• New hires in a company are expected to already possess the ability to write
  • Learning new and industry specific software will keep writers employed.
    • without specific knowledge, writers can be left out of teams and relegated to minor roles
  • Cross discipline teams are changing project management
    • Technical Communicators are also expected to manage the content they create forcing them to wear many hats.
  • Writing itself is the same whether for print or online publication.
    • Style, formatting and audience change
  • Usability and the extent to which Technical Communicators are expected to understand is constantly evolving.
    • Usability is becoming more and more important
  • Tactical Planning: Figuring out how to use a single technology.
  • Strategic Planning: Figuring out how different technologies integrate
    • Software does not exist on it’s own.
  • Reaction Planning: Complaining about how management, without warning expects the writing team to sue a new technology they didn’t choose themselves.
  • Postmortem Planning: Wondering how a company could outsource documentation to an overseas company and lay off writers who had produced perfectly written unused manuals.
  • Again: writing skills are a given. Tech skills are what will differentiate future technical communicators.
  • No technology exists alone.
  • No technology is neutral.
  • Writing is only 1 element.