Re: Personal Quality Standards

[Janet Valade <jvalade -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM>]

I can't find the original post in this thread, so I'm not sure I'm
remembering right.  But it seems to me that the person who posted the
question was originally asked to give an estimate for updating a
manual.  It sounds to me like she did that.  And she still believes she
can update the manual for the price quoted.

Then, when she read the manual, she thought she could improve its
quality with additional work.  However, this was not part of the
original bid because it was not originally requested by the client.  I
see no reason for her to throw this work in for free.  It was not
requested and was not in the bid.  If she wants to make a separate bid
for this "other" job, it is a totally different question.

Also, it is entirely possible, if you have not discussed the manual
quality with the client, that the client has exactly the manual he
wants.  He may have reasons, whether you agree with them or not, for
every element of the style, contents, etc. of the manual.  He may be
outraged if you change any of it.  You may then have to spend more time
putting it back the way it was.  I certainly wouldn't rewrite the
manual without discussing the changes with the client.

Janet Valade
jvalade -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com