ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a method for providing a reasonable estimate for the cost of a document. This method demonstrates how to estimate the cost of a single document. It is based on identifying the smallest units possible within a document and estimating the time required for each. This method is based on information gathered from several colleagues in the technical writing field as well as from a workshop presented by Norman W. Hempling at the 1985 International Technical Communication Conference. The method is flexible and allows the user to apply his or her experience in considering how the participants (writers, engineers, editors) and the complexity of a project will affect the cost. However, it does not account for problems of multiple revisions caused by inadequate planning in the technical project or in the documentation project.
