tekom-Jahrestagung 2012 - ActiveDoc

International Management
IM 9
Tutorial
Developing and Delivering Robust
Sample Projects as User Assistance
Nicoletta A. Bleiel, ComponentOne, a division of GrapeCity, inc., Pittsburgh, USA
Introduction
One of the best ways to learn is informally, by example, and sample
projects that customers can use to learn your application are a valuable
addition to your product’s user assistance set. The best sample projects
should demonstrate different functionality, best practices, and features
— and also be easy-to-use. In this tutorial, we will discuss how to develop
and roll out different types of sample projects.
Why Sample Projects are Useful
Because customers can:
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Become comfortable in the user interface quickly.
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Work in a real project with no harm.
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Add their own data/content (depending on the application).
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Learn concepts more quickly.
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Use the sample as a starting point for their own project, rather than
beginning from scratch. People can be intimidated by “blank slates.”
(Alan Cooper)
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Learn what the product is capable of doing.
In addition, successful interaction with the product during the evaluation
period can help sell the product.
A SharePoint Sample Project Site
The Sample Project Team
Since sample projects have a number of objectives, and (depending
on the product) technical challenges, the team working on the
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tekom-Jahrestagung 2012