The cloud (virtual software service) and mobile devices are now being used more and more as a means to provide users easier access to documentation and training. What does that mean for Technical Writers? It means more opportunities, work, imagination, and knowledge,
More opportunities will exist for the Technical Writer to become involved in working with the latest authoring tools and applications to create the written material (from requirements, specifications, compliance, training, marketing material, etc.), the latest mediums (mobile devices, i.e., tablets and smart phones) used to display the work, and the latest service technology (the cloud). The Technical Writer‘s passion for learning will be quenched in this area..
More work will exist for the Technical Writer, because many corporations, public and private, now want to place their documents on the cloud, but in what fashion and how will they all be managed, organized, tracked, and remain secure, which documents should be cloud based for archiving and which ones should not (i.e., sensitive matter), and which ones need to be easily accessed? Will training and marketing material and proposals go onto the cloud for easier accessibility, but not specifications? To answer this, the Technical Writer will have to interview all stakeholders up front before creating any documents for the cloud or mobile devices.
More imagination will be needed by the Technical Writer to organize, categorize, and manage the material in such a way that the users can access what they want and need efficiently. Should an application be created up front so that the user can easily view what he is searching for and then present all related documents, or should they be listed within simple folders by project or both or should the company invest in new applications such as content management systems? Throughout the process, the Technical Writer as a visual and user experience designer has to ensure ease of navigation and graphically friendly interfaces to provide what the user wants and needs.
More knowledge will be required by the Technical Writer to grasp the new technology, and to also remember the requirements of the organization and its stakeholders. The Technical Writer will need to understand the technology’s capabilities, understand how it fits within the business structure (and system architecture) of the company, and be able to convey it to others, especially when writing Request For Proposals. This is emphasized because without this knowledge, the writer will not be able to document nor communicate the business reasoning, process, scope, nor desired outcome of the project.
Throughout this whole process, consistency and order must be maintained. One of the attributes of being a good Technical Writer is that of maintaining consistency and accuracy. To accomplish this, the Technical Writer will need to perform functions as an analyst and a project manager in order to keep the goal in sight. This will not be an easy task, but if done in small steps, is achievable.
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.
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.