The Joy of Indexing: How to Make a Good Document Better
http://www.stc.org/confproceed/1996/PDFs/PG379.PDF

Gyure, Gloria M.D. and Colleen S. Kelley
STC Proceedings
1996

Abstract:

An index is a road map for a document. A good index helps the user find information easily and quickly. It anticipates the user’s needs and provides logical headings and a parallel, consistent structure. Creating an index involves five steps: 1) analyzing the audience; 2) determining the physical appearance and standards of the index; 3) reading and marking the text; 4) producing, editing, and proofing the index; and 5) testing the index for clarity and usability and revising it as necessary.