Re: Drafts Back in Time

[Carol Gilbert <cgilbert -at- cal -dot- berkeley -dot- edu>]

I have tried most of the postings already sent and have a couple of 
comments:

1. I hated group reviews. The reviewers came unprepared and spent more 
time on trivia and not content issues. They thought they were pretty 
funny too.

2. I used the statement with delivery of the doc "Failure to return the 
review by the due date implies approval of the content."

3. There are often more people in the review cycle than need to be. 
Some of them are on the list just to satisfy ego (theirs not mine!). I 
usually know whose feedback I really need or want. As long as I get 
that, I let #2. stand. Of course, often my boss is the one who hasn't 
had time to read it. Then I am kind of stuck.

4. I Email reminders or cajole when I meet reviewers in the hall or 
break room who haven't completed proofreading. Note: I tried to give 
them a heads-up as to when I would be giving them something to review.

5. Most of the time with the SMEs, they are under the gun to complete 
their projects and I understand why my deadline is secondary to them. 
On the other hand, by documenting their work, I frequently uncover 
problems or bugs which I report to the system and frankly they usually 
appreciate that. It makes us part of each other's processes.

6. Chocolate or other rewards to those who comply sometimes helps. Our 
company had a reward system and all of the managers could pass out 
phony money that could be saved for very nice prizes. I could at least 
provide "cash" to the cooperative people. I have to say I resented 
going out of pocket for rewards for getting others to do a job they 
should have been doing.

7. You could try posting a "Hall of Fame" - "Hall of Shame" outside of 
your cube or office. Might not make you very popular though.
-Carol Gilbert
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