Re: Suggested for Biz Case slides

hmmmm...spring must be in the air if we are 
pruning, fertilizing, composting and watering our web sites.

This is a helpful metaphor Cliff, thanks!

At 10:38 AM 4/12/2011, Cliff Tyllick wrote:
>Char, I agree. I think our best bet is to limit 
>the metaphor and address the time required with, "It depends."
>
>After all, to get fruit from a tree, you could 
>start plant a seed, transplant a sapling, or 
>rehabilitate a mature but neglected specimen. 
>But practically no one in our audience is 
>sitting there wondering what their first website 
>should look like. They all have websites that 
>are at various stages short of performing to 
>their potential. So we make the metaphor caring 
>for the tree you already have, not planting a tree from seed.
>
>So what can you do to rehabilitate a neglected tree? To fix a website?
>
>For a tree, ensure that it has a sound root 
>system -- add compost to the soil, fertilize if 
>needed, make sure it's getting the right amount 
>of water. For a website, make sure the code 
>follows standards, that heading tags provide a 
>sound structure and valid tab order, that color 
>contrast is adequate, and that meaningful images are explained.
>
>In both cases, you might have already done that. 
>If so, getting where you need to be will take less time.
>
>For a tree, prune for strong branching and to 
>select fruitful stems. For a website, improve 
>the link text, improve your forms, and use skip 
>links to make skimming easier. In both cases, 
>this gives sustained benefits only if the 
>underlying structure is sound. But, in both 
>cases, doing this will lead to benefits in the 
>near future as well as over the long term.
>
>And then there's the issue of scale. Are you 
>reviving one tree, or a whole orchard? Does your 
>website have ten pages, or ten thousand? So, it depends.
>
>And, even if you aren't involved in e-commerce, 
>you will see improvements in the efficiency of 
>producing information and its effectiveness when 
>published. Not all trees are fruit trees; some 
>we plant because we need their shade.
>
>Does that work better than the image of planting a tree?
>
>Cliff
>
>
>From: Char James-Tanny <charjt@helpstuff.com>
>To: 'EOWG' <w3c-wai-eo@w3.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9:18 AM
>Subject: Re: Suggested for Biz Case slides
>
>But isn't everything relative? I mean, will 
>people really look at an image of a tree and 
>think that it takes 40 years to get full advantage of an accessible website?
>
>I think the tree fits the metaphor, and I think 
>people will understand that it's time in 
>general, not specific time, that is being 
>described. (We could always add a description to 
>that effect.) And while other plants might 
>better describe the "quickness", the fastest 
>plants are annuals...and they die at the end of the season.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: 
><mailto:w3c-wai-eo-request@w3.org>w3c-wai-eo-request@w3.org 
>[mailto:w3c-wai-eo-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Shawn Henry
>Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 1:10 PM
>To: EOWG
>Cc: Cliff Tyllick; Sharron Rush
>Subject: Re: Suggested for Biz Case slides
>
>   Thanks for the ideas on images to represent ROI.
>
>I like several things about the tree image; 
>however, I have one disconnect: how slowly trees 
>grow. For example, I think it takes around 5 
>years for an apple tree to bear fruit. I'm 
>concerned that the slow growth of a tree might 
>make it a poor metaphor for the point we want to get across.
>
>I think we want the image to convey that in many 
>cases organizations will start seeing returns 
>within a few days of launching a redesign that 
>fixed significant accessibility issues.
>
>(p.s. Some personal perspective: We considered 
>planting some young trees last year and were 
>dismayed at how long it would take them to grow 
>to the height we wanted. On the other hand, I've 
>been watching my chives grow over an inch per day the last few days!)
>
>Looking forward to more thoughts...
>~Shawn
>
>
>
>On 4/9/2011 11:29 PM, Cliff Tyllick wrote:
> > Cecelia, that's similar to the thought that I 
> had — although being more literal-minded, I was 
> thinking in terms of a graph. The more I think 
> about it, the better I like the image of a 
> tree, though. But let's tie each stage of 
> investment to an example that shows that the 
> type and amount of return you will get depends 
> on the type of business you're in.
> >
> > The tree is your information resources. If 
> you plant it right, water it properly, and give 
> it time to develop a good root system, it will 
> at least stand sturdy and give you shade. This 
> is like a governmental agency, which derives no 
> profit from its content, still getting payback 
> from an accessible site in the form of greater 
