Home Library Translate
A A A
Share »
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on LinkedIn
Connect »

Blog: Business Communications

Menu

  • This Blog's Home
  • Guest Writer Submissions
  • Policies
  • To Subscribe to a Blog
  • About
  • Feedback

Technical Writers = Business Analysts = Usability Expert

By Theresa Pojuner on January 22, 2012

I am seeing a trend here, where TW=BA=UX. Multitalented Technical Writers are now becoming more involved within organizations. They must know the business as well as a Business Analysts, and they are also becoming our Usability Experts. They are a versatile, adaptable, resourceful group of writers, mainly because their function is in knowledge transfer. They have become so involved in the business processes that they are now our Knowledge Managers with sub-titles of Technical Writer, Business Analyst, and Usability Expert

Let’s first define a Technical Writer (TW), a Business Analyst (BA), and a Usability Expert (UX). Checkout this comparison chart:

Tasks required TW BA UX
Understand the business Writes about business models Analyses the business model Uses business models
Transfer knowledge Ability to communicate Ability to communicate Ability to communicate
Work across various functions/disciplines Gathers information Gathers information Gathers information
Information Architect Designs a user interface (UI) structure Designs a interface (UI) structure Designs a user interface (UI) structure
Governance of information Handles data or information Handles data or information Presentation of data or information

The TW translates the business terms and technical information into simple easy to understand terms and guidelines so that the project can be accomplished.

The BA translates business policies, strategies, or regulations into system requirements for a project and takes a course of action to ensure the completion of the project.

The UX translates business requirements into information retrieval by ensuring the right data is captured or presented through an defined process.

All three roles have to:

  • Analyze and document the current business processes to ensure that the content is understood by the project stakeholders.
  • Create and present process flows, information architecture, site maps and prototypes for complex applications.
  • Identify and document future business processes including opportunities for process improvements.
  • Understand the features, functions, and capabilities of applications or services or products in order to achieve high performance goals.
  • Gather business requirements using different requirements gathering techniques (e.g. interviews, surveys, meetings, etc.).
  • Analyze and document business requirements using specific modeling or case tools.
  • Partake in tracking changes to the project.
  • Work with the business stakeholders, i.e., graphic designers, web developers, business analysts and software engineers.
  • Translate business requirements into technical and functional specifications.
  • Collaborate with the technical resources or any subject matter expert to gather specific (data or design) information.
  • Conduct, coordinate, and perform user acceptance tests, user walk-through sessions, and other ways to test the designs as well as create test plans to ensure adherence to specifications.
  • Act as a liaison between the IT project team and the business stakeholders.
  • Translating client goals into user-centered designs.
  • Write user-friendly text for on-screen instructions, headings, button labels, link text and other matter that have an effect on a user’s experience   .
  • Create guidelines and sharing best practices.​

The role of the technical writer is ever evolving and becoming more relevant every day.

« Previous Next »

Search Our Site

Meet This Blog’s Host

Gail Zack Anderson, President of Applause, Inc., has nearly 20 years experience in training and coaching. She provides individual presentation coaching, and leads effective presentation workshops and effective trainer workshops. [Read more ...]


Theresa Pojuner is a Documentation Specialist with over 20 years of writing experience and is skilled in many areas of documentation, for example, Style Guides, Training Manuals and Test Cases, wth a specialty n Technical Writing and Procedures. [Read more ...]

Recent Blog Posts
Alternate Recent Posts Widget

  • Becoming A Technical Writer-Communicator Review
  • Creating A Knowledge Community
  • Tips for Handling Technical Writer Stress
  • Likeminded Communication
  • A Technical Writer Is Different From Other Writers
  • Involve and Engage Your Audience 20 Ways
  • Tips On Documenting Processes
  • Communicating Technical Writing Review
  • Communicating Via Visual Designs
  • Special Tips for Laptop Presentations

Related Library Topics

  • Body Language
  • Netiquette

Categories of Posts

  • Basics and Overviews
  • Body Language
  • Communicating Change
  • Communication Best Practices
  • Feedback (Sharing)
  • Humor in speaking
  • images
  • Listening
  • Netiquette
  • Presenting
  • slide shows
  • Speaking Skills
  • Team Presentations
  • technical writing
  • Telephone Skills
  • Uncategorized
  • Visual Aids
  • Voice and Vocal Habits
  • Writing

Library's Blogs

  • Boards of Directors
  • Building a Business
  • Business Communications
  • Business Ethics, Culture and Performance
  • Business Planning
  • Career Management
  • Coaching and Action Learning
  • Consulting and Organizational Development
  • Crisis Management
  • Customer Service
  • Facilitation
  • Free Management Library Blogs
  • Fundraising for Nonprofits
  • Human Resources
  • Leadership
  • Marketing and Social Media
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building
  • Project Management
  • Quality Management
  • Social Enterprise
  • Spirituality
  • Strategic Planning
  • Supervision
  • Team Building and Performance
  • Training and Development
About Feedback Legal Privacy Policy Contact Us
Free Management Library, © Copyright Authenticity Consulting, LLC ®; All rights reserved.
  • Graphics by Wylde Hare LLC
  • Website maintained by Caitlin Cahill

By continuing to use this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.X