Advanced Technical Writing 2006

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Advanced Technical Writing2006
Session 13
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Today In Class

• The third analytic perspective workflows
  production models
• Thinking about metadata

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Todays focus
Emphasizes the point of view of
A Focus on
Sees the site as
Genre and features
a text or a collection of texts
the reader/user
Structure Delivery
objects actions social space
the designers developers
Production Models Workflows
a workplace
the admins and authors
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Looking at Websites as Workplaces
Consider the context in which a site is produced
what is the production model the site follows?
What are the workflows like which keep this
production model going?
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Production Model?
The overall approach to producing the site. For
example, the CNN.com site has a broadcast news
production model in terms of the way content is
generated, how often it is updated, the types of
media generally available, etc.
Can you think of sites with 2 other types of
production modelsone, like CNN.com, based on a
legacy model and another which you would consider
a model native to the web?
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What are some features of a production model?

• Who creates the content why do they do it?
• Who owns or has authority/responsibility for
  content
• Who consumes/uses content why?
• What kinds of content are produced (think of
  information and interaction)
• How often? (related to how dynamic)
• How is content strategy/success measured?

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What are workflows?
The cycles of activity that, added together, make
up the day-to-day work of maintaining the site.
For this project, we are only concerned about
content-related workflows, which could include
the kinds of activities mentioned in the
production model producing content, editing
content, evaluating user needs, etc.
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Elements of workflows
Job roles who does what? Tasks what do they
do? Process descriptions in what
order? Metrics how do we know its done or
ready to move on?
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Two types of workflows, 1
Managed workflows
What is it?
How do I document it?
Processes routines already documented and/or
consciously leveraged in the workplace context
Gather training documents, schedules, etc.
interview mgmt. production staff observe
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Two types of workflows, 2
Ad-Hoc workflows
What is it?
How do I document it?
Processes routines that may vary and are not
consciously leveraged in the workplace context,
yet
Observe the day to day production cycles and do
follow-up interviews with mgmt., staff, maybe
users
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Formats for documenting workflows
Linear methods are ok since you know beginning
and end points Calendar-type schedules, Gantt
charts may need flow charts for recursive
processes
Must usually use multiple methods to show
variations as well as patterns case studies of
typical and critical incident using the above
formats also PERT (critical path) or event-chain
diagrams
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Capture events a tip comes into the newsroom
100
200
300
400
500
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An Exercise in documenting workflows
Go to a non-web setting go to a store, a
fast-food place, etc. and pick a short cycle that
you are familiar with map it with a swimlane
diagram. (See next slide)
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Sample workflow news item
publish
plan
draft
review
karen
audrey
eric
paulette
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Metadata, what is it good for?

• Searching for content
• Enabling dynamic content
• Enabling systematic reuse
• Enabling customized or on-demand views
• Tracking content use
• Automating content production processes
• Tracking content production

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Metadata influences

• Searching for content
• Enabling dynamic content
• Enabling customized or on-demand views
• Enabling systematic reuse
• Tracking content use
• Automating content production processes
• Tracking content production

Direct influence
on users
Direct Influence on developers
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Two types of metadata
Categorization Metadata Refers to information
products (e.g. documents) most often used to
create structured data storage and retrieval
systems (e.g. libraries) Element Metadata
Refers to information objects (elements) within
information products used to enhance search and
retrieval, track use, facilitate reuse,
facilitate/track workflow
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Uses for metadata
semantic labels keep presentation formats
distinct from content
Reuse Retrieval Tracking
labels based on search logics, including access
privileges
labels reflect element status, production
milestones, management metrics
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Metadata Example
Reuse Retrieval Tracking
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Metadata Example
Reuse Retrieval Tracking
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An Exercise Create metadata for an ACD exercise
posting

1. Define element metadata categories that could be
   applied to ACD exercises posted by students
2. Consider two user groups students and
   instructors
3. Consider all three metadata use types reuse,
   retrieval, tracking
4. User your colleagues postings for reference

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An Exercise Create metadata for an ACD exercise
posting
Be prepared to discuss

• How each audience type might engage in reuse,
  retrieval, and tracking
• Issues you encounter in choosing terms (i.e.
  controlled vocabulary)
• How, when, and who might apply the metadata?
  System features that could aid in this process?

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Next Time

• Well review analytic stances and tools
• Youll begin planning your own analysis for your
  P2 context
• Youll share the scope of your analysis and your
  plans with the group