Here’s what I do:
- Analyze a problem or project from the perspective of an “informed outsider.” (Meaning that I have the background to understand relevant information and issues, but bring no assumptions, expectations, or investments to the process.)
- Organize the available information and add to it if necessary.
- Formulate for optimum clarity and/or function.
- Communicate the outcome, usually through one or more deliverables (such as reports, presentations, articles, web content, media campaign, and so on).
This process can be applied to just about anything that involves the organization and communication of information—from a quarterly report to a data warehouse.
Recent examples:
- Writing a regular column on best practices for corporate websites
- Researching and writing literary biographies for online reference
- Creating information content for a museum
- Explaining a complex enterprise data model to business stakeholders
- Developing weblogs for targeted audiences
