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> Sometimes, the processes that are
> followed are followed absolutely pedantically, which is how a '5' company
> stifles its employees.
A level 5 company is categorized by processes that are easily tailored and
modified. Level 5s are supposed to be constantly driven by improving their
processes.
A company that tries to follow processes 100% of the time to the letter will
stay at level 3. They are not gathering or using metrics (or worker
complaints) to improve themselves.
Relating this to technical writing: a stifling company might have a process
that forces you to include the same kind of information in every user
manual, regardless of what's right for the particular audience.
A level 5 company would have a process that insists on user and task
analysis and usability testing, and a process that allows writers the
freedom to act on the results of those analyses and testing.
Cheers,
Karen
______________________
"The mountain sheep are sweeter,
But the valley sheep are fatter;
We therefore deemed it meeter
To carry off the latter."
--Thomas Love Peacock (1785-1866) from The Misfortunes of Elphin
Karen Peterson
Peterson_Karen -at- prc -dot- com
610.260.2644