Publishing process engineering One size rarely fits all.

The situation
One of the earliest online publishers, this company had acquired online rights to over 600 courses. And, it quickly converted hundreds of CD-Rom and print courses into its learning management system (LMS). They found themselves with a hodge podge of content, with little consistency in quality, instructional design or educational experience. They retained O’Donnell & Associates to provide a publishing process and style templates to help them turn this conglomerate of content into a saleable publishing program.

The process
First, O’Donnell & Associates’s editorial team did a thorough review of the courses. These ranged from basic compliance training (how to use goggles properly in a manufacturing environment) to technical training (such as automotive repairs) to complex knowledge-based and soft skill courses (like negotiating and project management).

We found that there were three publishing processes needed to develop a consistent program. The simple compliance type courses needed a consistent navigational template, a taxonomy for naming courses and units, and a good proofread. The more complex interactive courses needed a navigational template, a common look and feel, and a good copyedit. A smaller number of more complex courses were earmarked for a complete revision, using the O’Donnell & Associates market development process and applying a new instructional design.

The results
After analyzing the materials, O’Donnell & Associates incubated the process – that is, we developed it, refined it on a few sample projects, and created a series of guidelines and training so that it could be easily replicated. We revised several courses in each of the three categories to create and refine a process and consistent template for our client’s team. Then, we created detailed guidelines, templates and style sheets for each level of editorial intervention.

Then, we turned the process in-house. We trained the internal team on the new process, and provided support and feedback through the transition. Within 6 months, our client had culled through most of the courses and was able to offer its customers a program, with series of similar courses, instead of a hodge podge.