Where is technical communication going? 

This article provides a recap of the panel discussion during the October 2002 chapter meeting.  The panel was moderated by Mike Livesy, with chapter members Martha Sippel, Frank Tagader, Linda Gallagher, and Joel Meier comprising the panel.

How do you view the future of tech communication?

Martha: Continuing to add value as a technical communicator entails being flexible and adaptable, and constantly learning new things. These include core skills such as writing, editing, and printed and online documentation.

Frank: Technical communicators must become more adaptable, flexible, and willing to  try new disciplines.

Linda: It's important to be flexible. We can transfer our skills to any type of written communication and other related fields including usability, content management, Web design and writing, e-learning, HTML, XML, JavaScript, and more.

Joel: We are going to be writing to and working in domain-specific paradigms again and be asked to do more (not necessarily with less) and know more, and do it faster. We will be writing to a visual rhetoric. For example, we will write more to the visual aspects of knowledge transfer and less to a narrative approach.

What types of deliverables do you work with and how do you see this changing?

Martha: Deliverables: Online, online help, CDs, HTML, print, and PDF. Also, providing usability and testing studies, website design, user interface design, and creating CBT and WBT. Future: I wish I could predict the future!

Frank: Online drives all our deliverables.

Linda: I continue to develop a lot of user guides for both print (usually PDF files) and online use, typically using single-sourcing techniques. I also write and edit test documentation (including graphics), design FrameMaker and WebWorks Publisher templates, conduct training classes, and resell products.

Joel: I write primarily to online deliverables. I do not see this changing much. I do think that we will see less graphics and screen shots as a result. I do foresee single-sourcing strategies replacing reuse strategies as a result of this.

What tools/languages do you use (e.g., Frame, Dreamweaver, Java, HTML) and how will this change?

Martha:  I use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Access, HTML, and Doc-to-Help. I have used FrameMaker, Visio, Visual SourceSafe, FrontPage, and Paint Shop Pro. I feel I need to use InDesign, Javascript, VBScript, RoboHelp, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Homesite, PageMill, Flash, etc. Future: I think we'll need to use XML, Flash, multimedia programs, version-control systems, and content management programs.

Frank: Visio, Project, Excel, Word, J.D. Edwards Content Manager, Trados, J.D. Edwards AutoPilot (scripting tool), HTML, XML.

Linda: My tools of choice are FrameMaker, WebWorks Publisher Professional, and Acrobat. In addition to these, I use many other tools as needed, including Word, Paint Shop Pro, Visio, RoboHelp, Doc-To-Help, ForeHelp, FrontPage, Illustrator, and CorelDraw. In the future, I suspect that I'll be using content management and XML tools.

Joel: I use Visio, Excel, Word, J.D. Edwards Content Manager, and J.D. Edwards AutoPilot (scripting tool). I counted about another 12 homegrown tools that I use a J.D. Edwards. In the future, I foresee that I will need to use Flash and XML.

What types of skills do you see tech communicators using in the future?

Martha:  Again, good organization, writing, and editing, skills are imperative. Also, you may be asked to provide project management, team building, and training. You must be versatile!

Frank: Organization, multitasking, good writing and editing skills are the core and will continue to serve you well. Add knowledge of what you are documenting, understand what other fields touch yours, and look at ways of expanding your skill base.

Linda: Our core skills of being able to write well and organize information will always serve us well. Those are the skills that have led technical communicators into other fields, and they will lead us into more fields in the future. Our world is becoming more complex, so these skills will continue to be needed. Skills we will need in the future may include content management, knowledge of XML and databases, creating e-learning and other "e" technology products, scripting, new tools, and measurement methods such as Six Sigma.

Joel: We will need to be able to program, QA, train, use and design our own knowledge management strategies, utilize push technology—and probably a host of other similar skills.

Do you recommend continuing education and if so what type?

Martha: People learn in different ways and, fortunately, there are many ways to continue your education, such as academic and professional training programs, both online and through colleges or professional organizations. To continue your education in any field you need the core skills of writing, editing, organization,  and basic computer skills (knowledge of Word, email programs, Excel, and  PowerPoint). You can then select the best method for you.

