RE: Newbie contractor question re: Scope of Agreement or Letter o f Intent?

["Sean O'Donoghue-Hayes (EAA)" <Sean.O'Donoghue-Hayes -at- ericsson -dot- com -dot- au>]

Sara-Sue,

I suspect that you are trying to get a leopard to change its spots - even a
written document of duties will not stop him from issuing directives and
then forgetting. I think the only way you can do that is to get him to write
his directives to you - email is fine, ensure you keep a copy - and CC'd
others who may be effected by changes when he directs that changes occur.
Then let THEM fight with him if the changes should, or should not, go ahead
- whilst you do as he last directed. 

When a change is requested, from one of his directives, that changes what
you did before reply accepting the change and stating the extra work that
will be required to rework what has previously been done, and the new work
that will have to be done. Often you will find that they are "satisfied"
with what was done earlier - or the requestor thinks of a better way/time of
doing the work (for example - "gee that is a major change, let's leave that
till the next version").

One of the joys of technical writing is that there are so many subjective
viewpoints on how work can be done, and sometimes changes can be good, and
sometimes bad. By no means refuse to do his changes, and if your duties
extend beyond what you think of as normal work - enjoy the variance. If the
change to your duties is such that it involves accepting more responsibility
or putting a much greater workload than you should be doing, in which case
record where you think this branches from the original position and at the
review, or reviews, point out these discrepancies and seek adequate
compensation.

The main weapons you have in this situation, are recording what happens, and
communication with the boss concerned and with others who are effected.

Good luck.

~~~oh and it is not too horribly unusual for duties to fluctuate through a
project, however daily does seem a trifle extreme~~~

regards and thanks, 
Sean O'Donoghue-Hayes
Sean.O'Donoghue-Hayes -at- ericsson -dot- com -dot- au

(61) (03) 9301-1695
 
EAA/N,
Melbourne Central, Level 41.08,
360 Elizabeth Street,
Melbourne 3000



-----Original Message-----
From: sclarke -at- nucleus -dot- com [mailto:sclarke -at- nucleus -dot- com]
Sent: Friday, 3 January 2003 1:36 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Newbie contractor question re: Scope of Agreement or Letter of
Intent?



Hello everyone:

Happy New Year. I have just finished (pretty much) an eight month contract
where I have functioned without a written set of expectations regarding my
duties. During the course of the project, the expectations regarding my
duties, role and the services I am required to provide change almost
daily.Sometimes hourly. I have gracefully and graciously (for the most
part) complied with each and every request. My boss issues directives and
then immediately forgets what he's told me to do. When the manure hits the
fan-and it almost inevitably does-I'm blamed and have no real paper trail
to speak of to back me up. The other thing that happens is that he
blatantly denies that he ever told me to do "x,y, or z".

I have been offered a short contract extension and want a written document
from him that specifically outlines his expectations of me in terms of
services, duties and role. Is this called a Scope of Agreement? Or is it
part of the Scope of Agreement? Is it a Letter of Intent? Or is there any
particular name for this document I want? I've sent him a letter accepting
the contract extension provided that several conditions are met. One of
the conditions is provision of a specific written statement of my duties.

Thanks 
Sara-Sue in Canada


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