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Subject:re: end user vs end-user From:Sean Hower <hokumhome -at- freehomepage -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 24 Oct 2003 06:59:41 -0700 (PDT)
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Amanda Fitch wrote:
I still think user distinction is important in specific situations.
Here's another way to think of it:
There is a Milk Manager. (Administrator)
There is a Milk Employee. (User)
There is a Milk Customer. (User)
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I've got to agree with Eric and Dick on this one.
The term "user" is meaningless, it can be anyone. The term end user is also meaningless because, as you demonstrated in your example, it can be anyone. The terms also focus on the application you're documenting instead of tying the needs of your audience in with the capabilities of the product. Worst of all, these are terms whose definitions change to suit whatever point someone is trying to make. :-) They get flung around willy-nilly with no further explanation of their meaning and an assumed understanding. You may know the difference between a user and an end user, but will your audience know? Will they care?
To put it more concisely (to late) these terms aren't concise. If you know your audience is going to be managers, employees, and customers, then talk about managers, employees, and customers. Use "you" as others have pointed out. It's clearer. It's audience centric (not application centric). It will put your audience at ease. :-)
But then again, maybe your audience is a bunch of techies who want to see terms like user and end user. :-)
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