[FM Discuss] scribn the bazaar

[Andy Oram]

I like your analysis and suggestions, Chris. I have felt for years (and written in articles) that sites putting up documentation should test its effectiveness. The tests could range from simple rating systems (which many sites use--but I wonder about their value) to quizzes. However you do it, think about a 2-by-2 matrix: one dimension is how many people read a document, the other dimension is how they rate it or whether quizzes show that they understood it.

If you have a document that few people read, don't worry much about quality (although sometimes there are a few people who do crucial work and you want to make sure they get the information they need).

If a document is read by a lot of people and is high-quality, congratulate yourselves.

If a document is read by a lot of people and is low-quality--that's where the most effort should go.

I'll post another answer to Adam's musings soon.

Andy

----- Original Message -----
From: "chris hofmann" <chofmann at meer.net>
To: discuss at lists.flossmanuals.net
Sent: Saturday, November 7, 2009 12:14:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [FM Discuss] scribn the bazaar

...


Looking back though that set of criteria that Eric laid out I think 
FLOSS Manuals is tracking pretty well on all the main principals that 
will lead to eventual wide spread success.  The one are that might be 
missing is the attention to the "consumers" or "users" or "early beta 
testers".

See page 38 from the google books link above.

    "... 10.  [If you treat your beta-testers as your most valuable
    resource they will become your most valuable resource.]

FLOSS manuals is scratching the itch of groups that want to write 
manuals,   releaseing early and often, and the other things Eric 
articulated so well.    But, is it doing the job needed to understand 
the consumers of books and manuals.   

-Is FLOSS Manuals sharing and understand information about how widely 
those manuals are being used?
- how useful are the books and manuals to others?
- what the feedback is from people that tried to use the manuals?
- how could he works could be improved to better meet the needs of more 
users?
--- are the works helping people to solve problems or understand complex 
topics better?
- are the books and manuals gainning higher distribution and utility?
--- which ones are, and which ones are not?

...