TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Chet's Comments on Document Database From:John Fisher <fisher -at- EPIC -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 30 Jan 1997 13:36:55 -0800
Ray Fernandez wrote:
<snip>
> ... Instead of
> asking about information management, they (the powers that be) ask about
> tools (i.e., what word processor or page layout program to use). Is this
> a common problem in corporate America?
>
> Ray
Ray,
IMHO, this is a common problem period, not just in corporate America.
It seems to me that we (myself very much included) all too often tend
to jump to a solution before we've really defined the problem. The example
you give ("...what word processor or page layout program to use...") seems
to do just that. Often the problem is stated with a partial solution included
in the definition.
For instance, asking, "What authoring tool should we use?" makes the assumption
that the problem is choosing an authoring tool, when it might well be, "In what
form do we deliver information to the end user?"
John Fisher
"But enough about me. Let's talk about you. What do *you* think of me?"
Bette Midler
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
