Defining Your Objectives

• Author: Elizabeth D. Mullin
• Pages: 29-30

29

CHAPTER 4:

Defining Your Objectives

Before you begin writing comments, take time to dene your objec-

tives. What exactly do you want to see happen? What are your top pri-

orities? How can your comments help lead to the outcome you desire?

Should you comment at all?

Your objectives will vary depending on your role in the commenting pro-

cess and may include one or more of the following:

• supporting a particular outcome;

• stopping, delaying, or minimizing the impact of an ac tion;

• avoiding an enforcement action or lawsuit by ensuring t hat the docu-

ment meets minimum legal requirements;

• preser ving a right to appeal a decision;

• ensuring that a document is consistent with your agency or company

mission and policies;

• catching technical or substantive errors;

• improving the quality of a document; or

• educating or training an employee, colleague, contractor, or govern-

ment regulator.

Frame your comments to meet your objectives.

You may decide not to comment at all. Sometimes, a document is basically

okay or unlikely to change much in the next version so you are comfortable

not commenting. Other times, for political, strategic, competitive, or legal

reasons, you may prefer to remain silent a nd let someone else ta ke the lead.

Or, you may not want to waste your time unless there is a very serious prob-

lem with the document. Even if you think your c omments will be ignored,

you may want or need to comment anyway. You may be able to eect some

change in the docu ment, or you may be required to comment to preser ve

your option to litigate.

If you decide to comment, set priorities based on your objectives. If you

are responsible for an overall quality review, you can and should comment

on everything you see t. Otherwise, focus on what you care about the most.

If your comments are too long, you may overwhelm t he recipient and bury

your truly important concerns amidst lesser ones. As discussed i n Chapter 5