Re: More on drafts --

["Martin Page" <mpage -at- csl -dot- co -dot- uk>]

I'm not sure the ethics matter here. Andrew's right in so far as bosses have
control of both carrot and stick and can do, market and legislation
permitting, as they wish.

However, doing spot-checks on rough drafts doesn't seem to be a very
effective use of management time. Nor can it be good practice to antagonise
employees and hamper their thought processes by interferring in such an
unusual way.... (well, I hope it's unusual, at any rate!)

Does the boss also randomly lean over the shoulder of developers and hit
COMPILE then complain when code-in progress generates errors?

Such micro (mis)management bodes ill for the future.

IMHO, the original poster would probably do well to adopt one of the
structured approaches outlined by other posters so that they always have
something for the boss to relate to. Or simply polish each section before
moving to the next.

However, surely the best strategy would be to run away as fast as possible
and find a new position in a less barking environment.

To hark back to an early point, what's most useful about this thread is that
it highlights the way non-technical writers see a draft as a failed attempt
to produce the finished product. Dealing with (ie educating or sidestepping)
such perceptions has to be part of our professional skillset.

Sheesh - they're using live ammo out there!
M




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