On Jan 10, 2007, at 5:08 PM, Al Geist wrote: > Milan Davidovic wrote: > >> On 1/10/07, Beth Agnew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> >>> Why are documentation groups >>> consistently treated as afterthoughts in so many organizations? >>> >>> >> >> Because they allow themselves to be? >> >> >> > >
I worked on a job where the team leader would leave help off the schedule, forget about it altogether, shrink the time alloted to it, you name it. No amount of complaining did any good, because the problem was cultural. Higher-ups thought of the product as "the code", and nothing else. Training was irrelevant. Documentation was only a "nice to have". TW groups are afterthoughts simply because many managers do not understand the "whole product concept." They view their responsibilities as being their department and do not think of a reality greater than that. To be fair, they are rewarded for thinking that way. Often, salary bonuses for being "on time" override concepts of quality, especially quality that transcends departments. If you want to see where the problems come from, look at the culture; if you want to see why the culture is messed up, look at the reward structure. Tarage ______________________________________________ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of "TECHCOMMPROS" to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
