History of CIDM

In 1999, Dr. JoAnn Hackos created the Center for Information-Development Management (CIDM) to answer the needs of information-development managers around the world. Many managers felt isolated from their colleagues in other companies. They communicated that they would like a forum to discuss the issues in their departments, develop industry best practices, and keep up to date on new technologies in the field. CIDM was established to meet these needs and develop a community of managers around best practices.

Membership in CIDM is primarily by department so that all members of the department can benefit from the membership. In 2002, CIDM began its vendor member program, understanding that vendor tools are an important component of success in this time of high-tech solutions to information management. In 2005, as small publication departments asked to become involved in the information-development management community, CIDM established a membership category for small departments. In 2009, aspiring managers and independent consultants asked for an individual membership so that they could join the community before they were able to apply for regular or small department membership.

Member organizations have joined CIDM so they can help to advance the profession of information development in the United States and internationally. Through CIDM, managers from all over the world can communicate with each other regularly and learn about each other's successes, problems, and innovations. Each member can learn from the experiences of others and avoid the pitfalls of innovative practices. Members can also communicate with a large number of technology vendors and encourage the development of tools that genuinely meet their requirements.