Communication Channels Used by Technical Writers Throughout the Documentation Process
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/2000/00000047/00000001/art00004
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  peer-reviewed

McGee, Lynn
Technical Communication Online
2000

Abstract:

This article focuses on communication channels used by technical writers to obtain and verify product information. Although much has been written about communication channel components (for example, document review), little discussion has focused on the spectrum of communication channels available to technical writers or why they might choose certain channels. The communication channels identified in this article include team meetings, document review, individual face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and e-mail. To test my identification and to see which channels writers would choose when presented with different scenarios, I collected and analyzed data from a survey of approximately 30 technical communicators who responded to an e-mail questionnaire sent to 170 STC members.