What CMSs Do

Content Management isn't simply a piece of software. It is also the way the entire organization works with that software. The software helps make the human process of putting together a site explicit and systematic.

an interface for adding and editing content
an API for programming further manipulations of content
a repository for storing content
a metadata manager for better content retrieval
a template engine for applying design to content
a link and structure manager for internally organizing a site
a publisher for delivering pages statically or dynamically
a workflow manager for tracking editorial progress of content
a version control system for managing access to versions of pages
a user access control system for administration of who can do what