Fend off the writer

Subject: Fend off the writer
From: "Alex Silbajoris" <alsilba -at- hotmail -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 12:02:03 +0000



You know this thread has me laughing, I've also seen a number of managers use a similar tactic. Right now, I'm holding up the release of a web interface user's manual, because some sections on the new ordering scheme are awaiting review by the development manager, who -everybody chime in on the chorus - told me not to talk to the developers because he would provide review comments.

It reminds me of the three great lies of the traveling salesman, escpecially the one that starts with "I promise..."

While John Posada is probably assuming the problem must be me because I've seen this in several workplaces, I believe it's just another example of documentation having a low priority. The company I'm with now prides itself on being able to develop and deliver on an "aggressive schedule" which sounds great until you realize that they are making sacrifices that they don't acknowledge.

As my mother would say, "The dog has puppies very quickly, but they are born blind."

There certainly can be an occasional flash of humor in it. Recently I asked about a long-forgotten technical specification, and eventually a developer responded that the software module it is supposed to document had 17 undocumented changes made by six developers in three and a half years.

- A


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