Building your 'DAM Fam' [2/4]: How to find the perfect DAM project team at your organization

This is Part 2 of our ‘DAM Fam’ mini-series, providing you with tips, tricks, and best practices on how to build out the perfect internal project team, ensuring your DAM solution will survive and thrive for the long haul. In case you missed Part 1, check it out here:

Building your 'DAM Fam' [1/4]: How to kickstart a digital asset management project

Setting expectations and building a team

While the lynchpin of your internal ‘DAM Fam’ will be the designated digital asset manager (finding the perfect DAM champion will be covered in Part 3), you’ll also need a supporting cast of various stakeholders that can cover all aspects of a successful DAM implementation.

You won’t need 10 admins or brand managers; instead, a diverse range of functions is much more effective. Think of your DAM champion as the captain of the DAM ship: the champion can’t sail the vessel without a multi-functional, diverse and experienced crew.

Building the DAM project team

Your chosen DAM team should be involved throughout the implementation process for a DAM solution and initiative—which includes gathering business requirements necessary for launch.

This is a simple idea that, if followed, can allow your organization to shorten the time to get up and running successfully. Depending on your industry and company size, the DAM team you establish can consist of any of the following:

• Executive leaders
• Content/subject matter experts
• Digital asset manager
• Brand manager
• Digital marketing specialist
• DAM champion
• Digital asset management/technology vendor
• External consultant
• IT systems analysts
• Project manager

Setting expectations early

Setting expectations for what each member of this core project team is expected to contribute will be the next step.

For instance, you can expect your executive leader to drive the overall vision for the tool as it matures and integrates into your wider digital ecosystem. Likewise, you can expect members of the core project team to spend time gathering information and business requirements, tracking down the right people, and learning how to use the tool itself.

Finally, you can expect end-user stakeholders at your organization to provide information about their business workflows and contribute unique subject matter expertise so that the DAM solution can be configured to meet their specific needs. After all, they’ll be the ones reaping the end-benefits of DAM, so it should be set up with that in mind.

Scoping for success

The project scope should be realistic and well-defined for your DAM implementation. Some important questions the DAM team should address are:

• How will the team determine the minimum viable product (MVP) for launching a successful DAM?
• How will the DAM team define different phases of the project? (i.e. what does Phase I DAM look like? What does Phase II DAM look like? Phase III and beyond?)
• How will the DAM team work to define the urgency and priority of key deliverables within the overall DAM initiative for your organization?
• What are the responsibilities of each member for the DAM team?

All parties of the DAM initiative should agree on milestones and deliverables before embarking on the DAM journey. Sticking to project deadlines and putting additional milestones into a separate project initiative post-launch is also recommended.

Finally, because there can be diffusion of responsibility in group projects, specific tasks and deliverables should be assigned to specific individuals to ensure accountability, and smooth sailing of a successful DAM launch!

Find out how to hire the perfect DAM champion in Part 3

Part 3 of the ‘DAM Fam’ mini-series will help you provide practical tips on how to hire the perfect digital asset manager, aka DAM champion, for your organization. Don’t miss it!