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: Due diligence and technical writing? What is it?
Subject:Re: Due diligence and technical writing? What is it? From:"John Fleming" <johntwrl -at- hotmail -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sun, 26 May 2002 22:10:05 -0600
On Sun, 26 May 2002 11:16:47, while chained to a desk in the
scriptorium, sclarke -at- nucleus -dot- com wrote:
> $As a newbie contractor I am struggling to understand 1) what due
diligence
> $means and 2) specifically what it means in conjunction with technical
> $writing. I've searched the archives and viewed bits and pieces but
nothing
> $definitive.
To add my $0.02, due diligence means doing what a reasonably competent
person would do to ensure all bases are covered.
That is, as a technical writer, you have taken reasonable steps to
ensure your documentation is accurate and meets the client's needs.
That means, as a writer, you will meet with appropriate subject matter
experts and do other needed research, produce a quality document, take
steps to ensure it has proper review and revision, ensure copyright
isn't being violated and that trademarks are being acknowledged, and so
on.
Certainly, as one of the other follow-up posters has suggested, it
wouldn't hurt to talk to a lawyer. Because we are talking potential
legal liability here, it doesn't hurt to exercise a little due diligence
and make sure that base is covered.
--
John Fleming
Technical Communication Contractor
Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check out RoboDemo for tutorials! It makes creating full-motion software
demonstrations and other onscreen support materials easy and intuitive.
Need RoboHelp? Save $100 on RoboHelp Office in May with our mail-in rebate.
Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
Free copy of ARTS PDF Tools when you register for the PDF
Conference by May 15. Leading-Edge Practices for Enterprise
& Government, June 3-5, Bethesda,MD. www.PDFConference.com
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
