Getting started with this practice
The goal of the Documentation and Training practice is to ensure that end users of a product receive quality
information about the product (in comprehensive documentation) and have been adequately trained regarding how to use
the product.
Common pitfalls
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Inadequate documentation: No one likes to rigorously document a product, least of all the team
members who developed it. Historically, product documentation often has been an afterthought, if given thought at
all. In the Agile world, because the goal is to deliver high quality, working software to end users more quickly,
realize that part of the quality component is adequate documentation that enables end users to use the product more
effectively.
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Non-existent or inadequate training: Like documentation, training often is an afterthought. When
product budgets are reduced, training often is the first line item to be eliminated. However, in fairness to the
end user community, proper training about how to use the product is critical to the overall success of product
deployment in terms of enabling end users do their jobs effectively.
Considerations
The following is a list of points to consider when adopting this practice:
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Training depends on documentation: The better the documentation, the easier it is to develop
training materials. If your team skimps on the quality and quantity of product documentation, the cost of training
materials development will significantly increase.
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Documentation can be developed in many ways: The more varied the documentation media (e.g., Help
files, Wizards, PowerPoint presentations, video vignettes, etc.), the easier it will be to use those forms of
documentation and convert them into robust training modules. Also, multiple forms of documentation will appeal to a
broader audience because people internalize information differently: what works for one person might not resonate
with another.
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Training can be delivered in many ways: Like documentation, training delivery media should be
varied to appeal to different audiences. Not only can training be delivered by a live instructor in a classroom,
other options include:
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Computer-based training where users complete modules on their own time
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On-line instructor-led modules delivered over the Internet at scheduled times
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Just-in-time training modules (either live or on-line instructor-led) for incremental learning
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