RE: Drafts Back in Time

[Gordon Mclean <gordon -dot- mclean -at- mclarenkvisia -dot- com>]

Quick answer: Schedule the review time.

Let them know what is coming when, and how long they will have to review it.
It might not improve things a whole lot, but at least you can say you are
doing everything possible to help.

Maybe they need educated as to why high quality documentation is needed?
Maybe you need to pander to their ego's a bit and make sure they realise it
is their expertise that you require... or maybe you should try flashing your
boobs ;-)

If you are getting stick for missing your deadlines, make sure that the
project manager (or whoever is giving you stick) knows why.

Right, I'm off to buy some choc-chip muffins - hey it works for my lot...

Gordon McLean
Technical Communications Manager





-----Original Message-----
Amber Young wrote:
Do you all have any tips/tricks for getting your drafts back on time from
the (way too) many people who have to edit them?  This is a real problem in
this company.  It takes me maybe a week to write a manual and a month to get
it back from all the departments who need to sign off on it.  SOP requires
that they have it no more than a week, but no matter how much I nag, beg,
threaten, offer to drive to their building to pick up the edits, or hold
their hands through the process, I almost never meet deadlines because of
them.  I seriously think that these people (engineers, legal department,
project managers, and technical service personnel) think that reviewing
documents is nothing but a big pain in the a$$.  My boss hasn't been very
successful in getting my documents back for me either.  What do I have to
do?  Show my boobs?  HeeHee


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