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Subject:RE: new kid on the block (long) Take TWO From:"Victoria Nuttle" <vnuttle -at- bridgeport-networks -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:22:44 -0600
Normally when that little voice in the back of your head starts saying
"run away! run away!" you'll find a couple months or years down the
road that you should have just listened to it from the start.
That said... even if you are eyeing the door, there is no saying you
can't try to make your case. As someone "new" to the technology, you
have the benefit of being a blank slate. If *you* think it needs to be
included for overall understanding, who is to argue? You're coming in
as the perfect, know-nothing user that you probably have to cater to in
your documentation.
Also, if you're looking to make changes... DO them, don't ask to do
them. A lot of times people can't see the benefit of it until they
physically see it on paper (or screen). And as others have said...
verify your role with the higher-ups. It's been pretty standard in my
work experience that SMEs have the final say over the technical stuff,
but as the writer I get the final say over how it's presented. (buh-bye
snarky QA person, in your case)
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