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Re: Anyone know of tech writers that became program/product manag ers?

Subject: Re: Anyone know of tech writers that became program/product manag ers?
From: Lisa Wright <lisawright -at- mail -dot- utexas -dot- edu>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 18:16:23 -0500


Having been a product manager for a short period of time as a result of skills exhibited as a technical writer, I can safely say that while communication is a critical component of both, communication is insufficient without other background, training, and yes, talent for the job, not for the skill of communicating. Communication and writing skills are great leverage points for transitioning to a lot of professions besides tech writing. It doesn't follow that one is capable of doing all of those jobs.

BTW, I wouldn't lump product managers in with program/project managers. They are different things. I think the leap is much easier from tech writing to program/project management than to product management.

Lisa

David Neeley wrote:

The chief attribute listed for project managers and product managers
both is skill in communication. Both activities are considered by many
to be somewhat unnatural acts, like the saw about the difficulty in
herding cats.

Thus, a communicator should, by definition, have talent in the chief
requisite of project management.

Note, though, that in formal project management terms a "program" is a
commonly managed set of projects, while a "project" has a definite
time period as contrasted with "operations" that are ongoing.

David


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Follow-Ups:

References:
RE: Anyone know of tech writers that became program/product manag ers?: From: mlist
Re: Anyone know of tech writers that became program/product manag ers?: From: Amanda A
Re: Anyone know of tech writers that became program/product manag ers?: From: Lisa Wright
Re: Anyone know of tech writers that became program/product manag ers?: From: David Neeley

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