The Telenor post reminded me about my arguments about topic maps saving users time by not (re)searching for information already found.
In Telenor’s case, there was someone, customers in fact, who wanted faster and more accurate information.
Is there a business case for avoiding (re)searching for information already found?
Say where research is being billed to a client by the hour?
The more attorneys, CPAs, paralegals, etc. that find the same information = more billable hours.
Where a topic map = fewer billable hours.
And where billable hours aren’t an issue, what do users do with the time they used to spend on the appearance of working by searching?
I am reminded of a then department manager who described themselves as “…doing market research…” by reading the latest issue of Computer Shopper. Nearly twenty (20) years ago now but even then there were more effective means of such research.
On the other hand, there may be cases where use of topic maps by one side may force others to improve their game.
Intelligence gathering and processing for example.
Topic maps need not disrupt current layers of contracting, feathered nests and revolving doors, to say nothing of the turf guardians.
But topic maps could envelope such systems, in place, to provide access to integrated inter-agency intelligence, long before agreement is reached (if ever) on what intelligence to share.