FW: Fostering Process-Change (Mercifully rescued from; Documentation Correctness was Re: How many levels ofindentsandheads are reasonable?)

[Butler, Darren J Ctr 584 CBSS/GBHAC]

Gene Kim-Eng wrote: Usually, though, it is preceded by someone way up on
the food chain observing your effectiveness and either holding you up as
an example that the rest of the company is expected to follow or
formally designating you as a lead resource in some executive-driven
process improvement initiative.  If you've ever gotten one of those
emails from your company's CEO that say "I know you will all provide....
with your full support in this effort," with its implied "or else"
message, that's the sort of thing that you'll need backing you up.

As cynical as that sounds, you're probably right.
I actually have the support of the bigger fish in this pond -- just not
in writing -- and if I had it I don't know if it would help or not.

I basically wanted to know if anyone in TW land has attempted to
initiate process-change from the "word monkey" seat and the extent of
their resulting injuries. 

So far I've flown into only minor turbulence, but I'm just getting
started.

Blessings,
Darren
****************************************
Darren J. Butler
Sr. Technical Writer-Editor, Template Wrangler, Mil-Spec Pharisee
Integrated Data for Maintenance
NG Corp

-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Kim-Eng [mailto:techwr at genek.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 2:19 PM
To: Butler, Darren J Ctr 584 CBSS/GBHAC; techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: Re: Documentation Correctness was Re: How many levels
ofindentsandheads are reasonable?

Well, I suppose there's always the exit interview...

Actually, it is sometimes possible for Technical 
Publications to help effect change in the development 
process.  Usually, though, it is preceded by someone way up 
on the food chain observing your effectiveness and either 
holding you up as an example that the rest of the company is 
expected to follow or formally designating you as a lead 
resource in some executive-driven process improvement 
initiative.  If you've ever gotten one of those emails from 
your company's CEO that say "I know you will all provide.... 
with your full support in this effort," with its implied "or 
else" message, that's the sort of thing that you'll need 
backing you up.

Gene Kim-Eng




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Butler, Darren J Ctr 584 CBSS/GBHAC"

Would it be fair to say that a company's TW department has 
some level of
responsibility in (at least attempting to) point out any 
short-comings
and errors of the developmental process? The TWs may be the 
only "canary
in the coal mine" to alert that things are going horrible 
wrong -- just
before we pass out.

 I guess it all depends on whether or not the documentation 
is parallel
to product development or an after - (w-a-a--y after) - 
thought.

 Have any of you successfully fostered process-change?