"This is how we do it. Just follow what's there". "This is the way its done here. You will not be able to convince everybody to change anything, so just do it." "We do not have the time to change, lets do it the same way its done. We can change it later". Sounds familiar?
Often times, at work or in the kitchen, there is always a true and tried recipe to do something. When we follow the recipe, we can always emerge flawlessly successful, on time. And yes everyone will appreciate it. Consider pancakes. Mix in one egg, half cup milk and 1 cup of bisquick. Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top. Done. Your kids love it on a Sunday morning. Its true and tried. No changes required. Right? Wrong.
The kids are used to the chocolate chip pancake you make. It is easy and convenient for you to make. You are used to making it that way. And they are used to eating it that way. They are not familiar with any other option. So until the law of diminishing marginal utility sets it, you are good to go.
Sometimes, doing the same thing over and over again can cause a mental fatigue. You have this intense urge to change something. You don't know if its going to be for better or worse. You won't know until you try. So yes, I did it in the kitchen this morning. Sunday morning pancake with a little twist. A mix of cinnamon, cardamom and brown sugar. And yes, the kids loved it. (Though I didn't). Now they know a different flavor. And are willing to try new mode of pan cake presentation.
Now, lets think about the documentation. We sometimes tend to follow what was true and tried 10 years ago or even five years ago. But in the world of technology, is everything the same? Are we accessing data in the same speed as we did five years ago? We need instant gratification with instagram. So do we have room to try out different methods of presenting information? We need the following:
- Accuracy - Egg
- Simplicity - Milk
- Accessibility - Flour
How we present it, what we add to accentuate the flavor is within us. Our customers would not know what is possible and available until we provide it to them.
Someone suggested calling 'documentation' as 'product information'. How very apt! When we look at the product from 'documentation' perspective we are removed from the product and approach is as an outsider. Instead, when we consider ourselves as product information folks, we may look at the product in a different perspective. And that perspective might change what we write, and how write or even how we present the information.
Everything needs a triggering point, The change. The willingness to think beyond deadlines.
Often times, at work or in the kitchen, there is always a true and tried recipe to do something. When we follow the recipe, we can always emerge flawlessly successful, on time. And yes everyone will appreciate it. Consider pancakes. Mix in one egg, half cup milk and 1 cup of bisquick. Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top. Done. Your kids love it on a Sunday morning. Its true and tried. No changes required. Right? Wrong.
The kids are used to the chocolate chip pancake you make. It is easy and convenient for you to make. You are used to making it that way. And they are used to eating it that way. They are not familiar with any other option. So until the law of diminishing marginal utility sets it, you are good to go.
Sometimes, doing the same thing over and over again can cause a mental fatigue. You have this intense urge to change something. You don't know if its going to be for better or worse. You won't know until you try. So yes, I did it in the kitchen this morning. Sunday morning pancake with a little twist. A mix of cinnamon, cardamom and brown sugar. And yes, the kids loved it. (Though I didn't). Now they know a different flavor. And are willing to try new mode of pan cake presentation.
Now, lets think about the documentation. We sometimes tend to follow what was true and tried 10 years ago or even five years ago. But in the world of technology, is everything the same? Are we accessing data in the same speed as we did five years ago? We need instant gratification with instagram. So do we have room to try out different methods of presenting information? We need the following:
- Accuracy - Egg
- Simplicity - Milk
- Accessibility - Flour
How we present it, what we add to accentuate the flavor is within us. Our customers would not know what is possible and available until we provide it to them.
Someone suggested calling 'documentation' as 'product information'. How very apt! When we look at the product from 'documentation' perspective we are removed from the product and approach is as an outsider. Instead, when we consider ourselves as product information folks, we may look at the product in a different perspective. And that perspective might change what we write, and how write or even how we present the information.
Everything needs a triggering point, The change. The willingness to think beyond deadlines.
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