Nine Quality Characteristics and a Process to Check for Them
http://www.stc.org/confproceed/2001/PDFs/STC48-000046.PDF

Fisher, Lori H.
STC Proceedings
2001

Abstract:

We all know what differentiates a great piece of technical communication from an average one...but can you articulate specifically what quality looks like in your work? Can you list the characteristics that all successful pieces of technical communication share? Can you repeatedly produce technical information that is of the highest quality? By using a checklist based on the nine characteristics of quality described in Developing Quality Technical Information, you can develop specific checkpoints for your design and development process to ensure that your end product, your technical information, meets these characteristics.