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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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