| 8 Steps to Successfully Managing your Documentation Projects |
| Step 3: Build Your Team (continued) |
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| Finding Your Sources |
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| Once you know what specific knowledge you want to convey, you'll need to identify the experts in your organization who can share that knowledge with your writers. The most successful & efficient documentation development projects are based on a cohesive team of willing subject matter experts (SMEs) and competent technical communicators. |
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| Start by asking these questions: |
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Do you have existing documents the writers can draw from? Do you simply want those documents updated or supplemented? |
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Which individuals at your company would be a good source of information for certain subjects? What is their level of availability? |
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What's your procedure for scheduling times to discuss the materials? |
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Do you anticipate needing any face-to-face planning, development, or review meetings? Where will the meetings be held? |
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Will your writers have access to the products or processes they're writing about?
Will they be able to use them or see them demonstrated? |
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| Facilitating Communication Between Technical Writers & SMEs |
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| You or someone on your team should be assigned to coordinate communication between the technical writers & your company’s SMEs. |
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| The information that writers need often comes from various department heads, who may be very busy and difficult to schedule time with. You'll want your SMEs to be invested in the project and readily available to ensure that writers' questions are getting answered on a timely basis. |
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