work assignments

[Rebecca Carr <rebecca -at- WHITE -dot- SC -dot- TI -dot- COM>]

Kathy:


Quite frankly, all methods of assigning projects that you mentioned
have been used where I work. Much depends on the management and his
perception of the writers on the team. It's really up to the individual
writers to make it known to management that they are interested in unusual
opportunities for learning...new product seminars, classes for new or
existing software, or new jobs. Then the team leader/manager makes the
offer to the people he knows are interested and motivated.

I would be very hesitant to charge discrimination in your situation. In
fact, I am surprised that you were not reprimanded for telling everyone
else what transpired between you and the manager. These things always
get back to management, and it doesn't help your cause at all.
Better to remain silent...etc. you know how it goes.

I would also be ignorant if I ignored the fact that office politics do
exist. It's just responsibility of each writer to see that he/she is
perceived in the way that he/she wants to be perceived. Even though you
think you know who is interested in what, it's really up to those writers
to express themselves. Beyond this, you have no control. Yes, a writer
may be a favorite...again you have no control. You do what you can and
not worry about the rest. As you probably know, management changes
more often than Larry King gets married (if you are there long enough)
so just do your job and do your best to stay out of the office politics.

Well, back to your question of work assignments.

While, as I said, all the methods you mentioned are used where I work,
the following is the method used most frequently:
Writers tend to work on a particular product line, so when new
documents are planned for that line, that writer usually takes on the
project....or if there are specialists, such as data sheet writers, then
a data sheet writer might do that portion and the rest of the manuals
will be done by the writer who usually handles that product.
When new product lines open up is when management/team leaders usually
call specific people in to discuss it, assess their interest, look at
their time schedules to see if they can fit it in, etc. The manager/team
leader does often have a feel for who would be the best for the job
and acts on that. Obviously, that is the best approach for him to take
because if the project doesn't work out well, some blame will fall on
him for the failure. It's to management's advantage to assign the best
person for the job, but sometimes politics does get in the way and all
you can do is grit your teeth and go on...and patiently wait for things
to change because they will.

Best of luck to you. You are obviously in a difficult situation, but
I would advise you to just CHILL.

Regards,

Becky

 TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot-  Send commands
   to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
  Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/  or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html