RE: Documentation estimates

["Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>]

In 25 years of technical writing and documentation management, measuring a
TW's output by number of pages has always been meaningless to me because of
the variables encountered:

1.  technical complexity of subject

2.  complexity of presentation (simple Word document or Framemaker
super-formatted collection or full-featured website -- or detailed
Powerpoint two-hour presentation with animation and sound effects and
accompanying handouts and white paper, etc.)

3.  writer's familiarity with subject

4.  availability of SMEs

5.  willingness and ability of SMEs to share their technical knowledge

6.  delays and refocus of writer's time for other projects

7.  Management's commitment to importance of project (directly affects 5 &
6)

YMMV

Dori Green
Technical Writer, QMS Project
Associated Brands, Inc.
Medina, NY Facility


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help 
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content 
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.