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Subject:Difference between editor and manager From:David Dubin <David_Dubin -at- NOTES -dot- PW -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 5 Jan 1996 16:27:55 EST
Patty Ewy asks about the difference between an editor and manager's job roles.
"who mentors writers?"
Traditionally, senior writers and editors mentor writers. Managers cannot
(should not) mentor writers unless they thoroughly understand the documentation
process and have a good grasp of communications theory.
"is it critical that the manager knows a lot about the documentation process?"
I would have to say that it is not critical if the manager accepts the
information the writer(s) provide regarding the process and respects the
writer(s) opinion(s). However, if the manager believes in micromanagement, or
trusts no one that is not a programmer/developer/etc., than I must say yes, the
manager should know about the doc process.
"do people fulfill both roles simultaneously? what are the pros/cons of that?"
A manager can be an editor, and an editor can manage other editors and/or
writers, but a typical development manager cannot edit because of a lack of
knowledge and experience about the documentation process and too close of a
relationship with the project itself.
David Dubin -at- notes -dot- pw -dot- com
This has been one man's opinion, yours may vary with mileage.
