Tech Writing Manager? So What?

One of the 'tech writing managers' wrote on the TWIN list about this 'exclusive' Google Group he'd created for 'tech writing' managers. Here's what I wrote in response:

One of my very good friends runs a small software product company in Chennai. When I walked into his new office for the first time, I was stunned: plush interiors, air-conditioning, and a 'CEO' cabin! I was impressed.

I visited him again after a few months and noticed that he was sitting 'with' the team. The cabin was empty and I found a huge couch in the place of the Teak wood table.
The girl next to him was watching a movie. The guy next to him was chatting on G Talk. And our CEO stood up and ushered me into the 'cabin'. I asked him 'you don't sit here any more?' He smiled and said, 'I realized that if I sat 'with' them they'd feel I am 'one of them' and that's key to the success of an R&D environment.' I couldn't agree more.

I asked him, 'What's with that couch?' My friend's smile stretched till his ears as he said, 'When one of us are tired or spaced out, you know? We go and take a nap in that former CEO cabin.'

Bravo! I am sure you'll hear about him and his company very soon. There's no way this company can NOT succeed! Anyway...

I am just curious:

How are management issues different in technical writing? Management is management, right? You hire and manage people. You supervise project execution. Um, oh! you motivate people. You take the team to the next level. whatever that means? What else? Every manager, be it managing a snack bar in Domlur or a NASA lab, does that.

Don't you think you are flouting a key management principle by announcing your exclusivity to the green (and not so green?) world? I meant 'Work with them not 'on or away from them'

I could be wrong in assuming a whole bunch of things. Don't get me wrong! However, I'd appreciate a few responses: from ladies, gentlemen, and managers of the TWIN list. :-D

Come now, sense of humor is required for a manager. Especially tech writing managers.

Your thoughts?

Write to me: Sumank[at]gmail[dot]com

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Use it before you write it.

From the Nikkor ED 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR Review (emphasis is mine):
[quote]Here's the warning in the manual: "When the camera is pointed down, be careful not to hold the lens at the very end as indicated by the black marks in Fig. F, because the zoom ring or focus ring may rotate and pinch your fingers."

Huh? The camera doesn't have to be pointed down for this to happen, so I don't know what Nikon's crack manual writers were on when they wrote that. Worse still, your fingers will often be in that position because this is a heavy lens and you're likely to be trying to balance it by holding it near the front. The first time the camera racks focus on the lens from near focus to infinity at 80mm and your fingers are in the way, you'll get a rude shock as you think your fingers are about to be crushed by the receding front elements (at longer focal lengths, the front elements are further out and pinching is not likely). Fortunately, there's a small ramp on the bezel that tends to push your fingers out of the way, but it's still possible to get seriously pinched, especially if you have fat fingers.[/quote]

OUCH! Very rarely they read what we write and we get caught. So an embarrassed me quickly glances around, ensures no one's watching, and gets off the bus.

Write to me: Sumank[at]gmail[dot]com

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