Re: Locating buried documents

[doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com]

On Wednesday 24 May 2006 07:04, Parrott, Kathleen E. wrote:
> Can any of you kind folks tell me how you have resolved the problem of
> users being unable to locate documents?  Our online system is huge and
> the options are endless, but it seems no one can find what they're
> looking for - pardon my grammar.  

Initially, I think you have a problem of taxonomy--the doc collection needs 
you to impose order by identifying the types of documents.  Then organize 
these types around each topic represented in this vast collection.

Does this make sense in the context of your task?  Perhaps you could throw us 
a bone--what sorts of users are seeking what sorts of documents that can't be 
found?

> My Six Sigma/Green Belt project is to 
> resolve this issue.  My only thoughts are to design a class for users
> but I'd rather keep it simple, perhaps just a one page work instruction
> showing bulleted steps. (Now where is that list buried?)

On redirect, it sounds like your doc collection is organized but users don't 
know how to navigate it.  Have you considered a web-based interactive wizard?  
Interactivity is the essence of attention, so a wizard application might be 
promising if the users don't have the motivation to learn the system.

Ned Bedinger
doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com




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