Audience Analysis

["Peter Ring, PRC" <prc -at- PIP -dot- DKNET -dot- DK>]

On 4 Sep 1996, Jennifer Chiki wrote:

> I apologize if this has been a past discussion thread, but I
> haven't seen any postings on it recently.

> I am sure many of you can relate to my situation - I really have
> no idea WHO I am writing for.

> So, I am attempting to put together a proposal on how my
> development lab can obtain user feedback and audience analysis in
> order to improve our documentation and also improve writer
> confidence. We do have an existing product, but I don't want to
> limit this research solely to the usability of our existing
> product. I would like to develop some audience analysis tools such
> as a questionnaires, client site visits, customer interviews, job
> shadowing, etc., to determine just who are users are and what sort
> of documentation needs they have.

     For classification of users, see my "Tip of the month" for January
     1996 on
        http://www.pip.dknet.dk/~pip323/tip-9601.htm.

     If you want more information on this classification and how to use
     it, you will have to buy my book, see my homepage on
        http://www.pip.dknet.dk/~pip323/index.htm
     and click "Information on PRC's book".

     I hope this can at least solve some of your problems.

Peter Ring
PRC (Peter Ring Consultants)
- specialists in user friendly manuals and audits on manuals.
prc -at- pip -dot- dknet -dot- dk
http://www.pip.dknet.dk/~pip323/index.htm
- the "User Friendly Manuals" website with links, bibliography,
  list of prof. associations, and tips for technical writers.

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