Adding Value as a Professional Technical Communicator.

Abstract

Value added means generating greater return on investment than the cost of the initial investment. Return on investment can mean bringing in more money (or increasing users' satisfaction) or it can mean reducing costs, such as the cost of supporting customers. Value added is a concept that technical communicators can use in a wide range of fields (not just in high-tech companies) and in a wide range of roles (not just as writers or producers of documents). Case studies and literature from technical communicators and professionals in related fields suggest many different measures that technical communicators can use to show how they add value. As technical communicators consider value added, they should be aware of two important issues: Numbers don't tell the whole story; process is also critical. They may have to go beyond traditional corporate accounting systems to get credit for value that they add.

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