Presented by Heidi Sandler at Documentation and Training West, May 6-9, 2008 in Vancouver, BC This presentation will follow along the hilly path as Siemens Building Technologies’ Integration Department took Single Sourcing documentation from concept to pilot project. I will use the “building a house” theme to explore the steps with a mixture of tasks, lessons learned, wins, and losses along the way. I will also discuss ways in which expanding and maintaining the single sourcing system, as well as using it every day as a department standard, is just as challenging as maintaining or expanding a home. A new home means a new routine, a new route to work, and a new grocery store. Our daily use of XML as our main writing tool also means new processes, procedures, and resources. A new home may also mean new neighbors, roommates, maybe even out-of-town guests. A writing team made up of six members, all with varying backgrounds and areas of expertise requires the same negotiations and discussions as living with people with different needs and schedules. And training another department - a new project scope altogether - can be a bit like accommodating guests who may not have the same appetites, sleep schedules, and interests. Find out how the Integration writing team faces these challenges every day, with every documentation set.

1. s
Living in the Single
Sourcing House
The Writer’s Point of View
by
Heidi Sandler
Senior Technical Writer
Integration Department
Siemens Building Technologies
Siemens Building Technologies