Information Development: Managing Your Documentation Projects, Portfolio, and People

by JoAnn T. Hackos

A revolutionary new resource that brings documentation product management ideas up to date The 1994 bestselling classic Managing Your Documentation Projects set the industry standard for technical documentation. However, since then, much has changed in the world of information development. With this new title, JoAnn Hackos looks beyond the structured project of the 1980s and 1990s. Instead, she focuses on the rapidly changing projects of the 21st century and addresses how to introduce agile information development without neglecting the central focus of planning information design and development around the needs of information users. As an information-development manager, you are expected to reduce costs and project time, do more work with fewer resources and less money, and increase the value of the information you deliver. Recognizing this, Hackos has carefully designed this book to help you do precisely that. She helps you make strategic decisions about information development and directs the discussion of project management toward smarter decision-making. An update of the original 1994 Information Process Maturity Model (IPMM) presents you with a method by which you can compare the state of your organization to others, evaluate your current status, and then consider what is necessary in order to move to the next level. Information Development offers a completely new look at best practices for all phases of the document development lifecycle, The companion Web site includes electronic versions of the templates and checklists featured in the book. Wiley Technology Publishing Timely. Practical. Reliable. Visit our Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/

Genres: Reference

648 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bottom Line: If you are a "lowly" tech writer (like me) and not a manager, you probably won't get much from this book and it's painful to read. If you're a manager at a large company with a large writing team, it's probably a great resource.

I picked up this book in the hopes that even though it's designed more for managers or supervisors of writing groups, that I would be able to use some of the information to manage my writing projects. I was able to use a couple bits and pieces on project planning, but the rest of it was not helpful for me.

If you're looking for best practices on how to manage your writing projects (as in project planning, scheduling, writing, and keeping on top of tasks) as opposed to managing a writing team, you won't find it in this book--even if you can make it through the large blocks of text.

Speaking of large blocks of text, I think Hackos has been in management way too long and has lost her tech writing ability to be concise and to the point. I know she's well respected in our profession, but seriously, this book is not something that I pictured a tech writer writing. The major points get lost in her rambling paragraphs and walls of text. Thank goodness for the bullet points and summaries or I never would have made it through this beast.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a resource for the information I'm seeking. Hopefully somebody will write a book on the best practices for writers managing their documentation projects, cuz this ain't it.

[Urvesh]

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[Andreus · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE BOOK IS REALLY TECHNICAL,
HER FIRST BOOK WAS TECHNICAL AND MANAGEABLE, BUT THIS ONE IS TASTEFULLY TECHNICAL. IF YOU LIKE SPICY FOOD, THIS BOOK IS A GOOD POKE EVERY SPOONFUL.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, basic reference manual for managers of information and knowledge products.