Any suggestions for working in this kind of setting? (details inside)

Ack – I sympathize – I’ve been in that situation.

Who hired you? Can you talk to them and ask who has jurisdiction for what? You’ll probably be stuck having a dozen “bosses”, but maybe each area can be limited to one (or two) entities, and they can fight it out. Plus, you’re the “expert” – you should be able to say ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ to any individual request or suggestion, based on technical or artistic considerations.

I know who the person who hired me is, but I’m getting paid by someone else. I’m also not editing just the site I was hired to do. I’ve been editing sites in other departments of the hospital too. I also edit the site of the research branch, which is a separate entity, but it’s affiliated with the hospital, and there’s also funding organizations and training links and I’m going crazy.

And the previous designer is also getting involved because she wasn’t informed that I was hired, and she is a very controlling individual, I was told. She also has some beef with my boss.

And to make it more compliacted, by dad also works in my department. I work for the cancer center officially, as a web designer. My dad is the director of the cancer center. But I didn’t get the job because of him. I applied through HR like normal. Everyone seems to think of the former. I fear that my dad’s politics will come into the mix too.

Ask, ask, ask. Whenever I have had people working under me, I have always preferred they ask me questions, even if they’re 90% sure they know the answer, than make assumptions and risk getting something wrong. Your boss(es) will be thrilled if you make a habit of asking questions and confirming things before taking action. (Unless they’re jerks.)

Who do you report to? That is the person.

Whatever you do call it a draft, number it and send it around for comments. Ask that they respond by a certain date. The following weeks send out version 2 and preface it with “I incorporated all your comments and have updated the abc project to include your input. Please review by xyz date.” And so on.

Y’know something, it sounds like that is a BAD situation. If you can’t get someone (ie, the person paying you) to field the politics so you can get your work done, I think I’d look for another job. There are times it’s just a no-win situation, and that sure sounds like one to me.

Just out of curiosity, why are you editing sites you were not hired to edit?

@llewis I’m getting my work done no problem. It just gets really confusing at times. Besides, I’m only here for another month, then I go back to school. I’m editing other sites because I’m an all around web designer. I’m basically managing the web presence.

Take it from someone who’s dealt with these issues longer than you’ve been alive… the experience will be good for you. We creative types have to deal with multiple approvers and company politics our entire careers. Why do you think my avatar looks lke I’m 110 years old!

You have been unintentionally set up for this frustration by whoever it is within the company that owns the project. The idea wasn’t sold to those that have a stake in the claim of the web site. The benefits of updating the site were not explained, and they were not forewarned on how much time would be involved in getting their input. Please take no offense at this; while you are the expert at designing/developing/deploying a web site, you might be construed by some as one more administrative work annoyance while they are trying to help people back to health.

In a nutshell, set up an appt. to talk to the project manager about what is happening. Explain what you have discovered since taking on the project and what exactly it is that you need.

And if you wish, I can send you a simple guideline of what steps are needed in order to see a project to fruition and an example of when I’ve experienced it.

@Mtl_zack Further to the above: Is it feasible to talk to everyone who gives you any grief and explain the overall goals and work you’re doing? The point of this is to get everyone “onside” with you, and not have them think that you’re a nuisance, or irrelevant. I agree with @Austinlad. Politics is part of ALL life. Just another pain in the rear to deal with.