Wireframing With Patterns

Wireframes can comprise many different patterns, each of which is a discrete element that provides specific functionality and may include instructive copy, images, text fields, buttons, links, etcetera. Together, the patterns create a complete Web page. Of course, when wireframing in patterns, it always helps if there is a pre-existing library of patterns to draw from, but I have found that getting through the first wireframe reveals most of the reusable patterns.

Ellerby, Lindsay. UXmatters (2007). Articles>Information Design>Planning>Web Design

You Want It When? Approaches to Estimating Documentation Development Time  

Accurately estimating documentation effort is vital to the success of every development project, yet project managers sometimes expect the documentation team to provide accurate estimates with a minimum of information. There are many tools and methods you can use to estimate documentation efforts. Frequently, a combination of methods is most effective. Finding the best method for your documentation assignment will enhance your stature as a communication professional and delight the project manager.

Auten, Kathlyn, Joan L. Kellogg Glenda Mesomboon and Bette H. Watson. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Planning>Estimating

You Want to Do What? Convincing Your Management to Support Usability Studies  

It's a classic chicken-and-egg struggle. Many information developers wait for management go-ahead before conducting usability studies. Management, on the otherhand, is sometimes reluctant to support usability work.

Scanlon, Tara C. and Alicia Flanders. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Usability>Planning>Workplace

Your Goal

You are on this web site because you have a goal. You may be in the process of designing or updating a web site. You may be developing your professional skills. Either way, there is some state that you wish to reach.

Hunt, Ben. Web Design From Scratch (2005). Design>Web Design>Planning

Your Site's Goals

If you already have a web site, or you have a site project in mind, what needs does it fulfil? How many different needs are there? How strong are they? Your job as a web site designer is to craft a solution that meets all the most important needs.

Hunt, Ben. Web Design From Scratch (2005). Design>Web Design>Planning>User Centered Design

Your Site's Goals

Of course, the ideal solution is a win-win, where you achieve your goal at the same time as enabling your visitors to reach theirs. This section of the site introduces some tools to help find win-win situations.

Hunt, Ben. Web Design From Scratch (2005). Design>Web Design>Planning>User Centered Design

Requirements Planning: Overlooked and Undervalued

This article takes a high-level look at project requirements and the requirements cycle to help you understand the role of the business analyst in requirements planning.

Slack, S.E. IBM (2008). Articles>Project Management>Planning

Developing Trends and Challenges for the Information Industry Examined in the Context of the Online Information Conference    

This paper examines emerging trends in the information industry that are likely to be of interest to information professionals during 2008. These include web 2.0, enterprise 2.0, social networking, semantic web, risk management, user-generated content, universal search, crowdsourcing and new roles for information professionals.

Allen, Katherine. Business Information Review (2008). Articles>Information Design>Web Design>Planning

Enterprise 2.0: What's Your Game Plan? What, If Any, Will Be the Role of the Information Intermediary?    

In a world where organizations are increasingly adopting Enterprise 2.0 technology what, if any, will be the role of the information intermediary? Where can information intermediaries add value in their organizations and how can they ride and harness the wave of new technologies that spring up on a seemingly daily basis? Is this a period of boom or bust?

Marfleet, Jackie. Business Information Review (2008). Articles>Management>Knowledge Management>Planning

You Need a Five-Year Plan for Your Website

Websites change the way an organization communicates with its staff, customers, investors and general public. A change in communication is a major shift for the organization. To effectively implement such a change will take time. You need a five-year plan for your website.

McGovern, Gerry. New Thinking (2003). Articles>Web Design>Planning>Project Management

Prototyping with XHTML

Looking for another way of realizing your design deliverables? XHTML are easy to code, can double as specifications, and create constraints that increase design effectiveness.

Ramsay, Anders and Leah Buley. Boxes and Arrows (2008). Articles>Web Design>Planning>XHTML

Building Presentations, From the Ground Up, Part 1

A look at how two technical communicators plan and prepare presentations.

Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2008). Articles>Presentations>Planning

Twenty Signs You Don’t Want that Web Design Project

Most clients are good clients, and some clients are great clients. But some jobs are just never going to work out well. Herewith, a few indicators that a project may be headed to the toilet.

Zeldman, Jeffrey. Zeldman.com (2008). Articles>Web Design>Project Management>Planning

80/20 Again: Critical Architectural Junctures

Argues that we should focus our design and architectural efforts on the few options that provide the greatest benefit.

