Re: Information Mapping

[Daniel Wiltshire <dwiltshire -at- PNMT -dot- COM>]

Documents written in the IM method have a clear and easy-to-follow format.
I run across examples regularly.  However, having never taken any IM
training, I'm reluctant to start using it on our documents.  (A former
colleague talked management into paying his tuition for IM training, and
then left the company a few months later, taking all the background and
expertise with him!)

One specific question I have about the method is,
      -- how does one designate cross-references within the text ? --
For example, "For details on how to set up x, y, and z, see Section 2.4.2
"X, Y, and Z Setup."  Most IM documents I've seen don't include such
numbered section headings.  Our current documentation guidelines, which I
developed, uses the outlined section numbering format.

Is it worth the $1000+ tuition, plus travel expenses, to learn these fine
points?  If I'm going to ask the company to pay my way, I better have a
bulletproof justification.  I didn't run across anything on their website
that would back me up in this effort.  If the method really is private,
where else may I learn it besides Information Mapping Inc.?

Thanks,
Dan





John Cornellier <cornelli -at- CLAMART -dot- SRPC -dot- SLB -dot- COM> on 12/21/98 11:12:29 AM

Please respond to John Cornellier <cornelli -at- CLAMART -dot- SRPC -dot- SLB -dot- COM>

To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
cc:    (bcc: Daniel Wiltshire/PNT/PUSA)
Subject:  Re: Information Mapping




IM appears to be a school where you learn a method for organizing
information. IMO, IM appears to take a method which is public and then
privatize it for their own profit. Analogously, is someone who learned to
swim the Australian Crawl at the Four-Star International Academy of
Swimming
necessarily a better swimmer than someone who learned it at the Y? No. I'm
not saying IM's courses aren't value for money, but I regret the
implication
that there's something intrinsically better about having learned a method
chez them.

anonymous wrote:
> don't be threatened by IM.  It's just a tool.

To me, IM poses the following threat: we should be hired on the basis of
what we can do, not on some nebulous qualification. It would be bad if
managers became convinced that all techwrs needed an IM certificate. (OTH
this would be very desireable for IM's shareholders).

FWIW http://www.informationmapping.com/ contains the following blurb:
"helps
clients ensure that workers and managers have the right information
available at the right time to do their jobs correctly and make effective
decisions. Our seminars and consulting services help you design and develop
effective documentation, SOPs, and user guides ? print or online. And we
can
help you plan and implement strategies for keeping critical information
accurate, reusable, current, and accessible."

John Cornellier


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