Virtually any technology project must yield a financial return to be deemed a success. The same is true for technical publishing projects involving XML and DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture). This means calculating the cost of existing processes and the projected savings of new approaches. The result is an ROI-based business case that can be used as validation in budget requests, for setting expectations with stakeholders and senior management, and to track overall project success.
At LavaCon 2007, The Fifth Annual Conference on Advanced Technical Communication and Project Management, gold sponsor JustSystems, Inc. will present a hands-on workshop to teach users how to calculate the potential financial returns of using XML and DITA. The workshop will supplement conference sessions with partner IBM and by customer Sterling Commerce, revealing XML and DITA best practices and how to successfully migrate to topic-based content authoring and management.
This year's LavaCon Conference will be held Oct. 27-30, 2007, at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel in New Orleans, LA. In addition to exhibiting at the show in booth #5, JustSystems, IBM and Sterling Commerce will be delivering the following presentations:
"Calculating the Fiscal Return of Using XML and DITA"
In this hands-on workshop, Amber Swope, principal consultant at JustSystems, will show how to calculate the potential financial returns of using XML and DITA in an organization, including calculating savings throughout the lifecycle: authoring, re-use automation, localization, review, and publishing. Attendees will see what content lifecycle success can mean to their organizations and learn how to make the case for an investment in a DITA-based solution. Oct. 30, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
"Migrating to XML Case Study: Sterling Commerce"
When the mission at Sterling Commerce shifted to focus on providing customers with "solutions" instead of products and to step up efforts to deliver not just customer "satisfaction," but customer "delight," the documentation team knew it had to change its ways. The traditional forms of documentation simply weren't going to support these new corporate mandates. Bob Zebian, information architect at Sterling Commerce, tells the real-life account of five lessons learned from their migration to topic-based content authoring and management with JustSystems XMetaL. Oct. 30, 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
"The Tao of DITA"
By now, most technical communications professionals have heard about DITA, an XML-based architecture for authoring and delivering technical information. But what is DITA exactly? In this session, Michael Priestley, lead DITA architect at IBM, joins JustSystems' Swope to discuss DITA: what it is, what it can do, and why an organization may benefit from its use. Oct. 28, 1:00- 2:15 p.m.
For more information on LavaCon 2007, The Fifth Annual Conference on Advanced Technical Communication and Project Management, please visit http://www.lavacon.org/index.php. For more information on JustSystems, please visit http://na.justsystems.com.
About LavaCon 2007, The Fifth Annual Conference on Advanced Technical Communication and Project Management
The fifth annual LavaCon will present proven best practices in the fields of technical communication and technical communication management, including strategies for choosing technology platforms, migrating to XML and content management, reducing training and translation costs, and more. LavaCon offers real-world solutions they can take back to the office and apply. Over 60 sessions and workshops teach conference attendees innovative techniques, proven best practices, and methods for saving production and translation costs. For more information on LavaCon 2007, The Fifth Annual Conference on Advanced Technical Communication and Project Management, please visit http://www.lavacon.org/index.php.
About JustSystems
JustSystems is a leading global software provider with a 27-year history of successful innovation in office productivity, information management, and consumer and enterprise software. With over 2,500 customers worldwide and annual revenues over $110M, the company is continuing a global expansion strategy that includes the launch of its new enterprise software offering called xfy (pronounced 'x-fie'), and XMetaL content lifecycle solutions. JustSystems has worldwide office locations including global headquarters in Tokyo, and regional offices in New York, Palo Alto, Vancouver, and London. The company currently employs over 1,000 people. Major strategic partnerships include IBM, Oracle and EMC. For more information, please visit http://na.justsystems.com.
