TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Re: TECHWR-L Poll: Relationship with Development Teams
Subject:Re: TECHWR-L Poll: Relationship with Development Teams From:Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com> To:Deborah Ray <debray -at- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:50:41 -0400
Other. ;-)
I'm a contractor, and while I usually aim for and achieve "strong",
it's never the same case in every engagement. Sometimes you're
shoulder to shoulder with them, and other times you're reporting into
a department so detached that they look at you cross-eyed when you
start to engage them directly.
At my last full-time gig, the relationship started "weak" because the
former lead of the docs team created a black box in which
Documentation resided. He even went to such lengths as putting up
doors in the Docs hallway to "cut down on noise". These doors had no
windows, and the rest of the Engineering group took that as a very
clear indication that Docs wanted no part of their involvement.
Just before I started there, a new leader stepped in, and his first
initiative was to remove the doors. This physical act was also a very
strong symbolic message, and it had monumental impact on the rest of
Engineering, telling them that positive change was here. I came in the
following week and helped to further break down the barriers by
directly involving writers in all project meetings, from scope to
delivery. I even worked with the head of Engineering to get writers
full hands-on access to product source code and teamlines. By the time
I left, "writer" was just a role, and for the most part was seen as an
equal role on all project teams.
Bill
On Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 10:59 AM, Deborah Ray <debray -at- raycomm -dot- com> wrote:
> Greetings, All!
>
> Check out the new TECHWR-L poll:
>
> As a technical writer, how would you currently describe your
> relationship with the main development team you work with?
>
> * Strong: Mutual respect, easy sharing of information, ready
> inclusion in development team
> * Solid: Good rapport, still building toward mutual respect, sharing
> of info, etc.
> * Making headway: Still somewhat of an outsider to team, but
> on the right track
> * Shaky: Still somewhat of an outsider, and not seeming to
> make progress
> * Weak: An outsider not considered part of the development team
>
> Cast your vote and see results at http://www.techwr-l.com.
>
> Also new this week on the site, you'll find:
>
> Article: Establishing and Building Mutual Respect with
> Technical Team Members, by Eric J. Ray
>http://www.techwr-l.com/content/establishing-and-building-mutual-respect-technical-team-members
>
> Sample Documentation Plan, by Jo Baer
> This documentation plan includes both a blank plan and a sample
> completed plan that cover cost estimating, scheduling, reviews,
> production, variables, and more:
>http://www.techwr-l.com/content/sample-documentation-plan#attachments
>
> Have a great week!
> Deborah
> TECHWR-L: Empowering Technical Writers Since 1993
>
>
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
> Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
> Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
>http://www.doctohelp.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as techcommdood -at- gmail -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/techcommdood%40gmail.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.
>
> Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
>http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat
>
>
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days. http://www.doctohelp.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
