Documentation and the fun it poses

You know those time when you create a document; the document assumes nothing but a basic understanding of the program you use every single day. Basic stuff, I mean things you have to know just to log in and function within the program. You use the thing EVERY DAY, not just once a month or twice a year. I mean every day. So anyways you create this document that is step by step, I mean it almost tells you exactly where and how to click. Gives pictures for every step for those of us that are visual learners. I mean detailed pictures like the tab you're on with a circle around it in red, then arrows for the other 2 items, one on top of the other, that you are editing (by the way the description in the fields themselves is detailed as well). Not just a random picture of the application or something.

Well I created a document of this type, as I do many many times a month; and what happens you ask. Well even if you didn't ask your going to read, They don't understand it. I use they not in a derogatory fashion but to describe a specific subset of a specific group of people. I love the people as people and some have no problem what so ever with anything we give to them in a document. It has to be a cultural thing here, the way they are taught through school. There is in what I can only assume to be the majority a lack of concrete sequential thinking. I myself am a self proclaimed scatter thought, and if you read much of what i post you can likely tell by the way I write here. Now when I write documents my entire thought process shifts to a concrete sequential one, because that's what documentation requires detailed step by step instructions. I've often been accused of making them to details and told not to assume the reader knows nothing. But from what I deal with every (I mean every) day I cant do that. every time I do I get at least one person asking basic stuff.

Back to the good ones, our team never keeps them. Yes we have one or two on the team at most times but in a matter of a year, two if were lucky then they leave, majority of them to other companies and bigger better things. You almost know from the first month who these ones are going to be because they ask questions once maybe twice then you see the results. Drives me nuts! Sometimes you sit and wonder why,how do we stop it, then you realize you can't. It is impossible and you cant blame the people who leave for leaving, half the time your proud of them and congratulate them for getting out. Secretly wishing you were going with them. Since you don't you prepare for the transition period which while tey claim is 2 weeks long you know its more likely for the next 2 years.....

The fun of Life  :-)

Charging on
Josh

Culture

Well as I've mentioned before I was almost outsourced. By almost I mean that we were. I got the letter saying our jobs have been made redundant. Actually it said that they have found duplicate resources. Then 2nd quarter when we were suposed to be laid off they relized that they needed onsight personel for our job and that it couldn't be transitioned 100% offshore. So 4 of us kept our jobs. Thankfully most of the employees already left for other positions but there were a couple that were still laid off. Anyway a story for another day. Culture was the title and thats what Im going to talk about tonight.

We were picked up by an Indian company. Obviously not American Indian. Everyone I have meet has been very nice and we have very few issues. We all notice the culture changes. The head moving side to side almost like no (this means yes), the "do the needfull"'s, the fact that 90% of them out vegitarians, and the most anoying thing of all.........The lack of the same since of time.

I have tried very hard to adapt to the differences. The fact that they seam to refuse to read a document because if they have to look at it someone might think you don't know what to do and think your dumb. Even though some how it is ok to ask the same question 40 times knowing that there is a document that says exactly what I'm going to tell you because I made the document...

Anyway back to culture, It is almost like looking into the past of America. Back when we all lived with our families, I mean generations. Grandma, mom & Dad, Wife and Son... Wait when was that? Never? It just different... Not that it weired or anythign just different. Seams odd from this angle I guess. There are a lot of neat things, the Saree's are cool neat way to dress.. the fact that family is the most important thing to all fo them is awsome.. So is mine. The fact that there are 3 million of them fresh out of college all eager to work for little to no money unable to do anything else because there government is so currupt it makes ours look like a saint.

Ok Im done.. way to finish right......