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Subject:RE: Round #4263 with the Client From Hell From:Andrew Plato <intrepid_es -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sun, 6 Jan 2002 12:15:10 -0800 (PST)
--- David Knopf <david -at- knopf -dot- com> wrote:
> I am curious to understand just how this would work. Please explain
> which of Elna's 7 steps should she omit in order to adapt the process to
> meet the client's work patterns. Should she skip the outline? Not create
> a schedule? Avoid writing a first draft and instead proceed directly to
> the second? Not ask the client to review the interim drafts?
>
> Elna's 7 steps are not some weird, wacked-out, zany, process-crazy
> nonsense. They are the generally accepted steps in creating a quality
> documntation or user assistance product.
Oh, I totally agree. I even said that in a different post. The steps seem
totally normal. But just because you have steps doesn't mean the client
will follow them.
There is no need to omit any steps. But when the client starts changing
the landscape, you have to be prepared to respond to that. That may
include scrapping those steps and adopting new ones or highly modified
ones, or having no process whatsoever, or establishing a process as you
go. The point is, you read the client and adapt to them vs. trying to
adapt the client to your process.
Andrew Plato
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