Rosenfeld, Louis. Louis Rosenfeld (2002). Articles>Information Design>Planning

Creating a Site Design Plan

All the books tell me to set goals for my site. OK. They say that those goals need to be measurable and definite. Fine. But asking my client, “What are the site’s goals?” never seemed to get me what I wanted. It occurred to me that a better approach might be to get some background info from the client and then set the goals and present them to the client for approval.

Morrill-McClure, Karen. Digital Web Magazine (2005). Articles>Web Design>Planning>Information Design

The Future of XML Information Management

Discusses how XML is changing the definition of 'Information Management' and the challenges associated with this change. XML provides endless opportunities when it comes to solving complex data issues companies face today from data integration to implementation of Service Oriented Architectures(SOA). Companies that choose to exploit the advantages of XML will undoubtly gain an edge over their competitors but will also be required to solve the challenges around how to best manage and service XML data without compromising data security and integrity.

Picciano, Robert. IDEAlliance (2005). Articles>Information Design>XML>Planning

Why the Future of Documentation Belongs to Extended Markup Language?

XML, that is, Extended Markup Language, is the future of technical writing. There are TWO important reasons why that is so: XML is at the heart of “single sourcing” movement; and XML is a documentation manager’s dream since writing once and publishing many times drops unit production costs tremendously.

Akinci, Ugur. Technical Communication Center (2009). Articles>Documentation>XML>Planning

The Sociology of Technology Adoption

Realizing that technology adoption is as much a sociological phenomenon as a technological one is key to identifing which technologies are appropriate for use in your shop. The "publicity velocity" a new technology attains is based on sociological factors: it is not a technical judgement. The self-interest of the industry trade press, industry analysts, vendors, and computer science researchers all intersect to create an intense publicity vector for a technology at a certain time in its life cycle. While ultimately any technology faces the test of its usefulness, this does not usually occur until sometime after the hype phase dies down, and real-world IS gains experience with the technology. Knowing when a technology has passed from the hype phase into real IS usage is essential to judging the viability of the technology for your installation. As technologists, those of us in IS are sometimes prone to overly-simple technology assessments, ignoring the sociological context of our decision-making. Being aware of the sociological nature of the technology acceptance is crucial to understanding which technologies succeed in the marketplace, and why.

Fosdick, Howard. RexxInfo (1992). Articles>Technology>Planning

Organization Through Simplification (Sort of)

To keep organized, you don't need a complex system. In fact, as this blog post suggests, managing time and tasks is best done using a simple system.

Nesbitt, Scott. ScottNesbitt.net (2009). Articles>Writing>Time Management>Planning

The Power of an Hour

Sixty minutes isn't a lot of time. But if you use those 60 minutes wisely, you can get a lot of writing done.

Nesbitt, Scott. ScottNesbitt.net (2009). Articles>Writing>Planning

Successful Project Management: Using Time Management Tools

In this introductory column, I’ll discuss time management and some ways in which you can use quick-reference sheets and project-management tools to help you maintain some semblance of sanity in your busy life.

LaFerriere, Keith. UXmatters (2009). Articles>Project Management>Management>Planning

Designing a Presentation

You will not draw any slides—in fact do not even launch PowerPoint—until step eight, 80% of the way through the process. Typically, when you want to create a presentation, you open PowerPoint and start creating slides. Slide one, slide two, … slide seventeen… what I am trying to say again? Am I making my point?

Abela, Andrew. Extreme Presentation Method (2008). Articles>Presentations>Planning>User Centered Design

The Future of Technical Communication: Remix    

In this follow-up piece to her 2004 article, Giammona explores the future of the industry and how technical communicators need to evolve to remain relevant and demonstrate their value.

Giammona, Barbara A. Intercom (2009). Articles>TC>Planning

Career Planning and Longevity for Technical Communicators    

Cooper discusses her unique approach to career planning and longevity: essentially, do what you enjoy doing and find people and companies that interest you.

Cooper, Suzanne. Intercom (2009). Careers>TC>Planning

Mining for Career Gold: Discovering Related Careers from Buried Skills    

Set aside your job title and current responsibilities when considering a related career field to move into. Ost uses charts and matrices to illustrate how thinking about skills, interests, duties, and other aspects of your professional life can open up a world of opportunities.

Ost, Diana. Intercom (2009). Careers>Advice>Planning