On 7/6/06, Gillian Flato <gflato at nanometrics.com> wrote: > Guys, > > I need to provide my engineers with a document release date schedule so > they understand when I need information by. I think that they think that > they can give me info two days before the release date and expect an > updated manual with the release. Does anyone have something I can use as > a template?
Hi Gillian I don't have such a template, I'm afraid. However, the situation you describe needs more than that. You need to be involved in the process from the beginning, so that you have input into specifications, GUI (if it's software), and so on. Then your documentation estimation process occurs simultaneously with the product development estimates. Given proper management of the whole project, you should be able to finish the docs at the same time as the product is finalized, and without stress. The project manager should at least be aware of your needs and the timing. Decent specifications will allow you to estimate and to create a draft ToC. From that point you can develop your docs iteratively, incorporating the review process. If there is no real project management, you have an education job on your hands which could take years if management don't get it yet. (This is the voice of experience!) You will need to call meetings and keep expressing your needs. But sensible estimating, based on requirements and specifications, should allow you to at least give ballpark dates for your various stages. There are resources around for estimating; I've seen industry standards set at 1 page/day (including everything), although we work on something less than (more than?) that - more than a page a day, I mean! Hope this helps, and good luck! Roger Roger Shuttleworth Documentation Team Lead Activplant Corporation 140 Fullarton St. London, Ontario N6A 5P2 Canada Tel. 519 668-7336 Fax. 519 668-3227 www.activplant.com ------------------------------------------------------- The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Please contact privacy at activplant.com for cases where you have received this email and were not the intended recipient.
