Re: The Technical Writer vs. Agile Development Methodologies

[Tony Markos <ajmarkos -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

The rap on Agile Development is that, improperly
implemented, it is perceived by the developers as but
a "license to hack".  Several have posted that, in
Agile development, the developers focus on producing
software rather than documenting requirements.  It is
not that simple; modeling of ESSENTIAL requirements (a
form of requirements documentation) is just as
important as ever (for further information, research
Agile Modeling).

A couple of TWs have posted that, in an agile
environment, they work one module at a time as each
module is created.  This is all fine and daddy,
provided that the all the modules ultimately tie
together.  If they do not - and unless good
requirements documentation via modeling has been
accomplished, this is pretty much guaranteed - in the
latter phases of the project, all heck is going to
break lose - for the designers, TWs, and all else.

So what is a TWs role in an Agile environment?  Look
at the how well the essential requirements are
modeled.  If the models are good, then you (the TW)
are going to have alot of fun on the project easily
creating properly modularized (i.e., user friendly)
docs.  If the developers are working primarily by just
going to meetings and then "hacking", then you (the
TW) are in for a real tough time, as once again, the
pains of integration are in one way form or another
pawned off on you.

Tony Markos
"Do It With A DXD" (where X is a censored character)

--- John Posada <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:

methodologies.  The principle is that developers value
working software over complete documentation, meaning
functional and technical requirements - they'd rather
have software that works than spend time writing
designs.  The main complaint about this for writers is
that they have to spend more time than usual in
meetings and absorbing information from
conversations developers have around them to get the
information
they need.
> 
> According to this definition, every gig I've been at
> in the last 15
> years has practiced Agile Development.
> 
> John Posada
> Senior Technical Writer
>

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now Shipping -- WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word! Easily create online
Help. And online anything else. Redesigned interface with a new
project-based workflow. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Doc-To-Help includes a one-click RoboHelp project converter. It's that easy.  Watch the demo at http://www.componentone.com/TECHWRL/DocToHelp2005

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com

To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.