RE: Review meetings vs. distributing copies

["Downing, David" <DavidDowning -at- Users -dot- com>]

Interesting -- so if I just ask for written feedback, they may be saying
-- "Hey, that's not MY job. YOU'RE the writer."

-----Original Message-----
From: Combs, Richard [mailto:richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com] 
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 1:45 PM
To: Downing, David; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Review meetings vs. distributing copies

Downing, David wrote: 
 
> The question is -- why does this happen? One theory I've heard is that
> calling a meeting forces people to pay attention and respond, whereas
> just distributing copies of the document lets them set it aside and
> forget it. But I have my own theory -- that the SMEs are more willing
to
> put the time and effort into giving me feedback if I'm willing to make
> the effort to stop hiding in my cubie and be social enough to attend
and
> preside over a meeting. I was wondering which of those theories makes
> more sense to everyone here, and/or whether anyone has their own
theory
> to suggest.

I've seen the same thing, and I think both your theories may be
contributing factors. I can think of two others: 

(1) A meeting has a fixed time, so they can't just tell themselves "I'll
try to get around to it later." They either show up, or everyone knows
they've blown it off. 

(2) In a meeting, they can _tell you_ what to write. Responding to
review copies forces them to write stuff themselves. 

I suspect that for many engineers, item (2) is pretty important. :-) 

Richard


Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------







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