TechWhirl: Technical Communication Recap for November 16, 2012

[TechWhirl Admin <admin -at- techwhirl -dot- com>]

*This week’s update on technical communication and the TechWhirl community
is supported by Platinum sponsor Madcap & their Ultimate Communications
Suite, MadPak <http://goo.gl/eO3ls> | http://bit.ly/zBI0Uj*



Several current threads on the TechWhirl email discussion
list<http://www.techwr-l.com/>discuss areas aligned with but separate
from technical
communication—quality assurance and business analysis in particular.  I
always find those discussions fascinating. They continue to affirm my
belief that the best approach to a successful technical communication
career is to think in broader, more holistic, and yes, more strategic
terms.  Focusing too exclusively on technical writing or information design
has always seemed to be a career-limiting decision. More importantly, I
think it speaks to the organization-limiting effects of silos.



Most large organizations (and lots of medium and small ones for that
matter), tend towards information silos, but they also tend toward
functional silos as well.—which limits opportunities for innovation,
tipping points or new business channels—the stuff of which HBR case studies
are made. Using our lens of helping society and tech comm, we can take
advantage of the opportunity to explore what’s beyond our tradition
borders, and use our natural skills and abilities in ways that eliminate
both the information and functional silos.



While you enjoy reading all the great content we have to offer this week on
TechWhirl, take a few minutes to add to or start discussion thread, or post
your thoughts about the silo-busting effects of helping society and tech
comm. We love hearing from you.



Have a great weekend!

-The gang at TechWhirl


In Case You Missed it: This Week @ TechWhirl

*New features and articles on http://TechWhirl.com <http://techwhirl.com/>**
:*


   - Tech Writer This Week for November 15, by Craig Cardimon |
   http://bit.ly/RYMrvY
   - Technical Communication Poll: Benefits of Volunteering |
   http://bit.ly/RYMrvY
   - Working With DITA: The Perspective from LavaCon, by Lois Patterson|
   http://bit.ly/RPZC3R
   - Book Review: Content Strategy 101 by Sarah O’Keefe and Alan Pringle,
   by Jacquie Samuels and Roger Renteria | http://bit.ly/TDrHtP

 *Tech Comm News on http://TechWhirl.com/news <http://news.techwhirl.com/>:*


   - ComponentOne Releases XAML and JS Suites for Windows Store Apps |
   http://bit.ly/ZtSgpQ
   - SDL Supports Translators without Borders | http://bit.ly/VX0erD

*Tech Comm Jobs *

·         Technical Communication Job Summary November 10, 2012 |
http://bit.ly/RMLtEB
Social Media and the Chance to Follow TechWhirl:

   - Our Google Plus Page – what’s happening behind the scenes |
   http://goo.gl/SO0R4
   - Will you be our Friend? Please, you know you want to click |
   http://goo.gl/tDrW7
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   http://goo.gl/itjDg
   - Updates from TechWhirl delivered to your email in box |
   http://bit.ly/tjshxU
   - Or, try our RSS feed (great on Flipboard) | http://goo.gl/msLzu

SPONSOR-Luv

We want to send a very special “thank you” to our sponsors for their
support.



*Platinum*: Adobe Systems
Incorporated<http://www.runaware.com/clients/adobe/techsuite/>

*Gold: *ComponentOne Software <http://bit.ly/doc-to-help>,* *Madcap
Software<http://www.madcapsoftware.com/products/flare/overview.aspx#whatsnew>
**

*Silver*: Society for Technical Communication (STC)
<http://www.stc.org/>, Vancouver
Island University <http://pr.viu.ca/techcomm/>

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