Re: Do Technical Writers Deserve Their Own Office? (fwd)

["Robert E. Garland" <robert -at- JTAN -dot- COM>]

Hope Cascio wrote:
>
> I agree with John.  Until recently, the writers here were spread out in
> little clusters to be physically near the developers of the product group
> they wrote for.  I got more "unofficial" information, the developers were
> more likely to just drop by my cube to ask questions, bring me information,
> or get clarification, and I spent a lot more of my energy concentrating on
> the product than the writing department's internal issues.  Now all of the
> writers are sitting in one room, and I feel we're isolated from our product
> groups.  We all communicate with one another a lot more frequently and
> informally, but I've lost touch with my developers.

In former employ, I was part of a Publication Department of 20 writers
and editors.  The company got on the "Team Building" bandwagon one year
-- it was the buzz phrase of the year.  The company tried to build teams
of writers even as we explained that our teams were essentially a writer
and a group of software developers. "Team
Building" failed because the HR types who were driving it did not
understand the environment or their audience.

--
     Robert Garland                          Amateur Radio Station NX3S
     Hilltown Township Bucks County                         Grid FN20ii
     Pennsylvania USA                                   robert -at- jtan -dot- com