atw: Re: Meanwhile, back at the Old Bull and Ethics

If you have read the thread, Hedley, you'd know what my answer would be. If
there is risk of death or injury and we knew that a written document
provides 90 per cent comprehension and an equivalent on-line document
provides 60 per cent comprehension, you would insist that those who needed
the documentation only had access to the written document in a crisis. If
they say they wouldn't read it in a crisis, you either (a) give them
training to make reading less of a concern to them or (b) move them out of
the job. And you would make sure that reading skills were part of the job
description for new recruits. 

Just as some jobs call for surgical skills, some jobs call for reading
skills. If a surgeon refused to operate, they go somewhere else. If the
oerator of the control room of a nuclear power plant refused to read, they
go somewhere else.

Simple.

 
Geoffrey Marnell
Principal Consultant
Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd
T: +61 3 9596 3456
F: +61 3 9596 3625
W: www.abelard.com.au
-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hedley Finger
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 4:25 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Meanwhile, back at the Old Bull and Ethics


Now if a written document provides 90 percent comprehension but the 
readers won't read it and an on-line document provides 60 percent 
comprehension and the reader might read it, what should the ethical tech 
writer supply?

--

Hedley Finger

28 Regent Street   Camberwell VIC 3124   Australia
Tel: +61 3 9809 1229   Fax: (call phone first)
Mobile (cell): +61 412 461 558   Skype: hedley.finger
Email. "Hedley Finger" <hfinger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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