Hi Lisa, I find this happening less and less as companies appreciate technical writing and the role of documentation more and more. Typically, when I schedule a meeting, I limit the time to 1-2 hours (closer to 1 because it is less intimidating). I've had developers say - "well, I can only meet for 45 minutes" and I say, "Great, I'll take it." And I stick to the amount of time they offer. If I see it isn't enough, I try to schedule another meeting - again, attempting to limit the amount of time into "reasonable" chunks that the developer won't "feel" cuts into his other requirements.
Because we are an outsourcing company, the product managers usually stress to the SMEs that our time is valuable (i.e. costing the company money...as if they aren't, right?) and so a priority is placed on our getting the information we need. I also make sure that I come to the meeting extremely prepared so that they see that I am asking intelligent questions and not just wasting their time explaining something that is really obvious...or should be...to someone who invested the time to try to learn it. In a worst-case scenario - when I'm not getting cooperation...and my deadline is looming just as the developer's is, I'll go back to the doc. manager to the prod. manager and simply explain the situation. Something has to budge - either I get the explanation I need or the documentation deadline is getting extended - that too works almost every time. The key, I believe, is to (I hate this word...but it fits here) "validate" the very real needs and limitations of the developer/SME. Paula Lisa M. Bronson (TCP) wrote: >It's pretty likely every one of us needs to gather info from SMEs when >writing documentation. A lot of technical communicators have a difficult >time with this. Do you? How do you get people to give you the time and >information you need? > >I have found the thing that works best if a SME is not forthcoming with >info is to say, "I've been assigned to write the manual about xyz, and my >manager sent me to you for information. I know that you are very busy, >though, so I don't want to take up your time with this. Who else would be >able to give me the information about xyz?" > >So far, it's worked every time, and 90% of the time, they take the time to >give me the info I need rather than passing me on to someone else. > >What do you do in a situation like this? > >Lisa B. > > >_______________________________________________ > >Interested in Interactive 3D Documentation? Get the scoop at >http://www.doc-u-motion.com Your 3D Documentation Community. >_______________________________________________ > >Technical Communication Professionals > >To post a message to the list, send an email to [email protected] > >To find out more about the list, including archives and your account options, >visit http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com > >If you need assistance with the list, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > _______________________________________________ Interested in Interactive 3D Documentation? Get the scoop at http://www.doc-u-motion.com Your 3D Documentation Community. _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals To post a message to the list, send an email to [email protected] To find out more about the list, including archives and your account options, visit http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com If you need assistance with the list, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
