Re: Fwd: gaining control of a dysfunctional environment?

[Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>]

   You are doing nothing wrong.  The problem is not you, it's the company and
   unless you own the company, it's very hard (if not impossible) to change
   corporate philosophy.  The bigger the company, the harder it is to change
   things.
   I worked at a small company once that held the same "high" regard toward
   documentation and processes.  Everything was done on the fly.  The argument
   was by not conforming to a fixed process they could serve the customer
   faster and stay ahead of the competition.  I gave the company a good three
   years and developed some good manuals and marketing collateral, then woke up
   and decided that it was time to move on.  A short time after I left, the
   company folded.  Although my ego would like to take credit and it would have
   been nice to tell management "I told you so," the reality was this company
   operated like a lot of other companies did in the "dot com" era and was
   bound to fail because it couldn't get organized.
   My advice is to take a good hard look at the company and what needs to be
   done and the barriers you need to overcome to get it done.  Don't waste time
   with a company that won't listen because sooner or later you'll be looking
   for work anyway.  If you think you can change things, go for it.  Otherwise,
   get your resume out now and get this bad experience behind you.

   --

   Al Geist
   Technical Writing, Online Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design, Award
   Winning Videos, Professional Photography
   Voice/Msg: 802-658-3140

   Cell: 802-578-3964
   E-mail: [1]al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com 
   URL: [2]www.geistassociates.com (online portfolio/resume)

   See also:
   URL: [3]www.geistimages.com (fine art prints for home or office and note
   cards for all occasions)
   "When the situation is absolutely hopeless, you have nothing to worry
   about."
                            Compliments of The Monkey Wrench Gang

References

   1. mailto:al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
   2. http://www.geistassociates.com/
   3. http://www.geistimages.com/
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