Technical Communication Unbound: Knowledge Work, Social Media, and Emergent Communicative Practices

Abstract

This article explores the boundaries of technical communication as knowledge work in the emerging era of social media. Analyzing the results of an annual survey offered each year from 2008 until 2011, the study reports on how knowledge workers use publicly available online services to support their work. The study proposes a distinction between sites and services when studying social media in knowledge work and concludes with an exploration of implications for technical communication pedagogy.

Keywords:

• genre
• knowledge work
• online services
• social media

Notes

Note. Data from Divine, Ferro, and Zachry (2011).

Note. Empty cells represent questions not asked in the indicated year.

Note. Bold values represent the highest percentage of participants reporting a single site in a given year.

Note. Bold represents sites that were reported by 15% or more of all participants in 2011.

Note. Data from Ferro and Zachry (p. 949).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Toni Ferro

Toni Ferro is a PhD candidate in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. She received her MS in human-centered design engineering at the University of Washington and her BS in general engineering at the University of Redlands.

Mark Zachry

Mark Zachry is a professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. His research areas include the communicative practices of organizations and the design of systems to support collaboration.