tools for intranets as described in Chapter 5.

Figure 3.11: Interleaf document publishing used for larger document sets such as company procedures

Typical EDMS tools, for example from Interleaf are for:

Web reference: http://www.filenet.com (includes information on Saros...