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Andrew Plato <aplato -at- EASYSTREET -dot- COM> wrote:
>Well, what do you think? Did I do the right thing by telling >the mangers to crush the holy war people?
I suppose it's a matter of degree. In the case you describe, the Holy
Wars were getting in the way of actual work, and something needed to be
done.
I don't think you were justified, however, in saying that the FrameMaker
advocates' productivity would suffer. But maybe I'm just sensitive
because I vastly prefer FrameMaker to Word.
Which brings up the other side of the issue: if you know of a good tool,
then perhaps part of the expertise for which you've been hired is to
recommend it. It doesn't seem like a meaningless squabble to me to
prefer the most suitable tool for the job.
I've been a contractor, and I pride myself on working with the tools
that the client prefers. However, even before I got used to FrameMaker,
I found my experience with Word mostly defined by what I couldn't do or
what was difficult to do.
I estimate that I am at least 20% more productive in Frame than in Word
- 30% if I have to revise constantly. I believe that it's not in a
client's best interests for me to work in Word, and I would be dishonest
not to mention that upfront.
Of course, once I take that position, I'm then obligated to suggest ways
that I can deliver Word material from FrameMaker if that's important.
Also, if I lost the battle, I would do the best I could with Word or, if
I was extremely frustrated, move along.
In short, I believe my position to be extremely rational. But, then, all
bigots think that, don't they?
"Then fareweel ye banks o' Sicily,
Fare ye weel ye valley an' shaw,
There's nae Jock will mourn the kyles o' ye,
Puir bluidie swaddies are weary."
- Hamish Henderson,
"The 51st Division's Farewell to Sicily"
