Re: A Long Time Ago

Subject: Re: A Long Time Ago
From: Richard Lewis <tech44writer -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: John Posada <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com>, Jay Maechtlen <techwriter -at- covad -dot- net>, vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net, TechWrl list <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:18:30 -0700 (PDT)

You are right in saying that documenting the entire As-Is often takes too long. The important thing is to document the essential As-Is. This core essential functionality is generally unchanging. Businesses generally do not change their essential (i.e, technology independent) functionality.

Generic Richard

John Posada <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:
> The importance of the As-Is used to be widely recognized. Now, most
> seem unaware of As-Is documentation. Indeed, look at the current tool
> popular tool for functional modely - Use Cases. As they are typically, employed,
> the analyst forgets about the As-Is and jumps right into the To-Be. And everyone
> sits around and says Gee Wizzz, I just don't get we can not get away from so much hacking.

Not my experience, both from the standpoint of Use Cases and System Descriptions. The problem with As Is documentation is it must be maintained and it is more maintenance labor intensive than any other type of document. Everytime a change is implement, the As Is stuff must be updated.. Otherwise, As is becomes As it Used to Be.

At a gig not too long ago, I was brought in to document the As Is. 18 months later, I left them with over 5,000 pages/11 binders....right down to the server and what was on the server, over 67 processes for order fulfillment (it was the secoind largest online book retailer), and database, right down to the server-to-server replication process (over 100 database servers). That was about four years ago. I couldn't even begin to estimate how much of it still resembles the As Is...my guess is less than 10%.

John Posada
Senior Technical Writer

"They say everyone needs goals. Mine is to live forever.
So far, so good."



---------------------------------
Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -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%40web.techwr-l.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/ for more resources and info.


References:
Re: A Long Time Ago: From: John Posada

Previous by Author: Re: A Long Time Ago
Next by Author: Re: A Long Time Ago
Previous by Thread: Re: A Long Time Ago
Next by Thread: Re: A Long Time Ago


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads