atw: Re: Presentation for ASTC Conference 2007

I hope you're deluged with responses Michelle!
See my replies below.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Hallett, Michelle [mailto:Michelle.Hallett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, 2 July 2007 10:52 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Presentation for ASTC Conference 2007


 Dear all,
 
I'm preparing to deliver a session on the technical communicator's place in
the organisational hierarchy at the ASTC conference this year. This session
will focus on our working environments and will involve a presentation
followed by a general discussion and perhaps the drawing of some conclusions
as a group. I would appreciate your help with some initial research in order
to put this together.
 
Would you please answer some or all of the following questions for me:

1. Do you prefer contract or permanent work and why?
[Janet Taylor] Permanent for financial security. I have a house and family
to support, no savings and I am the sole breadwinner. 

2. Do you prefer to work in a technical writing team, a development team, as
a sole writer or in another type of team/work environment?
[Janet Taylor] Doesn't matter. I am a sole writer and I enjoy that. 


3. What do you like best about your preferred environment?
[Janet Taylor] I don't like anything special about it at all. Probably the
best bit is that it keeps my brain exercised.  
 
4. Do you feel there are chances for development or promotion where you work
or do you feel you would need to go elsewhere to advance your career?
[Janet Taylor]  No opportunities here as I am the sole writer. 


 
5. Do you feel your management considers you to be a professional with a
unique professional contribution to provide to the
group/company/departmental endeavour or are you just the person who does the
documentation and of lesser importance than the developers, engineers or
project managers?
[Janet Taylor] Just a person who does the documentation and inter-changeable
with any other tech writer - I think. I am never given an opinion, so while
I don't make waves, no one will notice that the work gets done without
dramas. However, the value of documentation is appreciated although there is
never time allocated in the development stage for documentation.  

6. Do you think something needs to be done to improve the professional
standing of technical communication and if so, what?
[Janet Taylor] I think something needs to be done, but I don't know what. We
probably need more measures on the value of the documentation. 

 
7. How do you feel about conflict and ongoing feuding in the workplace? Does
it affect your job?
[Janet Taylor] No conflicts or feuding here, however, I would always try to
avoid it. 
 
8. How do you feel about gossip about and between workmates?
[Janet Taylor] Don't like it and haven't had to deal with it for some years.

 
9. What is the difference, in your opinion, between a good place to work and
a bad place to work?
[Janet Taylor] A good place is where you're appreciated. That can be shown
by giving you time out to do the personal things that sometimes need to be
done and especially some time off when you work a lot of overtime. Time in
lieu is more important the money, I think.

I'd appreciate your help with this. I'm also interested in people
volunteering to attend the session with contributions. Probably 2-3 minutes
would be enough. If you register with me beforehand I will make sure you are
heard.
[Janet Taylor] No volunteering from me, I'm afraid.  
 
 
Please email any answers or interest to Michelle Hallett (
<BLOCKED::mailto:michelle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> michelle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
 
Much thanks,
Michelle
 

  _____  

Leighton Contractors Logo       Michelle Hallett | IT Trainer & Support
Analyst

LEIGHTON CONTRACTORS PTY LTD ABN 98 000 893 667
Corporate Office - Chatswood Level 8, Building 1 495 Victoria Avenue,
Chatswood NSW 2067
T +61 2 8668 6047 F +61 2 8668 6666 M 0434 183 541
E Michelle.Hallett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<outbind://30/Michelle.Hallett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
www.leightoncontractors.com.au <http://www.leightoncontractors.com.au/>

  _____

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