TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> Perhaps 20 years ago, a Project Manager I was working for told me that there
> are three aspects of any project: Quality, Cost, Schedule. Then he said
> something I have always considered profound. He said, "You can have any two
> of these aspects on a project at a cost of the third aspect."
The short, and rather blunt, version of that is "Quick, Accurate, or Cheap. Pick
two." And it's true! Many inexperienced engineering managers think you can get
all three if you just nag enough or if you pick people who are bright enough.
The truth is that professionals need time to get a job done, and good
professionals don't come cheap.
I once got fired from a job because the (inexperienced) person I mentioned this
to thought I was being insubordinate, stubborn, and unrealistic. I took some
small, rather wry satisfaction in watching the company slowly slide into
bankruptcy over the next six months.
