Information Mapping
Information Mapping (www.informationmapping.com) is a method for the analysis, organization, and presentation of information. Many large organizations use Information Mapping.
Information Mapping has three parts: analysis, organization, presentation.
Analysis. In Information Mapping, there are six basic types of information. Examples of information types are:
- Procedure. A procedure tells a person how to do a task.
- Process. A process explains what occurs in a system.
- Concept. A concept specifies what something is.
An important rule of Information Mapping is that the different types of information are not mixed. For example, do not include a concept in a procedure. Instead, explain the concept before the reader does the procedure.
Organization is about how the information is shown. For example:
- Information is organized into 'manageable chunks'.
- Units of information are organized into larger groups. Each group has a clear label.
- Unnecessary information is not included.
- Words are used consistently.
Presentation is about the form in which information is shown. For example:
- Bulleted lists and numbered lists
- Tables
- Graphics.
Information Mapping is a useful method for technical writing, but it is not the only method. Examples of other methods of writing are as follows:
- Structured Authoring Method is a method of structured writing from Performance Technology Associates, Inc.
- Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) (www.oasis-open.org/committees/dita/faq.php) is an XML schema for structured writing. DITA uses the concepts of 'typed topics', which is similar to 'information types' in Information Mapping.
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