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Subject:RE: How to fend off a Technical writer From:"Mark L. Levinson" <nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 14 May 2002 10:28:03 +0200
> We were told not to talk to individual programmers
> but to ask all our questions of one, very busy programmer,
That's not always a bad idea. (Well, except the "very
busy" part.) I've been in situations where hopping from
programmer to programmer has been counterproductive
because (a) if I talk with a programmer only occasionally,
the programmer easily overestimates or underestimates the
amount of background info I need, (b) a programmer may
innocently give me obsolete information about some part
of the program that lies outside the programmer's own
responsibility, (c) a programmer may fail to understand
what is and isn't scheduled for the particular release
I'm documenting (d) I have trouble keeping track of each
programmer's responsibilities and vacation schedule.
It can be nice to have a single liaison person
if that person is knowledgeable and available.
I think that when I've worked most efficiently it's been with
a liaison person who acted as a gateway. The liaison person
explained the big picture and referred me to specific
programmers for details. Best of both worlds...
Mark L. Levinson
Herzlia, Israel
nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il
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