re: developing a document plan

Subject: re: developing a document plan
From: "shannons" <shannons -at- wwdb -dot- org>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 14:54:10 -0700

It also depends on whether they are looking for a user task based documentation or system reference (enter this into this field, this field shows, etc) or a combination. I use two different approaches for developing a doc plan.

If user based, I have to assume that the user knows little about the system and wants to know how to use it from a real world perspective. That means identifying user tasks and work flow and coming up with an outline (or TOC) from that end.

If system reference, I simply create the TOC by listing all menus, screens, views, etc in a logical manner and then start filling in the details.

If they want both and in the same document, that gets tough but some steps just integrating it all and again I have to determine if they (the client) wants the document to be organized from a system perspective or a user task/workflow perspective.

Pretty much count on 3-5 times the hours when you have to do all the leg work and organization yourself.

Hope that helps
...Shannon Stoltz


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