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Subject:Re: Documentation section in business plan From:Connie Giordano <CPGLJG -at- AOL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 10 Mar 1999 05:42:52 EST
Debra,
My company is also about 20 years old, but has produced business plans every
year, and kudos to the founders, documentation is always included.
Our structure is as follows:
1.Department mission and general responsibilities: we produce technical
communications for the following product lines in these type of formats (fill
in the blanks)
2.Goals for the year
3. Resources: staff and job titles (I included job descriptions, so that
everyone understood the differences between technical writers and
documentation specialists); tools (Office, Robohelp, etc.); and a formula for
estimating resource allocation by quarter (X people with XXX hours available)
4. Assumptions and Constraints (ex.: if the published R&D timeline slips so
will documentation timeline)
5. Quarterly Project List with estimated resource allocation.
Amazing though it may sound, we actually meet quarterly and report on
accomplishments, failures and recommended changes to the business plan. All
employees have input into the plan, and all have access to it once senior
management approves it. Bonuses are often awarded on meeting or surpassing
plan objectives, and everyone I work with feels some ownership. We have
direction with flexibility. A minor miracle for a software development house
(in my experience.)
Hope this helps!
Connie Giordano, Documentation Manager
FiTECH Systems
