Written by: Joann Hackos

Submitted by: Alisha Logsdon

As a newer technical writer, I felt lost as I entered the world of projects, especially when it came to analyzing a vision document and identify deliverables. A colleague in my department suggested I check out Managing Your Documentation Projects by Joann Hackos for guidance. 

Hackos explains how to create quality documentation through solid project management, including a five-step documentation project life-cycle. My company did not use the project life-cycle at the time, but using the principals she describes, I was able to manage my own part of the project.  

For those of us who are working outside of a project life-cycle model, the five phases Hackos describes include:

• Information Planning—researching project as thoroughly as possible (10%)
• Content Specification—creating a detailed outline of each deliverable for project (20%)
• Implementation—designing and developing technical publications required for project (50%)
• Production—delivering the documentation to the intended audience (20%)
• Evaluation—evaluating the project as it develops and planning for the next iteration of the project (10%)