From Tech Pubs to Information Management  

The need to make software easy to use and to integrate learning information into software products is changing roles of information developers at DDS. On the one hand information developers are now an integral part of design teams rather than members of a central technical publications group. On the other hand, decentralized development and online delivery require new types of central management and coordination. There’s more need than ever for formal standards, explicit information architecture, and defined best practices. Goals include effectiveness and timely delivery of product information, common look and feel, usability, and elimination of redundant work across departments throughout the life cycle.

Dykstra, Peter. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Information Design

It’s the Communication, Stupid: Lessons in Communication-Driven Product Development  

Changes in software design and development are creating new opportunities for technical communicators at DDS. Writers have become an integral part of product teams, evaluated on their ability to help get products out the door. In some cases writers’ deliverables have themselves become full software development projects. As technical writers take on new roles they’re getting increased visibility, more interesting and varied work and a chance to move up ladders outside of the traditional technical writing group.

Dykstra, Peter. STC Proceedings (2000). Articles>Communication>Collaboration