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I've tried lots of ways to motivate those folks - everything from being strict
and formal (with review sign-off sheets) to food and prizes. The
food and prizes route gets a much better reply, in my experience.
I think the key is that, if you have a problem with reviews, strong-arm tactics
seldom work. Reward systems are much better, but you need to vary the prizes so
they won't get bored with *another* pizza lunch. Also, varying the prize *and*
keeping it a secret works well because folks will complete the review to see
what's in store for them. Alice Jones (Hi Alice!) had some great suggestions in
her earlier post.
Someone (can't remember who) raised objections about offering food or candy as
prizes because of dietary restrictions. I once gave out treats from a goody
bag when someone turned in a review. I filled a big bag with a combination of
fun wind-up toys, candy/PEZ dispensers, and more practical things like cool
pens, notepads, and calendars (basically, I went on a Wal-Mart shopping spree).
I let the lucky reviewers pick their own prize. This one got a great response,
and you can keep this concept going for a while before folks tire of it, with
slight variations in the prizes you offer....
--
Why doesn't DOS ever say, "Excellent filename or command?"
Charles Fisher
Senior Documentation Specialist
Datatel, Inc.
charles -at- datatel -dot- com