> efficiency. How? Because they use their 
> word-processing software properly, it 
> consistently produces a complete and correct 
> table of contents for any document in an 
> instant. And because they've separated content 
> from presentation in the development of their 
> website, they can easily repurpose it for cell phones and other mobile devices.
> >
> > But maybe you're a nonprofit, and all those 
> meaningful links have helped more people find 
> your site. Some of those people need your 
> services, so you're reaching them more 
> efficiently, but some of those people are 
> potential donors, and you're reaching them, 
> too. Another year's growth. Another year's 
> leaves. How much? It depends, but for this 
> documented example, traffic increased this percentage.
> >
> > And what if you're not a nonprofit? What if 
> any part of your site is for e-commerce? Then 
> you're still another case — your content drives 
> your inncome, and the branches of your tree are 
> bearing fruit. (Let's make them oranges — 
> circles are easy to draw, and orange can stand 
> out well agaiinst deep green. Try FF8000 
> against 053106.) Better SEO, more fruit, more 
> income. How much more? Well, it depends on how 
> integral the Web can be to your business. But in this case...
> >
> > You see where I'm going? Integrate the 
> "investment in your tree" slides and discussion 
> into the "documented results" discussion. We might not need to add many slides.
> >
> > And, to the end, add a slide that shows 
> another year's growth, another crop of fruit. 
> And make the point that just as you don't have 
> to replant a peach tree every year, you don't 
> have to retrain your employees every year, 
> either. But, with your and their continued 
> understanding of and focus on accessibility, 
> the benefits will continue to accrue.
> > What do you guys think? Would this be a good 
> direction for us to take? If so, I'll work on a 
> revised series of slides that demonstrate the concept.
> >
> > Cliff
> >
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> > ----------
> > *From:* Cecilia Farell 
> <<mailto:cecilia@ceciliafarell.ca>cecilia@ceciliafarell.ca>
> > *To:* Sharron Rush <<mailto:srush@knowbility.org>srush@knowbility.org>
> > *Cc:* EOWG <<mailto:w3c-wai-eo@w3.org>w3c-wai-eo@w3.org>
> > *Sent:* Sat, April 9, 2011 4:39:33 PM
> > *Subject:* Re: Suggested for Biz Case slides
> >
> > Hi Sharron et. al.:
> >
> > I really like that. The one thing I would add 
> is some way of representing the change over 
> time, i.e., return increases as investment decreases.
> >
> > How about if we repeat the image over 2 or 3 
> slides, with the 1st showing a lot of "root 
> fertilization" with little tree growth, the 2nd 
> showing less fertilization and more branches 
> and trees, and the 3rd (well you get the point)?
> >
> > If there is a limit on the # of slides, the 3 
> images could be made smaller and placed all on one slide.
> >
> > Any thoughts? Thanks,
> >
> > Cecilia
> >
> > On 08/04/2011 5:18 PM, Sharron Rush wrote:
> >>
> >> Here it is as plain ppt (no x) Maybe that 
> will take care of the corruption .
> >>
> >> Thanks Char!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> At 04:12 PM 4/8/2011, Char James-Tanny wrote:
> >>> Oh, I like that :-) Easy to understand, and right now, I can’t think
> >>> of anything that’s missing. (OTOH, my brain isn’t quite all here
> >>> today, so I’ll look at it again this weekend and compare it to some
> >>> old presentations I’ve done.)
> >>>
> >>> BTW, I got a “this file is corrupted” 
> message when I tried to open it. The Repair 
> function (Microsoft Office 2010) solved the problem, whatever it was.
> >>>
> >>> *From:* <mailto:w3c-wai-eo-request@w3.org>w3c-wai-eo-request@w3.org [
> >>> mailto:w3c-wai-eo-request@w3.org] *On Behalf Of *Sharron Rush
> >>> *Sent:* Friday, April 08, 2011 4:52 PM
> >>> *To:* EOWG
> >>> *Subject:* Suggested for Biz Case slides
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I did this in just a few minutes, but the 
> idea is what I am trying to convey rather than 
> the graphic design itself.  I am sure someone can improve it.
> >>>
> >>> In this case, there are no numbers or 
> graphs that people will expect to relate to an 
> actual case study.  it is clear that the ideas are conceptual.
> >>>
> >>> Whether they are as persuasive, well that's the question now, I guess.
> >>>
> >>> best,
> >>> Sharron
> >>>
> >>> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>> ----------------------------------------
> >>> Sharron Rush |  Executive Director  | 
> <http://www.Knowbility.org>www.Knowbility.org
> >>> <http://www.knowbility.org/> |  512 305-0310 /Equal access to
> >>> technology for people with disabilities/
> >
> > --
> >
> > Cecilia Farell
> > <mailto:cecilia@ceciliafarell.ca>cecilia@ceciliafarell.ca
> >
>
>
>
>