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RE: Starting a documentation team - PhD techwriters
Subject:RE: Starting a documentation team - PhD techwriters From:"HALL Bill" <bill -dot- hall -at- tenix -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 24 Oct 2003 11:18:26 +1000 (EST)
Peter Neilson replied, responding to a request for ideas about how one
would form a documentation team from scratch:
-----
A shop where I worked years ago tried something similar with great
success. We could not find tech writers, so we built them. We had tech
typists, and we hired almost anyone with a PhD who came looking for a
job. No questioning about computer skills or writing ability--the
former could be learned, if necessary, and the latter (the ability to
organize a complex subject and to write about it according to a
predetermined style) is assumed of anyone who has completed a doctoral
thesis.
... We got PhD's in English, math, chemistry, history, French, physics,
and several other areas. Nearly every one of them was a shining
success. Most of them became managers as the company grew. The English
PhD (now sadly passed away) also could type 90 wpm, but she kept that a
secret. She was probably the best writing manager I have ever met.
One of the keys here is not to be afraid to hire someone who is better
than you are.
-----
As a PhD in evolutionary biology who moved from academia into technical
writing at a time when biology jobs were hard to find, and is now moving
back into academia as an industrial strength knowledge manager with
substantial, hard-nosed industrial experience, I can only second Peter's
comments. It is good to see that someone actually understands what the
degree represents!
I certainly agree that the ability to research questions and to organise
and write coherently about the answers is the primary thing one has to
possess or learn to earn a PhD. These skills are easily transferable.
Probably the next most important thing you can assume is that the person
with the PhD has proved that he/she has the perseverance and dedication
to surmount all obstacles in order to get the job done. Even at a top
school, it is never easy to earn the degree - and a lot never finish.
Bill Hall
Documentation Systems Analyst
Head Office, Engineering
Tenix Defense
Williamstown, Vic. 3016
Phone: 03 9244 4820
Email:bill -dot- hall -at- tenix -dot- com
URL: http://www.tenix.com
Honorary Research Fellow
Knowledge Management Lab
School of Information Management & Systems
Monash University
Caulfield East, Vic. 3145
Phone: 03 9903 1883
Email: william -dot- hall -at- infotech -dot- monash -dot- edu -dot- au
URL: http://www.sims.monash.edu.au/research/km/
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