DSS Services for Developers
Documentation of Products, including Related Processes, System Overviews & Maintenance Procedures
Despite the challenges associated with producing it, wise developers find a way to create essential documentation before, during, and after a project.
Many developers fail to prioritize the time to document the products they have developed.
Many do so because they are not fully aware of the long-term value of documenting the products they've developed. Others simply don't have the available staff and/or expertise to do the documentation job justice.
The wise ones, however, understand the value of system documentation to both the client and themselves. And despite the challenges associated with producing it, they find a way to create essential documentation before, during and after the development project.
Many do so because they are not fully aware of the long-term value of documenting the products they've developed. Others simply don't have the available staff and/or expertise to do the documentation job justice.
The wise ones, however, understand the value of system documentation to both the client and themselves. And despite the challenges associated with producing it, they find a way to create essential documentation before, during and after the development project.
Why Don't Developers Document?
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Let's face it — just about everyone hates to document. It is generally painstaking, time-consuming, bloody-boring work! Fortunately, there are a few of us on the planet who find it rewarding to do, and I happen to be one of those unusual people. I do the stuff my clients hate to do, and I do it to the very best of my ability. |
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Besides hating even the thought of it, what are the other reasons developers fail to do their due diligence when it comes to documentation?
All of these reasons are understandable. But the fact remains that supporting documentation is critical to ensuring the development of a top-quality product — and to cost-effectively supporting and/or enhancing that product in the future. And both of those results translate into happy, long-term clients.
As a developer, you know these facts. So it's important to remind yourself of what the payback is on investing in documentation, no matter what...
- To keep project prices down so they're competitive
- To minimize project costs that can't be passed on to the client
- To keep the product delivery date on schedule
- To avoid pulling overextended personnel off of other projects
- To compensate for budget overages in other aspects of the project.
All of these reasons are understandable. But the fact remains that supporting documentation is critical to ensuring the development of a top-quality product — and to cost-effectively supporting and/or enhancing that product in the future. And both of those results translate into happy, long-term clients.
As a developer, you know these facts. So it's important to remind yourself of what the payback is on investing in documentation, no matter what...
The Payback on Investing in Documentation
What's the payback to the developer on investing in documentation?
It's important to keep these benefits in mind in order to put the cost of documentation into perspective.
What's the payback to the developer on investing in documentation?
- Clearer requirements communication among staff
- A higher-quality product
- Less expensive cross-training of development and support personnel
- Faster, less-expensive debugging
- Higher-quality client support
- Easier, faster product enhancements in the future
- A demonstration of your professionalism to your client.
It's important to keep these benefits in mind in order to put the cost of documentation into perspective.
Let Me Help!
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Take the documentation burden off your team, and assign it to DSS. I have decades of experience in creating technical documentation and am highly-skilled at producing it time-efficiently and cost-effectively. If your development company is experiencing backlogs in the documentation of products you're developing, DSS is available to help you catch up and/or stay ahead of this essential effort in the future. |
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For maximum efficiency in communicating the most information in the least amount of time, my documentation methods rely heavily on flowcharts, diagrams, and other technical and process-focused documentation.
I communicate this critical information in a straight-forward manner that developers quickly grasp — even those whose native language is not English.
So don't let unfinished documentation tasks snowball out of control. Contact me today to explain how I can assist you in staying on top of documentation that's essential to quality products and excellent long-term support.
See examples below of documentation I have created for other clients.
I communicate this critical information in a straight-forward manner that developers quickly grasp — even those whose native language is not English.
So don't let unfinished documentation tasks snowball out of control. Contact me today to explain how I can assist you in staying on top of documentation that's essential to quality products and excellent long-term support.
See examples below of documentation I have created for other clients.
Clarification of Requirements Monitoring of Changes Quality Assurance Services
A Sample Flowchart Documenting
the User Registration Process
on a Complex, Database-Driven Website
A Sample Flowchart Documenting
a Client's Internal Process
Relative to its Custom-Developed Database
A Sample Flowchart Documenting
User Navigation on a Database-Driven Website
