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Subject:Re: Tools and writers From:Jerry Kenney <gmkenney -at- MINDSPRING -dot- COM> Date:Sat, 30 Jan 1999 12:05:43 -0500
Robert Maxey wrote:
> At work, we want people to use a specific tool because
> we have the tool available and we have the required site licenses for it.
> <snip>
> We now have a standard everyone must follow. <snip>
>
> We will implement a set of rules and that includes the tools used to create
> documents that will be used all over the world. One might be a great
> writer, but they also must use the tools we will require and nothing else.
What we have here is the information age problem of not being able to
distinguish between a production format and a distribution format.
For productivity sake, developers and writers ought to be hired for their
skills and then be set loose to apply those skills in whatever way they can be
most productive PROVIDED that their shared work products are distributed in a
standard format. For example, if the standard word-processing format is Word
6.0, it is the responsibility of the author to produce a distribution document
in that format. Etc. for planning, presentation, spreadsheet, database tools.
I find that those least aware of the formats used by their audiences are
executives and managers; writers tend to be somewhat savvy about their work
environment.
