Re: Information Mapping

["Christian, Cathy" <Cathy -dot- Christian -at- PSS -dot- BOEING -dot- COM>]

The name Information Mapping is all that is "private" about this company. I remember  some posts a while back that detailed the origins of this concept. Meanwhile, whatever name you call it, (I call it structured documentation) I think it is worth it to take the course - if nothing else, you'll  have another tool for your skill set. You can tailor the style to fit your audience - the concepts stay the sme. That's what I love about it, and why I do not call it Information Mapping
.
I worked for a Seattle utility who mapped all their documentation. The manuals now sell nationwide to other utilities because they are so clear, easy-to -read, and the guys in the field can now make sense of what the engineers want them to do.

Cathy Christian
Technical Writer
425-237-6205      6C-FC
Seattle, WA
mailto:cathy -dot- christian -at- boeing -dot- com
You don't need to fear the darkness; all you do is light a candle.

> ----------
> From:         Daniel Wiltshire[SMTP:dwiltshire -at- PNMT -dot- COM]
> Reply To:     Daniel Wiltshire
> Sent:         Monday, December 21, 1998 8:47 AM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Re: Information Mapping
>
> Documents written in the IM method have a clear and easy-to-follow format.
> I run across examples regularly.  However, having never taken any IM
> training, I'm reluctant to start using it on our documents.  (A former
> colleague talked management into paying his tuition for IM training, and
> then left the company a few months later, taking all the background and
> expertise with him!)
>
> One specific question I have about the method is,
>       -- how does one designate cross-references within the text ? --
> For example, "For details on how to set up x, y, and z, see Section 2.4.2
> "X, Y, and Z Setup."  Most IM documents I've seen don't include such
> numbered section headings.  Our current documentation guidelines, which I
> developed, uses the outlined section numbering format.
>
> Is it worth the $1000+ tuition, plus travel expenses, to learn these fine
> points?  If I'm going to ask the company to pay my way, I better have a
> bulletproof justification.  I didn't run across anything on their website
> that would back me up in this effort.  If the method really is private,
> where else may I learn it besides Information Mapping Inc.?
>
> Thanks,
> Dan
>
>
>
>
>
> John Cornellier <cornelli -at- CLAMART -dot- SRPC -dot- SLB -dot- COM> on 12/21/98 11:12:29 AM
>
> Please respond to John Cornellier <cornelli -at- CLAMART -dot- SRPC -dot- SLB -dot- COM>
>
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> cc:    (bcc: Daniel Wiltshire/PNT/PUSA)
> Subject:  Re: Information Mapping
>
>
>
>
> IM appears to be a school where you learn a method for organizing
> information. IMO, IM appears to take a method which is public and then
> privatize it for their own profit. Analogously, is someone who learned to
> swim the Australian Crawl at the Four-Star International Academy of
> Swimming
> necessarily a better swimmer than someone who learned it at the Y? No. I'm
> not saying IM's courses aren't value for money, but I regret the
> implication
> that there's something intrinsically better about having learned a method
> chez them.
>
> anonymous wrote:
> > don't be threatened by IM.  It's just a tool.
>
> To me, IM poses the following threat: we should be hired on the basis of
> what we can do, not on some nebulous qualification. It would be bad if
> managers became convinced that all techwrs needed an IM certificate. (OTH
> this would be very desireable for IM's shareholders).
>
> FWIW http://www.informationmapping.com/ contains the following blurb:
> "helps
> clients ensure that workers and managers have the right information
> available at the right time to do their jobs correctly and make effective
> decisions. Our seminars and consulting services help you design and develop
> effective documentation, SOPs, and user guides ? print or online. And we
> can
> help you plan and implement strategies for keeping critical information>
> accurate, reusable, current, and accessible."
>
> John Cornellier
>
>
> From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==
>
>
> From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==
>
>


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