Writing Corrective Actions for customers?

[Ned Bedinger]

Gene Kim-Eng wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ned Bedinger" <doc at edwordsmith.com>
>  > What began as an insufficiently-specified writing 
>> task was treated as a design task (because it was not well specified), 
>> which some respondents developed into secretarial work and on into a 
>> tech writing task, primarily IMHO because it was sent to this list, but 
>> also because it needed more information ("research") and some writing, 
>> which was identified more or less as our process.
> 
> Produce a document ("letter") that relates technical information
> to a customer and satisfies certain specific company and customer
> requirements...sounded exactly like "our process" to me.

Th subject matter and the nature of the communication are enough to make 
some mules kick in their stalls. The "letter" might be that way for 
some, but I don't think anyone here ever said it was.

> 
>> I've studied law, and I've worked in tech writing for nearly twenty 
>> years, and if my understanding of the task was as thin and uncertain as 
>> Deborah's, I could end up looking like I sacrificed the client's 
>> interests to forward my own ambition. I hate it when I look like that, 
>> it is just so bad for business.
>>
>> I wonder if *anyone* refrained from designing a solution because they 
>> didn't have enough info?  No?  I thought not.  We are good designers.
> 
> With due modesty, I would say yes, "someone" did.  Deborah
> said "I've been asked to write a letter" 

see above

> and then asked what
> others suggested to satisfy a short list of goals.  Some of us 


Right.  There's no warranty expressed or implied.  All standard 
disclaimers apply. We don't give legal advice or represent any 
discussion as such.

> just answered her question as best we could, with the 
> presumption that she would take all our suggestions (not
> solutions), sit down with her client and together devise a 
> plan that suited their needs.

Right.  We discuss it socially, not as a professional consultation.

> 
> If I ever thought for one moment that anyone in this forum
> would take one of my suggestions and blindly implement it
> as a one-size-fits-all "solution," I'd be loathe to express
> my opinion on anything.  Remember that, and the next time 
> you want to shut me up just tell me you're waiting with baited
> breath to go back to the office and do whatever I suggest.

I was afraid you were going to say "..want to shut me up, just go back 
and read the original post carefully." In fact, I'm just about finished 
reading it now.



--Ned "muleskinner"