Shoddy Publications

[Carma C Allen <ccallen -at- CCGATE -dot- DP -dot- BECKMAN -dot- COM>]

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Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN
Content-transfer-encoding: QUOTED-PRINTABLE

On the subject of shoddy printing/paper, I agree completely with both=
 Marilyn=20
and Hal about the manual reflecting on the quality of the company's p=
roducts.=20
However, it's not always easy to convince management (the people that=
 control=20
the budget) that this is the case. They are usually willing to pay fo=
r top=20
quality in advertising materials, but don't consider the user documen=
tation to=20
be all that important. So I disagree with Hal's p.s.:


>P.S. When you read of experiences like this, don't you feel betrayed=
 by
one of your comrads (it's different than an engineer screwing up; we =
know
how to do it right)?

because the person (or group) producing the manual were probably as m=
ortified=20
at the quality as you were outraged. (No, we haven't had to resort to=
 anything=20
quite that bad, but with continual budget cuts, who knows?)

    Anyway, the only way to combat the slipping of end user documenta=
tion=20
quality is to complain loud and long to the company. Don't just refus=
e to buy=20
their products because the manuals are inferior=C4TELL THEM that's wh=
y you are no=20
longer spending your money with them. Most companies these days respo=
nd to=20
NOTHING but loss of profits, so the only way to ensure good manuals i=
s to make=20
the bean counters aware that it's costing the company money.

    Okay, I'll step down from my soap box now.

    Carma
    These opionions do not reflect my company in any way=C4=C4in fact=
, my company=20
is unaware that I even have opinions.



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