> ...new requirements are communicated in some broadcast email that your > immediate manager had no more idea was coming than you did. > > ************ > > Exactly what I was getting at. This is the reality, and it has been the > reality for the many years that I've been kicking around in this field. I > suspect that it's going to remain as the dominant paradigm for a while to > come. > > Other than dealing with it directly by communicating in a carefully > non-reactive and collegial way with our own managers when it raises its ugly > little head again, is there anything else to do about it?
Yes. You get the project leadership together immediately to meet on it, scope the effort, weigh the impact, and deliver a response in the form of options. Usually these boil down to "push release back X weeks", "drop X in favor of Y", "not entertain Y as it wasn't part of initial scope", or "throw more people at it". These situations are not ideal, but the above is only a reaction to the immediate situation. You ALSO need to impress upon wherever the requirement came from that ALL requirements need to be delivered up front, and that late news such as this will only result in more late decisions that will jeopardize the quality of the release. -- Bill Swallow HATT List Owner WWP-Users List Owner Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager http://techcommdood.blogspot.com avid homebrewer and proud beer snob "I see your OOO message and raise you a clue." ______________________________________________ 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
