tech communicators and training

[Richard Lippincott <rlippinc -at- BEV -dot- ETN -dot- COM>]

Karla Kitalong asked:

>How many of you folks are involved with training at your
>work place? In what capacity? Do you know of statistics
>or documents or articles that support or refute my belief that
>"a lot" of technical communicators function as trainers
>or provide of support to training departments?

I've worked "permanent" at three companies. Two of the three had tech
writing and training both under the same manager.

In the first, the two departments interacted on a casual basis. The trainers
would ask questions of the writers, we'd ask questions of the trainers. They
had more "hands on" experience, we knew where things were in the manuals. We
did not write the training materials.  Although we would mix back and forth
during the course of a typical day, it was all informal.  And I should add that
they supported us by allowing us access to the jet engines that they "owned."
This made the tech writing process much easier.

At my current job, we take materials from the maintenance and operating
manuals, and lift it out for use by the training department. They make some
changes, but they expect our writing as source mateial in order for them to
complete their training manuals.  This isn't informal or even annoying, it's
part of what's in my job description.  Again, however, in exchange I am allowed
access to the training school equipment/reserved machines.

In both cases, the relationship has worked out very well, and we all get along
just dandy.

Rick Lippincott
I can send, but not receive at my job. Address personal comments to:
rjlippincott -at- delphi -dot- com