Night of the Living Document
If it’s not fed regularly, it’s a Zombie
The Myth
The project has ended, lessons learned collected, and documentation turned over to operations. All is good in the land of Nod.
Soon the project deliverables, like an orchard passing the seasons, changes. A UI nip-tuck here, an update to import files there, and soon the product has drifted from its origin, leaving those who perform upgrades or repairs with countless hours of reverse engineering sorting fact from fiction in the documentation.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. These were living documents designed to be continually updated and kept in sync with reality — as living documents. But as with all things living, they must be fed and cared for.
Fear of the Final
There are other documents converted to living documents besides project artifacts, often without good cause. These are the draft versions of service level agreements, procedure guides, and anything where there is a larger commitment of resources once the document is stamped final.
