Best and Worst Instruction Manuals...?

Question

We've all, at one time, had to put together or install a product by using an instruction manual. I'm conducting a poll as research for my company. We create industrial control panels and installation guides. The person who drafts and writes the copy for our instruction manuals is a wonderful draftsman but his writing skills are well...less than perfect. When reading instruction manuals and installation guides...what do you (as the public and to those that are professional technical writers) find is the best and worst aspects of an "easy, user-friendly" instruction manual? What suggestions would you give in order to produce the best user manual possible (e.g. grammar, spacing, bullets, etc.)? Any suggestions are welcome and please state if you are a member of the general public or a professional technical writer. Thank you!

Answer 1

OK I get the problem.

Let's talk about how to solve the real problem. The draftsmen.

Do you pay him extra for doing these? If the answer is yes then you just got a little poorer and in a cost cutting move that work will no longer be part of his job description. You will now only pay for consultation and the technical writer will have to do all the writing. The accountant and other owners are putting their foot down and there will be no exceptions.

Look you really know what has to happen here and you can dodge the real solution forever.

Either you have to simply show him who's boss or continue on with the arrangement as it is now and risk losing clients over this. I'd have a meeting with him and several other people in a show of solidarity that this is intolerable and it needs to be changed now, rather then later. He will be less apt to be confrontational in front of a group.

It doubtful that you can 'show' him anything. He prob feels like he irreplaceable and you will do nothing.

Here's my thinking on that.

If we can replace the President of the US every 4 years no one is 'irreplaceable'.

My magazine did a nice article you might like to read.

http://nbizmag.com/magarticles/difficult...

Answer 2

Anything from IKEA!!! They are awful!!!! =S