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Ok, Mike, you have a point there. But it just would feel nice if the
"acceptance" factor is high, 'cos ultimately it makes for a more
co-operative workplace. The marketing guys and engineers do understand the
importance of good communication, but they are just not willing to give you
the time of the day.
You had asked me to not "annoy people by implying that you are somehow
smarter and more perfect than they are." Well, thats the least of it all- I
am trying to figure out how I SHOULD NOT BE ANNOYED by their
"superior-than-thou" attitude. Guess I have really started to whine now-
Will sign off here :-)
Thanks for your inputs- And Steve's empathy...
Meena S
TECHNICAL WRITER
Think Business Networks
India
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-77191 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-77191 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com]On Behalf Of Michael
West
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 3:46 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Professional respect
From: "Meena S" :
> ... My engineer colleagues ... tend to look down on a TW.
> ... Their take is that a Technical Writer ... does not add any
> value whatsoever to the software production process.
I'd say they're pretty close to being right. So why don't you ask
the *users* whether they think well-written instructional material
adds any value to *their* experience. Why don't you ask the sales
people how much harder *their* job would be if they couldn't offer
end-user instructional materials as part of the package? Who gives
a flip what the engineers have to say about it?
> I have tried to participate more, give sessions on
> documentation and its importance, even volunteered
> to wade thru boring documents to show them a client
> or potential customer just HATES to see a typo or a badly
> written document. It can make anyone cringe..
Forget about cringing. Cringing has nothing to do with anything.
Make sure you're not annoying people by implying that you are
somehow smarter and more perfect than they are.
There is only one thing you should be concerned with:
** What value are you adding to the users' experience ? **
In an engineering organization, engineers are the elite and everyone
else is 'support staff.' That's just the way it is; you can't change it.
Just stay focussed on your real objective, which is not 'acceptance'
but knowing that you've added value to your companies products
ina way that engineers will never understand or acknowledge.
If that doesn't sound like an attractive compromise, find another
role in life.
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A landmark hotel, one of America's most beautiful cities, and
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IPCC 01, Oct. 24-27 in Santa Fe. http://ieeepcs.org/2001/
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