Expert: Dan Smith - 4/11/2005

Question
I am collecting advice and reference information on how others have handled or might handle situations similar to my own. I am the first tech writer at a 30-person specialty software company. They have nothing organized, no standards, and barely know what they want or need. If you were hired today to "get things organized" for such a company, where would you start? Who would you talk to? What suggestions would you make to that company?

Answer
I would start by establishing internal procedures for creating documentation for both internal processes and software that they sell. Until you establish such procedures, not much is going to get done.

That would include standards for deciding when to begin documentation of a software set.

I'd also work on templates for software documentation with a view to creating a standard design for all the company's products.