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We need more documented lullaby words...

perspectives
[textile] I was in a meeting once where someone said, "We need a documented process for ...". It doesn't matter what process they wanted documented, what's important is that I think I picked up on another lullaby word. If you're not familiar with lullaby language, Weinberg talks about it here, but I originally read about it in one of his many books (I've read so many I truly have a hard time remembering which lessons came from which). I don't know why I happened to pick up on it during this meeting, but right after it was said I caught myself thinking:
Why use the word "documented" when we talk about process? We don't need a documented process, we need a process! I don't care if the process is documented and we still don't follow it. I just care about a process that works. I guess the underlying assumption here is that documenting the process makes it more likely to happen?
I'm sure documenting the process is a good thing. I just found it funny that we were talking about documenting it before we even knew what it was... [/textile]

I feel like I was in that meeting

Wow, I feel like I was in that meeting. Fresh memories. Not necessarily pleasant memories, just fresh. ;-)

Even if that is the underlying assumption, it still may not apply in what I believe is your context. If documented, even if a process does not work, it can still be used defensively. Because then it's "The Process". I'm sure you've seen this happen there.

Yeah, it is funny, "documented process" is such a buzz word... Leads to talking about documenting before even having a process... And it is a lullaby, yeah. "We need a documented process for..." sounds like it'll make it all better -- whatever it is -- and they'll all live happily ever after The End.

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