Standard Doc Set

Subject: Standard Doc Set
From: Jim Barrow <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:48:14 -0600 (CST)

Now that my company's latest project is wrapping up, we're looking for
new adventures. That is, upper-management is looking around to
see what software should be built, replatformed. re-engineered, etc. To
that end they've asked my group to detail what a "complete doc set" should
consist of.

The upper-manager who sent me the email specifically said that he wants
me to 'create a plan that details a complete set of requirement docs,' but since
he's out with the flu, I can only assume that he meant a complete doc set.
I'm fairly sure that there's only one or two documents that can be written for
requirements.

So I wrote a two-page explanation of what our company *should* do when
embarking on a project (best practices) as well as a detailed explanation of
what I thought a complete doc set sould be. From memory this included the
following (in order):

- Problem Statement
- Solution Set
- Functional Analysis
- Requirements
- Project Plan, etc.

There were 15 documents in my core set, and they went from the Problem Statement
above down to QA, Test Plan and End User Documentation.

My guiding principle was the belief that anyone could walk in off the street, read these
15 documents, and have a complete understanding of why we undertook a project, and
how we went about solving the problem.

>From your lessons learned, is there any one document that you recall being absolutely
necessary in a standard software project doc set?

Thanks,

Jim
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -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%40web.techwr-l.com


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

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


Follow-Ups:

Previous by Author: Tech Writing Resources
Next by Author: Re: Menus and Toolbars
Previous by Thread: Re: Grammar Q what about the use of I?
Next by Thread: RE: Standard Doc Set


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads