TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Re: Do tech writers write Engineering test reports?
Subject:Re: Do tech writers write Engineering test reports? From:Debra Kahn <kahndebra -at- gmail -dot- com> To:Milan DavidoviÄ <milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Thu, 8 May 2014 14:14:07 -0600
Ah, but there is a third possibility: There are lots of new products being
designed at the same time; the test engineers are swamped; management
thinks their time is better spent testing than writing - and tech writers
are less expensive than engineers anyway.
That said, the engineers are concerned about accuracy (and most likely
about having to spend as much time explaining to me as they would filling
out my test report template - but, really, I'm pretty bright (!))
DK
*Debra Kahn**, MA, PMP, CA-AM*
debra -at- dk-consulting -dot- co *or *kahndebra -at- gmail -dot- com
Business: 970-541-0888 http://dk-consulting.co
On Thu, May 8, 2014 at 2:09 PM, Debra Kahn <kahndebra -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Hi Milan,
> We're talking about a reasonably simple, plastic consumer product. (Some
> models have electronics, but nothing earth-shattering.) Tests involve
> dropping it from certain heights, examining its resistance to chemicals,
> etc.
>
> I created some test report templates for the engineers to use (in MSWord).
> They are concerned that its better/more accurate for them to write (filling
> out my template) than for them to explain the test to me and for me to meet
> to write...
>
> Thanks,
> Deb K
>
> *Debra Kahn**, MA, PMP, CA-AM*
> debra -at- dk-consulting -dot- co *or *kahndebra -at- gmail -dot- com
> Business: 970-541-0888
>http://dk-consulting.co
>
>
> On Thu, May 8, 2014 at 1:58 PM, Milan DavidoviÄ <milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com>wrote:
>
>> What industry/sector?
>>
>> --Milan DavidoviÄ
>>
>> Sent from my Commercial Visible 6
>>
>>
>> On Thu, May 8, 2014 at 3:09 PM, Debra Kahn <kahndebra -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> > I haven't encountered this before. So I am asking if any of you have.
>> Is it
>> > kosher for a tech writer (experienced but no Engineering degree) to
>> write
>> > up test reports (internal- and external-facing) for product tests
>> conducted
>> > by a test tech or test engineer in a lab?
>> >
>> > I'm in an awkward situation where upper management expects this, but the
>> > engineers are questioning it.
>>
>
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Doc-To-Help 2014 v1 now available. SharePoint 2013 support, NetHelp enhancements, and more. Read all about it.