RE: Information gathering.....

["Nicola Harlow" <N -dot- Harlow -at- seamsltd -dot- com>]

Hi Al,

What a strange idea. Most of the time developers write a spec/proposal,
that they give to me with the end product (software).

I then read the spec/proposal, look at the software...then return to the
developer and ask questions, because inevitably they have written their
document from their perspective. It also misses out detail, plus things
can get missed from the document as they assume certain things that
aren't clear to me.

So the idea of sitting someone down and videoing them is just amazing!
Even if you could think of all the questions you need to ask for that
session, there is always going to be a 'Colombo' (Just one last
thing...) that occurs. It seems like a waste of time to me.

Unless you can stick them on YouTube...people will watching anything :)

Nicola

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+n -dot- harlow=seamsltd -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+n -dot- harlow=seamsltd -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Al Geist
Sent: 28 July 2008 21:32
To: 'TECHWR-L''
Subject: Information gathering.....

HI all,

 

I'm in a typical situation..my writing staff has been reduced by half,
the project load has grown and the deadlines are shrinking. (Sound
familiar?) My department head has decided that the problems with us
falling behind is because our information gathering is inefficient. (He
has never worked as a technical writer and views technical publications
as a necessary evil rather than a valued component of the company's
products.)  The department head is pushing for us to incorporate video
taping into the information gathering process. His idea is to have the
engineers videotape the setup/alignment process so we won't have to
bother them with questions. Those same engineers would discuss the
various components making up the systems. (These systems use pneumatics,
hydraulics, and electronics to align and bond silicon wafers and are
extremely precise.) We would take the tapes and write the books.
Reviews would be accomplished by training as they train the field
service staff. (How they would know what is correct or what is and error
was not part of his proposal.) 

 

Prior to my arrival at this company, the "lone technical writer" worked
part-time and did litter more than stuff material written by the
engineers into a Word template and shoved it out the door. There was no
review of the material. The result was garbage. I have worked hard to
move the publications beyond those dark days to a professional level and
do not want to go backwards. (I should add that our company is going
through a change in management and board of directors. It is a
subsidiary of a German corporation. We have a new CFO who is in cost
cutting mode and is only looking at bottom line. My Department Head is a
long-time employee, but in a new position. He wants to look good.)

 

Has anyone had experience incorporating video in the information
gathering process for technical publications? How did it work for you
(or did it work)? Did it vastly improve efficiency, or was the
development time about the same? If you used video, what did you have to
do to ensure the information you got was worthwhile?

 

Any and all help/information on this subject will be gladly accepted.

 

That bottle of Rare Vos is looking pretty good right about now.


Thanks,

 

Al Geist

Technical Communicator, Help, Web Design, Video, Photography

Office/Msg: 802-872-9190

Cell: 802-578-3964

Website: www.geistassociates.com

See Also:

Fine Art Photography

Website: www.geistimages.com

 

"...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a
pilgrim without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong
threshold each day." (Sy Safransky)

 

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