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Subject:Re: Resources - comparing HATS From:jlshaeffer -at- aol -dot- com To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:47:47 -0400
I agree that needs analysis comes first.
However, I may have a rock-solid needs definition but if it doesn't use standard Help Development terminology, then the product comparisons may not be helpful. It's the same issue that we discuss repeatedly when comparing indexes to full text searches: the need for synonyms that take into account the searcher's vocabulary. My needs analysis should be based on my needs, not on research about the tools that are available, right?
Also, a prospective customer may define a need (like user-customizable help topics) that is almost never supplied by vendors.
Jim Shaeffer
Bill Swallow wrote:
Well, it's kind of hard to find what you're looking for if you don't
know what it is that you need. ;-) Needs analysis must happen before
tools research. If you have your needs nailed down, through that
process you should have begun to pick up on the terminology.
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