Trends in Technical Communication Talks
The Lean User Manual: Using Lean principles in Technical Publications
Dom Smith’s presentation
The Lean Startup movement has taken Silicon Valley by storm. Eric Ries describes how teams working on new products in uncertain markets can learn by practising very fast iterations to gather actionable data from users to guide further development. The Runtime Analytics project at Red Gate is using this approach to develop such a product.
In this presentation, Dom will give some practical advice based on over six months’ experience authoring in a Lean Startup environment. What does Minimum Viable Documentation look like? Should you experiment with embedded UA? What happens if you have multiple ‘latest’ versions of the product? And crucially, how can we best offer user assistance when working so rapidly?
Ellis Pratt’s presentation
If we want to move away from a hand-crafted approach to developing content and towards a more engineering-like approach, what can we learn from the latest techniques being applied in manufacturing? Today, many manufacturers use Lean manufacturing principles, and its principles underpin Agile programming. In this presentation we’ll explore whether applying a Lean approach to technical publications could (a) lead to better deliverables and a more efficient system for producing User Assistance and (b) better position Technical Publications in the context of an Agile environment.
Booking details
- Speakers: Dr Dom Smith, Project Manager, Red Gate Software and Ellis Pratt, Cherryleaf
- Date 20th September 2012
- 9.30-12.30
- Central London SW1
- Free event
- Places limited
