Document Review
1 Why?
Document Review is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal as IDT and HPT developers. It is also one of the most tedious and time consuming tools. Document review give us a starting point, a timeline, and proof of existing issues, needs, or barriers, a project or contract is facing. Documentation can give us a windows into the past of, or of current corporate cultures, as it is usually one of the most often used and kept forms of communication in most settings. If you want to know where a certain process, standard, regulation, idea, concept, or design came from, the answer will most likely start in review of documentation.
Going over documentation also give you a sense and feel for the customer and how they work from the inside. It is usually one of the first tools used as it allows for research and analysis without other parties, programs, or processes to be involved. It can tell the backstory, thought process (or lack of one), and direction the customer was and is trying to head to achieve their goals and plans. Document review is one of the most useful tools to prevent going into a situation blind or being hit out of the blue by a process or procedure you are unfamiliar with.
2 Concerns
While document Review is one of the earliest, biggest, and widely used tool in our arsenal as HPT and IPT professionals, it is not a perfect solution, nor the easiest. Document Review is a glimpse into the past but not necessarily the present. Most customers will have a “File and Forget” mentality when it comes to documentation. As such it most likely not be kept up-to-date or even a process that is in use any more. Don’t be surprised if you get a training manual they hand new employees with more than half the pages filled with outdated, not relevant, or even wrong information. Updating documents keeping them current is most likely not a priority for any company or client, as it is hard and time consuming to work out a Return on Investment in such matters. Even though you might be holding a signed and very official set of instructions in your hand, given to you by a manager when asked for current documentation on a process, never assume it is truly current or accurate without using other tools, and getting confirmation that such is the case. Always remember that communication more than training is one of the biggest issues in the current working environment, and documentation is a communication tool.
Document Review is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal as IDT and HPT developers. It is also one of the most tedious and time consuming tools. Document review give us a starting point, a timeline, and proof of existing issues, needs, or barriers, a project or contract is facing. Documentation can give us a windows into the past of, or of current corporate cultures, as it is usually one of the most often used and kept forms of communication in most settings. If you want to know where a certain process, standard, regulation, idea, concept, or design came from, the answer will most likely start in review of documentation.
Going over documentation also give you a sense and feel for the customer and how they work from the inside. It is usually one of the first tools used as it allows for research and analysis without other parties, programs, or processes to be involved. It can tell the backstory, thought process (or lack of one), and direction the customer was and is trying to head to achieve their goals and plans. Document review is one of the most useful tools to prevent going into a situation blind or being hit out of the blue by a process or procedure you are unfamiliar with.
2 Concerns
While document Review is one of the earliest, biggest, and widely used tool in our arsenal as HPT and IPT professionals, it is not a perfect solution, nor the easiest. Document Review is a glimpse into the past but not necessarily the present. Most customers will have a “File and Forget” mentality when it comes to documentation. As such it most likely not be kept up-to-date or even a process that is in use any more. Don’t be surprised if you get a training manual they hand new employees with more than half the pages filled with outdated, not relevant, or even wrong information. Updating documents keeping them current is most likely not a priority for any company or client, as it is hard and time consuming to work out a Return on Investment in such matters. Even though you might be holding a signed and very official set of instructions in your hand, given to you by a manager when asked for current documentation on a process, never assume it is truly current or accurate without using other tools, and getting confirmation that such is the case. Always remember that communication more than training is one of the biggest issues in the current working environment, and documentation is a communication tool.