Creating Communications with a Team

Guidelines taken from Paul Anderson’s Technical Writing: A Reader-Centered Approach

Guidelines Create a consensus concerning the

objectives Involve the whole team in planning Make a project schedule Share leadership responsibilities Make meetings efficient Encourage debate Be sensitive to cultural and gender

differences Use computer support for collaboration

Create a Consensus Explore diverse

views Keep talking Discuss strategies Remain open

Involve the Whole Team Discuss plans in

detail Write an outline Create a

storyboard Use a style guide

Make a Project Schedule Time to define the

document’s objectives

Frequent checkpoints

Time to edit the drafts for consistency and coherence

Share Leadership Responsibilities

Task roles Group

maintenance roles

Make Meetings Efficient Prepare agendas Bring discussions

to a close Sum up Set goals for the

next meeting

Encourage Debate and Diversity of Ideas

Invite everyone to speak

Listen with interest and respect

Be considerate when discussing drafts

Treat drafts as team property, not individual property

Be Sensitive to Cultural and Gender Differences Style may be

influenced by gender and cultural background

Be responsive to individual styles

Use Computer Support for Collaboration

Email for sharing ideas and drafts without meeting

Online discussions in WebBoard chat

Word-processing that shows each person’s drafts and revisions in different colors