Technical Communications in OSS Content Management Systems: An Academic Institutional Case Study

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 2011

Technical Communications in OSS Content Management Systems: An Academic Institutional Case Study

Michael J. Cripps

Abstract

Single sourcing through a content management system (CMS) is altering technical communication practices in many organizations, including institutions of higher education. Open source software (OSS) solutions are currently among the most popular content management platforms adopted by colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. The GPL license, ease of use, customizability, and the large, global user base of mature content management systems are among the reasons these organizations choose OSS to meet their CMS needs. This article reviews the literature on the effects of single sourcing on technical communication practice. It also explores issues of OSS adoption, both generally and in international contexts. Through a case study of an OSS CMS implementation at a mid-sized public college, the article examines important contributions technical communicators can make to the rollout of an OSS-based CMS.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 2011-01-01
DOI: 10.2190/tw.41.4.f
Open Access: Closed
Topics: qualitative research technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

Brock et al. (2018)

Rhetorical Genres in Code

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (3)

Hart-Davidson et al. (2007)

Coming to Content Management: Inventing Infrastructure for Organizational Knowl…

Technical Communication Quarterly
Clark (2007)

Content Management and the Separation of Presentation and Content

Technical Communication Quarterly
Pullman et al. (2007)

Guest Editors' Introduction: Rationalizing and Rhetoricizing Content Management

Technical Communication Quarterly

Also cites 3 works outside this index ↓

B. Boateng (2007)

Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives

↗
V. van Reijswoud (2007)

Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives

↗
J. Papin-Ramcharan (2007)

Handbook of Research on Open Source Software: Technological, Economic, and Social Perspectives

↗

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