Re: Big Time Help

["bwolf" <bwolf -at- scheidt-bachmann-usa -dot- com>]

Joe:

Perhaps this is management's way of sticking it to you? Or, could this
situation be a mutual misunderstanding? May they reasonably expect you to
produce a task-based document? During the interview, did you give them any
reason to believe you could produce a task-based document if you knew the
components?

BW

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe McPherson <zenpickle -at- zensearch -dot- net>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Monday, May 07, 2001 12:31 PM
Subject: Big Time Help


>Have any of you had your entire job on the line based on one document?
>
>
>
>I'm having that trouble now.  The problem is that, well, it's a common
problem.  Management has a picture of the document they want, and all my
prodding, questioning and divining is not extracting from their minds any
hint of what they want.
>
>
>
>A LITTLE HISTORY
>
>This is a small pamphlet describing the organization's backup methodology.
Having no experience with networking, I had them break it down for me and
explain it in detail.  I met with a few technicians and the managers who put
the system together and want this document written.  They broke the network
down component-by-component.  And that's how I wrote the doc, I broke it
down into components and described how each one figured into the backup and
recovery process.
>
>
>
>Turns out that a component-based document is not what they want.  They want
a task-based document.  I'm asking them what tasks do they perform related
to backup methodology.  I have yet to get a straight answer.
>
>
>
>QUESTION
>
>What I need to know is if any of you have worked on documentation for
company networks, particularly backup methodologies.  I have been giving
myself a crash course on networking, and I'm having trouble understanding
how a networking technician would use a document such as this.
>
>
>
>Also if anyone can point me to documentation online that could give me an
idea so I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel here, that would be great.
>
>
>
>Frankly, I lose this job if I can't produce what management has in mind, so
I'm a little tense today.  I also have little time to produce it (the new
outline is due later today).
>
>
>
>I've held three technical/web writing jobs before this, and none of them
have been this intense, vague or critical.  Is this a normal situation?
>
>
>
>- Joe McPherson :-)
>



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