Re: quality of technical documentation

["Peter Ring, PRC" <prc -at- PRC -dot- DK>]

Poppy Quintal <poppy_q -at- HOTMAIL -dot- COM> asked some days ago:

> Can anyone answer the question below from one of my colleagues? We have
> been able to come up with information on various quality methods, metrics,
> etc, but so far nothing that "specifically" allows the measurement of
> quality as a comparison between different sets of documentation.

> Any suggestions would be appreciated.

> ------------------------------------
> We are attempting to attain an accepted and proven form of measurement, if
> not an actual formula, as it relates to the "quality" of technical
> documentation. The assumption is that this "yard stick" could be a vehicle
> that will allow us to grade the quality of our technical manuals, compared
> to those of our competition. Quality, in this context, could mean
> accuracy, readability, consistency, etc. In essence, we are trying to
> acquire concrete empirical results from something quite abstract. Is there
> such a "yard stick" out there that we can use?

To my knowledge, only one formula based system "yard stick" exists: My PQM
system. It is described in my book "The PQM system ...", and the measurements
are supported by the PQM 2.3 PC-programme. For further information, see
http://www.prc.dk/english/pqm-book.htm. You are of course welcome to write me
directly, too.


Greetings from Denmark

Peter Ring
PRC (Peter Ring Consultants)
- specialists in user friendly manuals.
  prc -at- prc -dot- dk
- the "User Friendly Manuals" website with links, bibliography, list
  of prof. associations, and tips for technical writers:
  http://www.prc.dk/user-friendly-manuals/
- special software for technical writers:
  http://www.prc.dk/software/


 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=