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Re: Technical Writing and the Business Perspective

Subject: Re: Technical Writing and the Business Perspective
From: Dick Margulis <margulis -at- fiam -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 12:02:18 -0400


Goober Writer wrote:

In light of the "Too Good" and "Hi-Tech Company Hasn't
Used Tech Writers in Years" thread, I just gotta ask:

Where do our loyalties lie? With users, with process,
with other writers, or with our companies?

A smart reply would be "with our companies".


[big snip for Lyris's benefit]

A smart reply would be, "it depends on the situation."

Goob, I agree with the thrust of what you are saying; and in any reasonable company most of your points are valid. However, there are a lot of dysfunctional companies out there--as well as dysfunctional departments and dysfunctional managers in otherwise sound companies.

So there are two situations where your approach may not be the best one:

1. Happy family: What's your role? It is sometimes reasonable to assign a writer the role of, say, user advocate or process maven, and relieve her of the burden of considering profit. If you draw such an assignment, your best bet may be to take on the role you are asked to fill.

2. Unhappy family: Survival may dictate that your A-Number-One priority is to do whatever your boss says, regardless of how that affects the company's fortunes. Learning to smile and control your blood pressure while doing so is a good life skill.

Dick

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References:
Technical Writing and the Business Perspective: From: Goober Writer

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