Archives for the month "October 2006"

The best CMS: a consultant’s perspective

October 25, 2006 · Posted in Content management  

The question gets asked in many ways, but is often distilled down to: What is the best CMS? This can a dangerous question, particularly if someone were to try to answer it. That particular initial question is a bit like asking, “Which vehicle should I buy: a dump truck or a mini-van?” If someone were [...]

Genre analysis and the technical communicator

October 25, 2006 · Posted in Content Development, Content management  

Genre analysis isn’t really discussed much in technical communication circles, but an understanding of this concept can be quite helpful to understanding structured writing to content management. As I wrote the title to this article, I thought it sounded like the name of a movie or a book and wondered how I could make a [...]

Technical communication genres I’ve known and loved

October 25, 2006 · Posted in Content Development, Content management  

Previously, I talked about film genres, but what are some technical communication genres? Perhaps the best-known genre in the documentation world is the technical manual. If I think back to my days of creating hardware guides, the genre consisted of front matter, an introduction, and then sections on setting up, configuring, operating, and troubleshooting the [...]

How understanding genre helps us understand structured content

October 25, 2006 · Posted in Content Development, Content management  

Understanding the elements of a genre are critical to being able to understand and create structured content. Writing has always an art where the creativity is to say what you need to say within the structure of the genre. Poets, playwrights, musicians, and journalists are keenly aware of their genres, with the help of a [...]

Ten Top Geek Business Myths

October 5, 2006 · Posted in Content management  

I found this link on SitePoint, a business/technology newsletter I often read. The blog post worth taking a look at. It’s the Top Ten Geek Business Myths, which applies as much to small businesses as it does to the types of businesses that rub elbows with venture capitalists.

Dear Executive: This comes with your endorsement

October 3, 2006 · Posted in Content management, Information Design and Usability  

How does executive endorsement drive organizational change for success? Guest author Emma Hamer of eHamer Associates explains. When the proposal to go forward with the preparation and implementation of a content management project is put to the executive team, and the business imperative is clear, executive endorsement of the project is required for the project [...]