Best Practices Group at Persistent Systems

Everyone likes to be better at whatever they do; and I am no exception. Joining the Best Practices group atPersistent - Nagpur was a step in this direction.

This group has a mandate to create a platform for sharing ideas and practical experiences about the best processes, tools or techniques that can have a positive impact in the project execution, project delivery, efficiency, quality or customer satisfaction.  

After initial planning meetings in November 2013, the group started picking up a specific topic each month and creating awareness about the best practices in it, via email flyers and knowledge sharing sessions. Here are a few snapshots....
Requirements Detailing session (December 2013)
  

Estimation techniques session (January 2014)
  

Function Points Analysis session (February 2014)
  

Software Design session (March 2014)
    


Skeptics may ask how this helps me as a technical writer... Here's how:

• For one thing, it gives me an opportunity to interact with people beyond my immediate project team; that is, in a subjective way, it increases my social network.
• In an objective way, it gives me a chance to learn the technical jargon. As tech writers, it is imperative that we not only advocate the end-user views, but also be able to interact with the SMEs in their own language.
• Lastly, more close to my trade, it gives me an outlet to go a bit creative in the form of email flyers and other media.

Here are a few samples... 

  

So, if becoming better is one of your goals for this year, then participating in the Best Practices events would definitely be a step in the right direction.