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Re: Academic Research in TechComm (Was RE: Criticizing Writers - What Would You Have Done?)

Subject: Re: Academic Research in TechComm (Was RE: Criticizing Writers - What Would You Have Done?)
From: Dick Margulis <margulisd -at- comcast -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 05:58:58 -0500




Beth Agnew wrote:

Corporations are always happy to have concrete data that establish value of
anything in which they invest resources. As an academic exercise evaluating
what technical writers contribute to the bottom line, assuming such a study
could be properly designed and carried out, would indeed be worthwhile doing
even if the only response to it was "Hmm, interesting.".


I think there is value to such a study in advancing the academic career of the person carrying out the study. I don't think there is value in the corporate world for the simple reason that in that world no fact-driven manager seriously disputes that tech writing adds value. The [non-fact-driven] managers who think it doesn't add value are unlikely to be persuaded by yet more facts than they already have at their disposal.

I think that the profession is so broad and variegated that the only way we
can affect job security or advancement is by personal performance.

Right. That's my point.

Individual effort in one's own organization may provide opportunities that
would not exist in a different organization or for techwriters whose talents
are different. Each one of us ultimately proves our value to our superiors
or we end up out of the organization.

Exactly.


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RE: Academic Research in TechComm (Was RE: Criticizing Writers - What Would You Have Done?): From: Beth Agnew

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