An Application of the Principles of Minimalism to the Design of Human-Computer Interfaces  

Minimalism in information design, specifically as applied to user tutorials and manuals, was introduced in the early 1980s through the work of Dr. John M. Carroll, then a cognitive psychologist at the IBM Watson Research Center. Since that time, theorists and practitioners have further elucidated the principles of minimalism and have attempted to apply it to a variety of situations in which people attempt to learn how to use a software application. Most recently, a new exposition of minimalist principles and practices was published by MIT Press. This work, Minimalism Beyond the Nurnberg Funnel, represents the work of leading theorists and practitioners in the field.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (1999). Design>User Interface>Human Computer Interaction>Minimalism

Best Practices: A Case Study at Kohler  

The plumbing division of Kohler Co. is no stranger to managing their content. They had been using BroadVision's document-management system, Relation Document Manager (RDM), for three years and authoring in Interleaf since 1989. But when BroadVision stopped supporting RDM, Mark Peterson, the technical publications manager at Kohler, was desperate to find a replacement. BroadVision offered BladeRunner, but that tool didn't sufficiently support the heavy and stringent print requirements of Mark's department. Plumbers don't always have adequate or readily available access to the Internet.

Hedlund, Tina. ComTech Services (2003). Design>Web Design>Intranets>Case Studies

Customer Partnering: Data Gathering for Complex Online Documentation  

Technical communicators today must document complex applications used in complex environments. Information about users and use models is important under these conditions, especially if documentation will be presented online. Customer partnering, a method of information gathering that supplements surveys, contextual inquiries, usability testing, and interviews, provides a way of involving the users of complex applications in the design of information delivery systems. We used this method to help a client gather important information about user and use models and design a new information library for complex server computer systems.

Hackos, JoAnn T., Molly Hammar and Arthur Elser. ComTech Services (1997). Articles>Documentation>User Centered Design>Collaboration

Demystifying Information Modeling  

The information model is a framework for organizing all the information people need.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (2002). Design>Information Design>Project Management>Metadata

Developing a Content-Management Strategy: Implications in a Multi-Language Environment  

Why we went to a single-source CMS and how we went about it.

Douma, Barbara. ComTech Services (2001). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Case Studies

The DuPont Experience: Strategic Planning for Information Design and Development Organizations  

Examine the strategic planning experience of the Information Design and Development organization in DuPont's External Affairs division. It describes why they undertook a strategic planning initiative, the proces used, the logistics involved in preparing for and carrying out the process, and the results of their work. Their experience can be applied to other similar organizations.

Breuninger, Charles L. ComTech Services (1977). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Case Studies

Enabling Language Translation with XML Tools and Standards  

Maintaining consistency between a source document and its translated counterparts can be complex and troublesome. Innumerable challenges can arise with character sets, version control, text in graphics, tables, expansion of text, updates, and so on. Using XML for translation can help overcome some of these challenges. In this article, I explain how XML tools and standards can help remedy tricky issues related to translation.

Schnabel, Bryan. ComTech Services (2003). Articles>Content Management>Localization>XML

Information Design: The Key to Reuse  

Discusses the problems with poor information design: no consistent suite of information, no consistent structure, or idea how customers use their information.

Hedlund, Tina. ComTech Services (2002). Articles>Information Design

Information Process Maturity Model (IPMM)  

There are several reasons for the Information Process Maturity Model: moving beyond chaos; moving beyond the heroism of talented and dedicated individuals; moving toward a repeatable, reliable process.

ComTech Services (2000). Articles>Content Management>Workflow

Integrating Training and Documentation  

The potential problems I detailed in working to integrate training and documentation functions do indeed occur in many organizations. They have also found that working out the problems is worth the effort.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (1994). Articles>Documentation>Tutorials

Let's Stop Writing Documentation and Start Working for the Users  

Nearly 20 years ago, the profession of technical communication began to focus on developing task-oriented documentation. Although task-oriented documentation has always been produced, particularly for consumer products, it was not the standard in the computer industry. More often, people writing about computer systems focused on the system rather than on the tasks people needed to perform. Systems-oriented documentation was the norm.

ComTech Services. Articles>Documentation>User Centered Design

Leveraging Complex Content for the Support Chain  

The support chain is becoming increasingly important as we begin to understand the deep underlying economic trends of the last half-century.

Osnat, Rani. ComTech Services (2001). Articles>Content Management>Technical Writing

Making the Business Case for Single Sourcing  

Discusses ways to communicate the financial benefits, customer value, learning and growth opportunities, and internal process improvements made possible by single sourcing.

Hackos, JoAnn T. and Tina Hedlund. ComTech Services (2004). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Business Communication

New Manager's To-Do List  

The transition to technical publications management can be difficult.

Williamson, Marty. ComTech Services (2002). Careers>Management>Writing>Technical Writing

Oblivious Organizations and Content Management: Not Yet Ready for Prime Time  

In brief, documents are created everywhere by everyone. They each develop the documents any way they like, with no common look and feel. Company officials have vehemently opposed hiring technical communicators for the R&D teams. They feel that the engineers know the products best and should be able to write about them. Marketing materials are created independently by many different marketing staff and even by executives who regularly post announcements to the company intranet and Internet sites.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (2003). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Case Studies

One Source, Five Deliverables: A Case Study of Return on Investment  

A case study of the implementation of a single-sourse content management system.

Martin, Ben. ComTech Services (2002). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Case Studies

Selecting a Content-Management System  

It's not about buying a tool; it's about understanding your requirements.

Hackos, JoAnn T. and Tina Hedlund. ComTech Services (2001). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing

Selecting a Content-Management System  

A discussion of the features and functions of content management software packages.

ComTech Services (2001). Articles>Content Management>Single Sourcing

Seven Things New Managers Must Do in the First 90 Days  

Discusses the creation of managed and sustainable workflow.

Hackos, JoAnn T. and Marty Williamson. ComTech Services (2000). Careers>Management>Collaboration>Workflow

Single-Source Content Management: If, Why and How  

Introduces the five levels of single-sourcing.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (2002). Presentations>Content Management>Single Sourcing

Stop Writing Documentation!  

Redesign your information; write topics, not books.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (2001). Articles>Documentation>User Centered Design

Strategic Planning  

What is strategic planning? A process for determining: where you are; where you intend to be; how you’re going to get there.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (2000). Careers>Management>Project Management

Twelve Weeks in the Life of New Manager  

A timeline for things to do when beginning a management position.

Williamson, Marty and JoAnn T. Hackos. ComTech Services (2002). Careers>Management

Using the Information Process-Maturity Model for Strategic Planning  

Why should we be interested in strategic planning for our information-development organizations? We might simply apply specific tactics for getting our everyday jobs done. We might focus our concerns on producing a manual or getting the online help finished. We might even plan far enough in advance to send staff members to workshops on the latest online help development tools. These tactics would get us through the day, or the week, or even through the end of the year, and we would be busy doing useful things (or at least things that we hope others find useful). But as we keep busy doing our everyday jobs, we may find ourselves surprised by the decisions of those who decide to eliminate our function, outsource our tasks, or disperse our staff throughout the organization. Only then we will recognize that we lacked an overall goal, a vision of what we should be doing, of how we want to be perceived in the future.

Hackos, JoAnn T. ComTech Services (2000). Articles>Project Management>Management

A Writer's Guide to XML Content Management  

A discussion of how XML changes what you do as a writer.

Hackos, JoAnn T. and Tina Hedlund. ComTech Services (2000). Articles>Content Management>XML>Writing