It is often the small things in life that cause the most problems. There was the IBM mainframe that wouldn't work - for lack of a new 10 pence fuse; the spacecraft that failed because of a faulty 35 cent rubber ring; the kingdom lost for want of a horse-shoe nail.

Documentation can be that weak link waiting to ensnare you. In your literature generally, have you always said what you meant? Did you mean what you said? Who checked up on you? Who proof-read your words? Did you mean "waterproof" or "water resistant"? What does the translation into French really say?

A very large and succesful Japanese company made (amongst so many other things) a micro-wave oven. They used their Plymouth manufacturing plant. As part of their Point-of-Sale material, they gave away a very good, well-produced 'Micro-wave Cookery Book'. Unfortunately a key sentence in the book actually read -

The mistake wasn't noticed until several thousand copies had been issued.

We bring a fresh eye and a rigorous attention to detail to bear on documentation. We ask every possible question about every piece of paper within an organisation - from invoices to Sales brochures, from CE Compliances to user manuals. Every document carries with it more than just information!

Every reader is affected to some extent by such factors as layout, punctuation, font size, spelling, grammar and touch. Something printed on cheap paper will always be perceived as having less importance than the message on good quality paper.

The saying that it is sometimes 'not possible to see the wood for the trees' certainly applies. The outsider's view, our view, is not encumbered with the company history, politics or habit. We see documentation for what it is - an important business tool. It must be right from the beginning, whatever your budget.