Re: Project Management Skills and Tech Writing.

[Mysti Rubert <Mysti -at- SYBASE -dot- COM>]

In five years, there has been only 6 months where I was not juggling
multiple projects.  I picked the multi-tasking, prioritizing and
communications
skills required on the fly, though eventually my company paid for a time
management seminar.  And a "dealing with difficult people" seminar, but
lets not get into that :)

I have tried to use Microsoft Project, but found it rather inflexible and
arcane
for day-to-day use, though we do use it to size (i.e. beg for more writers)
documentation tasks.

More than once I've been expected to "manage" a temp writer without
the authority of a manager, but with all the responsibility.  It's nice to
have management skills when these situations arise.

Mysti Rubert

 ----------
From: TECHWR-L
To: Multiple recipients of list TECHWR-L
Subject: Project Management Skills and Tech Writing.
Date: Wednesday, August 30, 1995 8:44AM

Hi, I've been lurking on this list for about  a month and enjoy it
immensely.  Not only is it refreshing to see writers with Real Jobs, but
the tone and tenor of the list are refreshing when compared to the
on-line BBQ-ing in Usenet.

I'm curious about the phrase "Project Management Skills" seen in so many
position descriptions.  Is it fairly common for TWs to juggle three or
four projects simultaneously?  And, if this is true, were you born with
this ability or did you acquire it out of necessity?  Finally, does
anyone use project management software to control their writing projects?

                Thanks,

                 Mark Crane
                 Psu01055 -at- odin -dot- cc -dot- pdx -dot- edu
                 Portland State University

                "When the going gets weird,
                 the weird turn pro."
                 --Hunter Thompson