RE: Embedded help for a web based application

[Gordon Mclean <gordon -dot- mclean -at- mclarenkvisia -dot- com>]

I think you have made your own arguments here:

> Should I consider
> restricting the Operators from accessing help pages provided only for
> the Supervisor (and also other roles)? And if yes, how do I do that?
> 

See my response to further down...

> Can I not ask
> the developers to modify the GUI?

ASK! Bring it up at the next project meeting or discussion and make sure
there are other people there. The worst than can happen is that they decide
to leave the GUI as it is and you will have voiced your concerns. Focus on
the customer requirement as the reason for the change and you should get
some support from your SME/Product Manager type person.

> 
> I have a feeling that I should ask to speak to the client 
> because ... in order to document their documents, I must have that
> information otherwise I'll end up making n number of assumptions and
> thus producing help of no use!
> 

Again, raise this with other customer 'facing' roles. I would also imagine
the customer would rather be asked about this than having something that is
full of assumptions and of no use (as you state).

It's never easy getting the balance for this right, but I would pursue this.
Why should your job have to be so much harder and why should the customer
suffer?

The only thing to watch out for is if the customer has badly defined their
requirements, but you will find the easiest way to capture that is when you
start to try and document the product!

HTH,

Gordon

(who will now slink off to lurkerville again...)

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