#29554
Is a Documentation Wiki in your Future?
If we can solicit user participation in a Web 2.0 knowledge community (a volunter wiki documentation, for example), we might have a powerful means for creating high quality content. But how should this process work?
Hackos, JoAnn T. Center for Information-Development Management (2007). Articles>Documentation>Content Management>Wikis
#19156
Is it Document Management or Content Management?
There is considerable confusion in the market between document management systems (DMS) and content management systems (CMS). This has not been helped by the vendors, who are keen to market their products as widely as possible. These two types of systems are very different, and serve complementary needs. While there is an ongoing move to merge the two together (a positive step), it is important to understand when each system is appropriate.
Robertson, James. Step Two (2003). Articles>Content Management
#23854
How many times has a vendor’s help desk operator told you that the solution to a problem is either an upgrade or a patch? Those of us in the IT industry are familiar with this reply because that’s the advice our own helpdesk operators tell our customers. If corporate profits depend on improving product design, and selling upgrades, there is no profit in supporting old software and creating patches. The profit is in selling new and improved products. Some questions you need to consider before buying a software upgrade.
Dick, David J. Usability Interface (2004). Articles>Management>Software
#32047
Is Messiness Conducive to Productivity?
I've heard several times that the most productive people work on messy environments. I’ve seen at least two cases where this is true. My college dean probably still stacks of paper piled up all over his desk, but manages to keep an entire department running smoothly despite having additional responsibilities as a Jesuit priest.
#31564
Is the New CEO Allowed to Care?
The brand experts and advertising gurus tell us that "caring is commercial," but this has not changed the behavior or profile of many chief executives. One new chief immediately canceled the daily VIP lunch delivered to his office and instead went down to the staff canteen, sitting among his workforce. In another case, a tough CEO confronts an aggressive media at an annual meeting and declares, "Our task it to manage the business to provide maximum return for our shareholders -- end of story." In these cases, communicators provide support and advice, yet in many instances, the decision about profile is made before they are called in.
Manallack, Stephen. Communication World Bulletin (2003). Articles>Business Communication>Management>Marketing
#28125
Your staff may already be using one of the most productive collaboration tools ever built.
Dickerson, Chad. InfoWorld (2004). Articles>Collaboration>Content Management>Wikis
#28645
Sizing UCD projects presents special challenges to usability practitioners and consultants. Each project and UCD methodology comes with its own set of variables that makes it difficult to accurately estimate resource requirements and completion times.
Usability Body of Knowledge (2007). Articles>Usability>User Centered Design>Project Management
#31715
It's In the Numbers: Using Metrics to Plan Documentation Projects
It's in the numbers. Creating documentation is not an exact science, yet as communication leaders, we are expected to provide real estimates for how much time we need to document a project, or what we can produce given a predetermined timeline.
Yundt, Margie and Sherry McMenemy. Writing Assistance (2006). Articles>Project Management>Documentation>Assessment
#29830
It's Not What You Know: A Transactive Memory Analysis of Knowledge Networks at NASA 
Much of America was stunned into mourning on February 1, 2003 as the space shuttle Columbia was reported to have broken up over Texas. The ensuing investigation revealed that debris at liftoff was the cause of the crash, but the official report suggested that NASA's organizational communication was just as much to blame. This article uses transactive memory theory to argue that there were significant gaps in the knowledge network of NASA organizational members, and those gaps impeded information flow regarding potential disaster. E-mails to and from NASA employees were examined (the 'To' and 'From' fields) to map a network of communication related to Columbia's damage and risk. Although NASA personnel were connected with each other in this incident-based network, the right information did not get to the people who needed it. The article concludes with extensions of theory and practical implications for organizations, including NASA.
Garner, Johnny T. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2006). Articles>Knowledge Management>Scientific Communication>Government
#24903
Juggling or Struggling: The Art of Managing Online and Hardcopy Documentation 
While company budgets are increasing little or none, the responsibilities of technical writers continue to multiply as they are expected to produce online help as well as hard-copy documentation in short time periods. This demonstration explains how technical writers at Computer Power, Inc. produce usable online and hard-copy documentation from one source file. Participants will learn how to plan the file, create appropriate graphics, and use macros to convert text and other information for use in online help.
Bates, Michael P. and Catherine Cooper. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Project Management
#25475
K-Logging: Supporting KM With Weblogs 
Web-logging software has received plenty of attention as a quick and easy way to post content to a web site. Web logs (blogs) tend to fall into two categories: personal web logs that function sort of like diaries, and informational blogs that target a readership with a shared interest. But web logging can also be used to support knowledge management (KM)¡ªthe effort within an organization to share knowledge and help the organization achieve its mission. This form of web logging, called knowledge logging, or k-logging, is emerging as an inexpensive alternative to large-scale KM solutions.
Angeles, Michael. Library Journal (2002). Articles>Knowledge Management>Communication>Blogging
#23158
Keeping your Business Plan to the Point
When you write a business letter, you must try not to waste your reader's time. The first step in any writing task is to set down your aim. Ask yourself, Why am I writing? and What do I want to achieve? The clearer you are in your own mind about what you want to achieve, the better your letter. These questions help you focus on the information that supports your central aim, and to cut information that's irrelevant. By doing this, you'll find you keep to the subject and perhaps write a document that is a third shorter than you would otherwise draft.
