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Subject:Re: Problems that documentation managers face From:aklemmer -at- factset -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 17 Oct 2002 15:35:36 -0400
In descending order of importance:
1) "Problem" employees within my own dept. - individuals who either don't
play well with their co-workers/manager and whine & complain constantly, or
individuals who just don't get enough work done. This is far and away the
biggest problem I face as a manager.
2) Lack of engineering resources for much-needed development on our online
help and client communications systems.
3) Recalcitrant SME's (they don't want to cooperate; or, they do want to
help but are so overwhelmed with other demands that they become a
bottleneck in the project & can't or won't admit that they need help.)
4) Engineers/salespeople/SME's who do not respect our need for a workflow.
This can take two forms:
(a) Every project is a "gotta have it yesterday" last-minute deal
(certainly doable, but not ideal & over time it kills morale & efficiency)
(b) Persons of influence who *never* offer feedback on any sort of schedule
(i.e., at ANY of the designated points in the development process), and
mysteriously fail to respond to emails asking them for said feedback; yet
always have something negative to say once the project is complete and
rolled out. I realize this is par for the course, but it irks me.
My department has largely overcome (3) and (4), thanks to a lot of hard
work and the passage of time. (1) usually means a personality conflict
that will result in someone's termination of employment.
Abby Klemmer
Director of Instructional Communications
FactSet Research Systems
Jack Molisani wrote:
<<I'd like to compile a list of the most frequent or biggest problems that
documentation managers have to deal with in their day to day jobs.
If you are a documentation manager or team leader, can you please email me
off-list at jackm -at- propspring -dot- net with a list of the most frequent or
biggest problems you face?>>
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