Re: Advice on systems

[Chuck Banks <chuck -at- ASL -dot- DL -dot- NEC -dot- COM>]

Paula,

My advice is to take a page from the contract writers and
pin your employer down to specifics.  You cannot be certain
your problem is your system until you are certain what your
bosses want you to achieve.

Do they want improved appearance in your documents?  Then
sit down with your managers and determine what they want,
precisely.  If they don't know, try brainstorming the
various characteristics of your documentation.  For
instance:

        Do they want a new typeface?

        Do they want a new format?

        Do they want a different language style?

Determine precisely what mananagement wants.  Then pour
over the MS Word documentation and find out if the
program will give them what they want.  It should,
even in its DOS incarnation, MS Word is quite powerful.
If MS Word is not up to the changes, then review other
products to determine which one will best provide
the type of documentation management wants.

Also, ask if management is taking hits from your
customers or your competition because of poor quality
documentation.  If so, find out specifically what the
customers want and add that to the new document
specification.

Remember, neither you nor the software can read minds.
You must be sure of what customers and management want
or buying new tools will be a waste of money.

The answer to your problems may be as simple as a new
typeface or as complex and a complete replacement.
Find out the specifics and then determine the answer.

When you've got the document design pinned down and
you know MS Word won't do the job.  Call us, we'll
be here.

Good Luck!

BEST REGARDS!

Chuck Banks
NEC America, Inc.
chuck -at- asl -dot- dl -dot- nec -dot- com