Frank: Practical skills are great. I sometimes question whether academia is on target with what is happening in the marketplace. Still, I think an education in the humanities is the best basis for being a well-rounded technical communicator

Linda: We must all be life-long learners to survive in today's environment. You have to decide what learning opportunities work best for you. I've decided not to pursue an advanced degree for reasons of the time commitment, the cost, and the ROI. However, I regularly attend STC meetings, conferences, and seminars. I read books, participate in e-mail lists, and use the Web resources that are available to learn about all types of tools and technologies.

Joel: Of course. I just went back to graduate school. On one hand, it has made me realize how wonderful, accessible, and in-depth the world of academia is. On the other hand, it has also made me realize how slow their wheels turn compared to the business world. So, I am torn because I still see that society values the pieces of paper academia hands out, but I also believe, like Linda, there is more ROI in attending STC meetings, conferences, and seminars.

Does there appear to be a trend to move away from technical communication to other communication areas such as usability, content management, grant/proposal writing, marketing communications?

Martha: Yes, I believe there are so many fields that you cannot specialize in just one; however, some people are successful in specializing. I believe that you must be able to complete projects in different areas or industries.

Frank: There are opportunities outside tech comm., but there are ways in which tech comm. is changing. You have to broaden your horizons and wear different hats. Try new things. Your core can be technical communication, but your skills can be used in multiple disciplines.

Linda: We must all be prepared to move into different fields. Here are just a few of the areas technical communicators can and have moved into: usability, e-learning, content management, designing document templates, writing for all types of industries and different types of documents, project management, Web design, graphic design, and many more.

Joel: I do not know if there is a conscious effort by writers to "move away" from tech comm. Sometimes it seems that we are being subsumed by the other communication disciplines, and to survive or thrive many of us are adapting.

What do you see for salary/compensation trends?

Martha:  Rates seem to be stable. There seems to be more opportunities to price things according to the insights and value you provide and the deliverables you can create within a client's deadlines.

Frank: Fairly flat right now.

Linda: I've heard from many independents that rates are down across the country, and they've had to lower rates to get work. I've been lucky with several ongoing clients. I've not reduced my rates. I even raised my rates with some new clients in the summer of 2001 and as I renewed contracts with ongoing clients, I raised rates as well. We do have to be flexible, but I think it's a mistake to accept rates that do not reflect your experience.

Joel: Flat for the foreseeable future. I am also afraid that we will be the last to reap the benefits of a recovered economy—unless, we can quantify, quantify, and quantify our savings and maybe even revenue-generation possibilities to management, upper management, whoever is in control of the budgets at our levels. Unfortunately, I am willing to bet the tools and time for developing these metrics will be up to us and on our own time.

Your comments on the advancement of tech comm.

Martha:  Advancement of technical communications: Technical communicators will continue to add value in different, innovative ways. There is an extensive list of related organizations on the STC website that provides an insight into what the future may hold for technical communicators. We are being asked to contribute more information about more products and topics in more industries than ever before.

Frank: Technical communication and the skills associated with it will continue to be valued in the workplace. But, the days of being "just a tech writer" are over. You have to be able to adapt to the needs of the market. Continue to grow your  skills. Look at educational opportunities. See what values you can bring to areas such as usability, user interface design, and project management.

Linda: I think that we have to work towards finding ways to prove our value. One such method is Six Sigma. I don't know how we apply measurements effectively to our work, but I think we need to try.

Joel: I think that we have come full circle. We started out by writing to a domain- general paradigm as far back as cave drawings. From 1920s through the 80s, we  wrote to a domain-specific paradigm. Today, we are moving back to writing to a domain-general paradigm. We have to. Everything is too complicated.

Contact Information

Martha Sippel 
Independent contractor
AzuWrite 

Frank Tagader
Program Manager
J.D. Edwards & Company 
www.jdedwards.com

Linda G. Gallagher
Independent Contractor
TechCom Plus
www.techcomplus.com

Joel Meier
Senior Information Developer
J.D. Edwards & Company
www.jdedwards.com