#22221
Review: Knowledge and Information Technology Management: Human and Social Perspectives
As the information technology sector continues to grow, an understanding of KM practices will become increasingly essential to organizational success. Because technical communicators are creators and managers of content/knowledge, they will need to understand KM practices to anticipate how their jobs may change to meet KM needs. The collection Knowledge and information technology management: Human and social perspectives provides technical communicators with both an overview of KM practices and insights into the future development of KM as a field. For this reason, the book is a valuable resource that technical communicators should read to better prepare themselves for future developments in the field.
St. Amant, Kirk R. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Knowledge Management
#30295
Knowledge Audit: Is it Necessary for Your Organization?
Views on various dimensions of the knowledge audit (KA) process, and how organizations can use this tool to achieve organizational objectives. During the discussion, participants analyzed the pre-requisites, advantages, and process of the knowledge audit. This article presents a summarized version of the issues discussed.
George, Ginu. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Information Design>Knowledge Management
#29916
Knowledge Audit: Is it Necessary for Your Organization?
IJTC invited several experts to share their views on various dimensions of the knowledge audit (KA) process, and how organizations can use this tool to achieve organizational objectives. During the discussion, participants analyzed the pre-requisites, advantages, and process of the knowledge audit. This article presents a summarized version of the issues discussed.
George, Ginu. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Knowledge Management>Assessment
#26730
The Frito-Lay portal has also been an invaluable tool for helping him assess employee skill sets, because each salesperson is required to catalog his or her strengths and areas of expertise.
Shein, Esther. CIO Magazine (2001). Articles>Knowledge Management>Case Studies
#30368
Knowledge Discovery: New Ground, New Challenges
Before taking the challenge of handling information efficiently head on, automated programs for Knowlege Discovery and data analysis have to prove their worth by providing easy-to-use tools for everyday use.
Kudesia, Saurabh. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Knowledge Management>Assessment>Software
#23453
Knowledge Management - Challenge for Technical Editors
Knowledge management - is it a challenge for technical editors? Shouldn't knowledge management be more than just taken for granted in technical editing? And isn't the technical editor also the knowledge manager, per se?
Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>Knowledge Management>Technical Editing
#27284
Knowledge Management and Life Long Education in Science
In 1998 ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment, launched an e-learning platform with the mission of sharing scientific knowledge among everyone, not just workers but also students and the unemployed, in order to use its research results to support competitiveness and sustainable development. In 6 years, more than 20.000 users have followed one or more of the 46 on line courses. Many agreements with schools, universities, private and public training organisation are now under way to improve the dissemination of scientific knowledge and to build an open data base of scientific learning objects that anyone can use.
Moreno, Anna and Sergio Grande. Data Science Journal (2005). Articles>Knowledge Management>Education>Scientific Communication
#10388
Knowledge Management and Pharmaceutical Development Teams: Using Writing to Guide Science
This article introduces a way of working with drug development teams that relies on writing as a key development activity. The work of cross-functional teams in pharmaceutical research and development can be guided by the use of tools normally thought of as 'writing' tools. Writing can be used intentionally to help teams develop their thinking, identify and respond to troublesome issues, and develop project documentation efficiently. The article introduces the use of a 'seed document' (one step in a systematic, wholly collaborative, document development process) to establish a conceptual knowledge bank for a development team, and demonstrates how complex documentation can flow naturally out of the evolving seed document. The authors argue that structured writing can help team members, who have varying perspectives and expertise, engage in substantive conflict and reach consensus on team responses to difficult issues.
Bernhardt, Stephen A. and George A. McCulley. Technical Communication Online (2000). Articles>Knowledge Management>Scientific Communication>Biomedical
#22096
Knowledge Management for Front-Line Staff
The front-line environment must be understood when implementing knowledge management initiatives.
Robertson, James. Step Two (2003). Articles>Knowledge Management>Workflow
#26507
Knowledge Management in the Workplace: the Librarian as Knowledge Broker
The role of knowledge brokers as the gatekeepers of information is vital for successful knowledge management. In this context, the role of librarians who act as knowledge brokers in creating a market for both buyers and sellers often goes unnoticed. Librarians with their access to information and people, bridge the gap between knowledge seekers and knowledge.
Thaneerkulam, Chitra. STC NJIT Student Chapter (2005). Articles>Knowledge Management>User Centered Design>Workplace
#23454
Knowledge Management Is Critical for Us!
We haven't just been doing this since the term 'knowledge management' has been floating around. We’ve been at it for a long time now.
Sturz, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (2001). Articles>Knowledge Management
#26811
Knowledge Management Support for Teachers
Considers how the concepts and techniques of knowledge management can be applied in public schools.
Carroll, John M. University of Toronto (1999). Articles>Knowledge Management>Education
#27883
Review: Knowledge Management Systems: A Text Mining Perspective
Hsinchun Chen, in his book Knowledge Management Systems: A Text Mining Perspective, has made knowledge management look simple and understandable.
Kirloskar, Mukta. International Journal for Technical Communication (2006). Articles>Reviews>Knowledge Management
