5. Social
A good technical communicator___
- interacts tactfully and constructively with SMEs[1] and anybody else involved in a project;
- is capable of tactfully extracting and helpfully presenting easily overlooked (but often deceptively important) information from SMEs and other sources;
- respects any restraints imposed by time, cost, and convention, and works to the best of his/her ability within such limitations; and
- asks for and is willing to apply or incorporate suggestions and advice.
Technical communication is collaborative. Web 2.0 culture is thriving in all realms, particularly in technology. Thus, “Wiki” and “open source” concepts are discernible in technical communication practice. Even lone, remote writers will often find themselves working collaboratively, across time zones, in different languages, and tasked with contributing content on a surprisingly ad hoc basis.
Tactful and responsible social technique (not to mention e-mail etiquette!) is prerequisite to the co-production of quality information (1. and 2.). Of equal importance are the conditions that the work must be produced under (3.) – be they social, market factors, organisational, budgetary, or time-related. Good technical communicators are diplomatic when both giving and receiving criticism or comments, and, hopefully, equally skillful in converting either or both into improved material (4.).
[1] Subject Matter Experts.