style guides: persuasion to follow rules or enforcement

["Katriel Reichman" <katriel -at- methodm -dot- com>]

One approach to getting writers (including product managers, pre-sales and
other non-technical writers) to follow style guides or "policies for working
with Word" is rely on goodwill (or gentle arm-twisting - see Jawboning
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawboning> ). Another approach, less common,
is build-in compliance to the authoring/editing process.  In other words,
enforce compliance.  Enforcement sounds draconian, but heck - a lot of
people pay taxes because they're afraid of being audited.  A lot of people
use crazy styles, local formatting, and commit other cardinal sins because
(1) it's easier than following policies and (2) there is no enforcement
mechanism.  

 

I am interested to hear experiences/opinions on
a) the efficacy of compliance enforcement vs. gentle persuasion.

b) can/should compliance efforts be directed beyond technical writers to
other staff who create lots of documents.

 

Looking forward to feedback,

Katriel

Katriel Reichman 
Method M Ltd. - the method is in the message
 <mailto:katriel -at- methodm -dot- com> katriel -at- methodm -dot- com,
<http://www.methodm.com/> www.methodm.com/blog/, www.methodm.com/author-max/
(tool for improving Word productivity, quality and consistency; download
available).

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