Re: Getting the programmers to come to you

[John Kohl <sasjqk -at- UNX -dot- SAS -dot- COM>]

In article <85256458 -dot- 006A7D5F -dot- 00 -at- mailgate -dot- ovid -dot- com>, Gillian McGarvey
<gmcgarv -at- OVID -dot- COM> writes:
|> Is anyone else on the list bewildered by the fact that so many of us
|>       suggest that we actually BRIBE programmers to do what should be part
|>       of their job and give us the info we need to document the software?
|>       Isn't it the job of management to instill a higher value of
|>       documentation into programmers/developers and construct processes
|>       that implement it?  Aren't we just re-enforcing programmers'
|>       lackadaisical attitude when it comes to working WITH tech writers by
|>       coddling them with snacks?
|>
|> Or am I just in the wrong profession?  :-)
|>

This is sort of related, but quite an opposite experience:

I once bought small gifts (candles), not as a bribe, but as a token of
my appreciation for a couple of SMEs who gave me EXTRAORDINARY
assistance and cooperation with a big documentation project.  They were
appreciative, but one of them let me know that she considered the
project a team effort, so the gift (as far as she was concerned)
really wasn't necessary.  Needless to say, I worship the ground she
walks on.  The only problem is, it's hard going back to the real world
after you've experienced heaven!


John Kohl

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