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Subject:Re: sad tale - response From:Wendy Putman <wputman -at- CASTLETON -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 27 Apr 1998 12:46:13 -0700
Working in the non-profit sector is quite different than working in
industry because the "goal-posts" continually move and politics often
drives the product.
Matthew, if you send me your email address again (hyperactive delete
digit), I'll share some hints and tips from my previous employment in
the non-profit sector.
Wendy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Suzette Seveny [SMTP:suzettes -at- STRATINFOTECH -dot- COM]
> Sent: Monday, April 27, 1998 12:35 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Re: sad tale - response
>
> I think I would be very careful about using this type of approach.
> The
> disgruntled employee might feel that you are empathizing with him, and
> relay your comments back to management in an attempt to show another
> supporting opinion. The result is that you could appear as a
> disgruntled
> employee as well.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Miki Magyar [SMTP:MDM0857 -at- MCDATA -dot- COM]
> Sent: April 27, 1998 3:19 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: sad tale - response
>
> Matthew Bin told us of his trials with a disgruntled ex-employee SME
> and
> his attempts to improve the user doc, "which, when it is written in
> understandable English,
> is full of speculations, excuses, and snarkiness."
>
> Matthew, my heartfelt sympathies. You may have hit a brick wall, but
> there's one thing you might try that's worked for me. First, you must
> realize you will never change this bloke's view of the world, you, or
> his
> work. So don't try. Instead, put yourself on his side - "It's a real
> pain,
> but I've been ordered to do this, so we might as well get it over
> with.
> Here's the stuff they told me to put in..." hand him a list of
> specific
> questions or blanks to fill in, with your guess as to what it should
> be.
> Grumble a lot about the unfairness of it all as you prod him to give
> you
> data. Make it clear that *something* has to go in there, and it's
> either
> going to be his input or your best guess. But don't criticize his work
> or
> point out its flaws. Instead, indicate that you are confused
> (implication
> is you're too dumb to understand). List the two or three possible
> interpretations of his garble and ask which is correct.
>
> This may not work, but it's worth a try. You may find that having a
> mutual
> 'foe' ('them') is enough to allow him to actually communicate with
> you.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Miki
> mikim -at- mcdata -dot- com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> !
>
> &^~~~
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