Number of help topics per day?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Mary Elaine Lora wonders: <<Are there any statistics on average  
number of help topics written per day?>>

There are statistics for anything you care to name, but most of them  
are useless outside that specific context. In this case, the number  
of topics is a meaningless metric. No, really.

To see why, ask yourself the following question: Does it take the  
same amount of time for a topic that documents a function with a  
single option (yes/no), or a topic that covers Word's Options dialog  
(something like 10 tabs with dozens of control per tab)? Now ask a  
crucial followup question: If the SME who can answer my questions is  
in the next cubicle, and willing to let me look at his functional  
specifications document, or are they off climbing Mt. Everest without  
a satellite phone, having never bothered to create a functional spec  
in the first place? Which help topic will be easier for me to research?

The better questions to ask are how much work is required per topic,  
and what resources will be available to help you do that work.

<<I need to show management why a propose release schedule is  
extremely unrealistic, as far as documentation is concerned.  It  
would certainly help my case if I could quote statistics from a  
professional organization or recognized authority.>>

For a few thoughts on how to usefully make your point:
http://www.geoff-hart.com/resources/2002/metrics.htm
http://www.geoff-hart.com/resources/2006/estimating.htm


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
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***Now available***  _Effective onscreen editing_
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