Making a meaningful model for technical communication

This work documents a qualitative research project designed to develop models that adequately describe the multiform nature of technical communication practice today. The research uses a combination of surveys of and dialogues with experienced technical communicators in focus groups conducted in three North American cities. Our hypothesis is that we are moving from a linear model of one-way communication, through a richer (though still linear) model of two-way communication between communicators and designers, to a new and richer model of communication as a collaborative process of meaning-making. In the focus groups, we test a hypothetical model of technical communication that reflects this collaborative reality and then brainstorm additional models and metaphors with participants. The first completed session may indicate that the focus of technical communicators is moving away from a narrow suite of deliverables and toward a broad suite of communication roles and processes. The models and metaphors suggested by participants so far indicate little or no emphasis being placed on specific deliverables, or on sequential step-by-step processes. These observations will be further tested in at least two subsequent focus-group sessions.