Documentation Best Practices
Agenda
- Introduction to Documentation
- The Divio Documentation System
- Tutorials
- How-to Guides
- Explanation
- Reference
- Implementation Strategies
- Quality Assurance
Introduction to Documentation
Good documentation is the backbone of effective collaboration, especially in complex fields such as healthcare. It ensures usability, reliability, and accessibility of existing tools and solutions.
The Divio Documentation System
A structured approach to creating documentation that meets all user needs through four distinct quadrants:
- Tutorials
- (How-to) Guides
- Explanation (aka Cookbook)
- Reference
Tutorials
- Purpose: Teach new users through practical steps.
- Best Practices:
- Start simple, progress to complex.
- Clear, actionable instructions.
- Include expected outcomes.
(How-to) Guides
- Purpose: Solve specific problems or accomplish tasks.
- Best Practices:
- Focus on a single task.
- Concise and practical steps.
- Avoid theoretical discussions.
Cookbook
Officially called Explanation
- Purpose: Provide understanding and context.
- Best Practices:
- Explain "why" behind tasks.
- Use clear language for complex ideas.
- Link to relevant guides for deeper insights.
Reference
- Purpose: Act as an encyclopedia.
- Best Practices:
- Ensure information is up-to-date and searchable.
- Organized and detailed.
- Provide examples for clarity.
Implementation Strategies
- Integrate documentation creation into the common workflows.
- Utilize tools and templates for consistency.
- Encourage collaboration among team members for comprehensive coverage.
Quality Assurance
- Regular reviews and updates.
- Leverage peer feedback.
- Incorporate user feedback for continuous improvement.
Conclusion
Effective documentation is crucial for the success and reliability of services provided to the medical school and the collaboration of ICS teams. The Divio Documentation System offers a structured and comprehensive approach to creating useful documentation to share within ICS and with our clients.