Entertainment: DreamWorks Intranet
DreamWorks required a better online communication bridge between their Information Technology/Information Services (IT/IS), Animation Production and Training departments.
While Working at DreamWorks as a Documentation Specialist, I performed extensive analysis on the existing Intranet for the Feature Animation. The system was antiquated, disjointed, and countless documents were hidden from view and/or out-of date. This lack of proper Knowledge Management led to decreased productivity for both animators and developers.
I interviewed over forty Subject Matter Experts within the company and put together a comprehensive thirty page executive level proposal to re-build the Intranet. The proposal featured software recommendations and ROI. Although I had a great champion for this project, very few other key decision makers actually read the whole proposal. This was a valuable lesson for me in ‘knowing your audience.’
My effort was not wasted, however, because I was able to use the knowledge collected and re-wrote the proposal as a seven page comic strip! I utilized my skills as an illustrator and even made Jeffrey Katzenburg look like Superman coming to the rescue of the Animation Division.
This second proposal was read and enthusiastically received. It resulted in the decision to rebuild and re-architect the Intranet. I went on to be the Information Architect of the external consulting team that produced the renewed Intranet.
DreamWorks Project Analysis
As Information Architect of the DreamWorks Feature Animation Intranet for Xpedior, I was responsible for Project Analysis document which defined project scope in terms of hundred foot and ten foot views of the system’s design. This included high level diagrams of site organization and charts which outlined the forms, documents and folders to be included and how those content types would be handled. The result was a new and improved organized Lotus Notes based system that addressed the Animation division’s needs and improved knowledge management and productivity of the entire movie production team.
