Paper based manuals

Hi Carl,

Welcome to the community!  

While this is primarily an e-learning centric community, lots of knowledgeable folks here are typically glad to weigh in on other matters such as classroom training or paper-based materials. So no worries.

However what might be helpful, is to clarify whether you are asking about best practices for creating manuals, or for integrating existing manuals into a broader curriculum/blended approach. 

That clarity might let more of the heroes here weigh in appropriately.

Thanks and hope this helps!

Carl - one possible solution is Leader Pro Guide.

Hey Guys

sorry for the late reply.

thank you so much for your responses.

Thanks David

we'll definitely check that out. 

Hi Bob

What we're looking for specifically is best practice for creating manuals.

particularly for systems and process.

thanks again for getting back to me. 

Hi Carl. I was going to invite you to call but we are probably not time zone conducive. I can help you with this (I do lots of these manuals, including for your industry). Here are tips to get you started. I can provide more if you wish.

Like any other instructional project, start by getting thoughts and ideas out of your head and onto a tool that is easy to organize. Use the post-its process. http://www.savageandgreene.com/save-the-world-with-post-its/

Use that process and physical stickies (post-its) to identify groupings in terms of your users. This means you need to know who your users are. Also use that process to identify priorities, subject matter experts, and test-drive team.

Locate and engage people who will be users to be your test-drive team. Their feedback is critical and their involvement helps build buy-in.

Create a cheat-sheet that shows margins, fonts, revision number, etc. Be willing to change this as your design process uncovers making things easier.

Always name tasks and procedures first using plain language, and show any industry or company lingo second. Always, always, always translate lingo.

As you organize and create the content, I recommend creating separate documents for each system-task or related tasks, and each procedure. This may seem like a pain but separate documents are easier to also use on your intranet, and much easier to maintain over time.

When you have completed and approved items, pdf them. Then group them into larger pdfs. This creates the overall manuals.

Do not cave to people who say they want everything online. Many users will want to print - and should. So have an easily-printed version along with online.

Last but not least, add in some fun to the content - fun that helps important concepts and compliance issues sink in and stick. There are tons of tidbits for your industry that fit the bill.

Whoops, not the last tip, after all. An Articulate elearning course may be the perfect platform for announcing the project, providing updates, implementation, and training for new hires.

Hope these help get you started. Feel free to contact me directly if I may be of more service.

Thank you so much for this Shawn, I work with Carl and your advice is superb. 

Hi Shawn

This is exactly what we were looking for.

Thank you so much you have been a great help.

You are welcome! Happy to have helped. Want to connect on LinkedIn? You may need my email for that: shawn@savageandgreene.com