solutions process
Bluestream has developed a sophisticated methodology for deploying solutions that address customer pain points, use cases, and requirements, ensuring that you maximize return on investment from your XDocs DITA CCMS implementation.
Solutions process
Bluestream has deployed XDocs DITA CCMS systems for many customers in a broad range of industries over the years.
The information model and the content strategy are key to a successful DITA CCMS solution. They
- set you up for success when converting and publishing your content
- provide the key information required for configuration of the XDocs CCMS to match your requirements
- enable Bluestream to develop customized training that sets you up for success.
1. Information Architecture
Information architecture is the development of a detailed DITA information model to address all the key use cases in your content strategy. Information architecture must take into account your objectives as well as the interactions people have with your content both inside and outside of the organization. It makes use of industry standards, best practices, and simplicity to enable the content to undergo the computer-based processing in the project plan and allow for other processing in the future.
Our goal in engaging with both your content strategy and your information architecture is to ensure that the project plan includes all the information we need to properly configure your system and design your training so that you will successfully meet the goals and objectives of your DITA/CCMS implementation.
The information architecture is provided as a detailed Excel spreadsheet that itemizes every element and attribute in your DTD/specialization with notes on where they are available and what they are used for. Bluestream will also make any required changes/specializations to the standard DITA DTD based on the information architecture.
The information architecture is reviewed in detail with the writing team to ensure full understanding and consensus that it completely captures all content and metadata requirements for the core content types used in your documentation. Note that it is expected that your information architecture may evolve over time; our objective is to provide you with an excellent foundation and the tools to evolve the information architecture if/as required.
2. Content Strategy
Content strategy is the cornerstone of the solution. Guiding principles include using industry standards, best practices, and simplifying content and processes as much as possible – processes for creating, reviewing, managing, publishing, and distributing your content.
Content strategy is developed together with your key players and approved according to the agreed upon project mandate. Because content strategy evolves over time, care is also taken to understand the strategy, related configurations, and governance plan that your organization will use to make changes to the strategy as you meet current objectives and new goals are set.
The content strategy report is the product of the initial content strategy consultation, and is reviewed in detail with the writing team to ensure full understanding and consensus on the strategy laid out in this document. Our objective is to provide you with an excellent foundation and the tools to evolve the content strategy if/as required.
3. Plugin Development
The ultimate goal of any DITA CCMS implementation is to enable the delivery of great content for your users, so the ability to publish, typically to PDF, HTML, and a content delivery system, is essential.
Typically, publication from DITA is accomplished using customized outputs from the DITA Open Toolkit, which are created as plugins. Bluestream has highly skilled plugin developers and can work with you to create the outputs you need.
4. Content Conversion
Content is converted to the agreed upon target information model including any DTD specializations. The goal is to preserve any useful metadata and information structures from the existing content, while optimizing the content for DITA reuse, modularity, ease of authoring, and publishing.
5. System Configuration
Bluestream configures the system to address your needs and objectives according to the approved content strategy and information architecture. We focus on building out the end-to-end solution in the system configuration. Configurations may include DITA specializations, folder hierarchy, projects, branches, authoring templates, workflow
and review setup, search, metadata, localization management, publishing outputs, and content delivery to your customers.
6. Custom Training
As no two solutions are alike, to ensure success, Bluestream will deliver comprehensive, customized training to your organization. Training is hands-on and includes customer-specific training materials and exercises performed as a group. The approach is to train the trainer, allowing you to become autonomous in system configuration and maintenance. This is particularly important as some of these solutions are in place for a decade or more.
In addition, for solutions developed by Bluestream, we provide numerous learning aids including checklists for key procedures/tasks, recordings of training sessions, and content strategy and information architecture reports
Case Studies
Learn about how different companies have implemented solutions with the XDocs DITA CCMS, the XDelivery Documentation Portal, and the Manufacturing Suite.
