Re: TW on the development team

["Caplan, Michael" <mcaplan -at- NDC -dot- CO -dot- IL>]

     Susan,

     I appreciate and understand your concern. However, to participate in a
     project and not be included in the development team can (and does)
     lead to gaps in information, decisions being made without informing
     the writer, important meetings being held without inviting the TW,
     etc.

     I had a very positive experience where, not only was I a part of the
     development/design team, but I gained valuable managerial experience
     as I was included in most of the Project Management meetings for the
     project. I handled the conference calls when the Project Leader was
     away. I fielded and directed questions from the customer on both
     technical and managerial matters, etc. When something was missed
     during a conference or spec., I had enough well-rounded knowledge of
     the big picture of the Project to be able to assist and correct and
     add to all facets of the project.

     When changes needed to be made to a document, it was MY call. A
     document that I had written was never re-released without my approval.

     In short, I agree with both Bonnie and John. Development Teams, where
     the writer is an integral part of the team as a whole, and is the
     documentation expert for the project, solves most (if not all) of your
     concerns.

     Good luck, and better luck next time in becoming a real member of a
     Project Development Team.

     -Michael Caplan
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Michael B. Caplan
Documentation Group
News Datacom Research
Jerusalem, Israel
mcaplan -at- ndc -dot- co -dot- il
(2) 869-712 (P)
(2) 869-718 (F)
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