Excellent Writing: Educating the Whole Corporation

Abstract

Two teachers of business and technical writing at the university level apply their understanding of current writing theory in an effort to make sense out of writing problems they encountered while consulting for a large software cor poration. They discover that the writing problems there are largely situational—brought about by management's assumptions regarding writ ing, writers, and the role of the writing consultant-and have little to do with the abilities of the writers themselves. They conclude that if corporations are to succeed in effectively using the talents of their writers, educators should be hired as consultants. Educators are more likely to know how to involve the en tire corporation in promoting the long-term growth of writers.