strategic planning made strategic

One of the most interesting tools out there to aid in the research process is Google Docs. I first used Google Docs when I was creating a strategic plan for my job; there were a number of people who needed to have access to the document. Google Docs allows you to be less of a document task-master and more of a strategic thinker, as you can conceptualize and visualize what the participants are suggesting all in one spot. It was very beneficial in this process.

In a former life (college), I was an English major, thus the writing and editing process is important to me. I like to have multiple people with varying perspectives read what I have written and see if it makes sense. Google Docs would make it simple for people I ask to read my writing; they wouldn't have to download a document, save it on their computer, and then e-mail it back. They could simply make the edits on a web version.

One of the best features of Google Docs is the revision history tool. This allows you to go through each of the revisions made and actually revert to previous versions of the document and see the changes each individual has made. A definite drawback is not being able to "track changes" in color as a traditional word document does, but Google Docs is a lot more tidy.

Google Docs, much like Word, also allows you to insert pictures, links, tables, and comments. The comments feature allows you to communicate with those assisting in the editing process; you can leave comments for them for specific areas for which you'd like to draw attention, and they can leave comments for you or for other editors.

A brief aside: I'm currently working on chapter 2 of my dissertation and I have had my parents read it. Although they may not have much experience with academic research, they interact with Latinas a great deal. My hometown is predominantly Hispanic/Latin@, and has become more so in recent years. My mother still works in my hometown, at a Catholic grammar school, and has actually learned Spanish through synthesis with the parents and students. She will often have them speak to her in Spanish and she speaks to them in a modified "Spanglish" and they can understand one another. Although I have e-mailed them the original document, I think for the future I may have them look at it on Google Docs.