When we think about Buying and Selling eContent, the value proposition may seem simple: people need quality information to make good decisions. However, demonstrating the value of information to decision makers can be an esoteric proposition. How does one place an ROI on the “good stuff” versus the masses of free content available? Capgemini did a damn good job of it in its report released last year called “The Information Opportunity,” which found that 63 percent of survey respondents faced making crucial business decisions without the correct information on a daily basis.” Yikes. The report recommends that organizations treat information as a strategic corporate asset and invest accordingly.

This week, Economist.com published an article entitled “Knowledge management” that, at first glance, may not seem to help us make the case for increased use of quality information. However, if we consider the author’s premise that “Knowledge [is] seen as the key to the creation not only of business wealth,” we can make a clear case that better informed employees make better decisions. While certainly our “2.0” concept of knowledge is driven by sharing and community, what we share and what informs our interactions builds the foundation for true knowledge. At BSeC, talk will inevitably turn to how to build the value proposition for fee-based knowledge resources in these challenging times. We will, in fact, be kicking off the event with an Enterprise Content Buyer’s Forum on Sunday on “Maximizing the Rules of Engagement and Usage for Cost Optimization and Improved ROI” that should help both buyers and sellers approach this complex equation.