Re: Writing a product functional spec AFTER the product is built

Subject: Re: Writing a product functional spec AFTER the product is built
From: Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: Tara English-Sweeney <tens00 -at- gmail -dot- com>
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 23:07:47 -0400

> Hello. I am wondering how often technical writers have been asked to write a
> product functional specification after a product has been built. I have been
> working feverishly on one. The goal is for it to be used as a sales tool and
> even more importantly, to ensure that customers have a clear definition of
> the the features and functions (via use cases) so there is no
> misinterpretation.

You want to research 'reference guide'. After the product is built is
far too late for a functional specification. That should have been
written in draft form well before any actual product code was written,
and evolved as changes were made to the functional design of the
product.

You may want to talk to sales about just what they need, as well.
Though giving customers a clear definition of the features and
functions is important, this is different from a technical sales
document, and very different from a functional specification (which
would normally contain highly proprietary information).

--
Bill Swallow

Twitter: @techcommdood
Blog: http://techcommdood.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/techcommdood

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Follow-Ups:

References:
Writing a product functional spec AFTER the product is built: From: Tara English-Sweeney

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