Technical Communication Quarterly Jul 1996

Relocating the Value of Work: Technical Communication in a Post-Industrial Age

Johndan Johnson-Eilola

Abstract

Abstract This article analyzes the location of "value" in technical communication contexts, arguing that current models of technical communication embrace an outdated, self-deprecating, industrial approach subordinating information to concrete technological products. By rethinking technical communication in terms of Reich's "symbolic-analytic work," technical communicators and educators can move into a post-industrial model of work that prioritizes information and communication, with benefits to both technical communicators and users.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
1996-07-01
DOI
10.1207/s15427625tcq0503_1
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
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