To argue for this workflow: the mutex is soft (social) which is a good thing, sometimes ppl do not reply on time and you need to move forward. For having new ideas/paragraphs after sending out, you either inform the colleague to hold it until your done, or you send a paragraph and ask him to merge it.
The mail allows you to see all patches, sometimes 'clean slate' is done by accepting all changes. While this sounds like a problem in theory, in practise its not.
I agree that things can be better somehow, but it is really difficult to see any solution which is at least 10% better. The current workflow also has the advantages:
- data is as safe as your filesystem and email system together
- Word file is generally not considered a vendor lock-in
- everybody understands the workflow
- nobody can block the workflow (like not checking in again with sharepoint)
The mail allows you to see all patches, sometimes 'clean slate' is done by accepting all changes. While this sounds like a problem in theory, in practise its not.
I agree that things can be better somehow, but it is really difficult to see any solution which is at least 10% better. The current workflow also has the advantages: - data is as safe as your filesystem and email system together - Word file is generally not considered a vendor lock-in - everybody understands the workflow - nobody can block the workflow (like not checking in again with sharepoint)