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Comments
Social Business Discussions Are The New Documentation
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SachinEE
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SachinEE,
 User Rank: Apprentice
11/27/2013 | 1:53:02 AM
Re : Social Business Discussions Are The New Documentation
@ David F. Carr, well that's the ethical part of it. If we are taking something from somewhere, we should give some as well from time to time. We have to keep in mind that in such communities, people solve our problems sparing time out of their busy schedules. We should also spare sometime every now and then to share whatever little we know.
SachinEE
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SachinEE,
 User Rank: Apprentice
11/27/2013 | 1:52:58 AM
Re : Social Business Discussions Are The New Documentation
There is another side to why we are getting weary of reading documentations and instruction manuals. It is because we are aware of the basic functionalities of most of the devices we buy today. There may be some new features that we can look up later in the manual but that certainly doesn't hinder our using it at first. While in the past we had to use some kind of device for the first time so we had to read the instruction manual first.
David F. Carr
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David F. Carr,
 User Rank: Author
11/21/2013 | 11:50:17 AM
For technical writers, too
This trend is absolutely relevant to the technical writers who do documentation, who have also had to adapt their work. See this column from a couple ofhears ago.

How Social Media Changes Technical Communication - InformationWeek http://www.informationweek.com/social-business/wikis/how-social-media-changes-technical-commu/232301245 via @InformationWeek
David F. Carr
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David F. Carr,
 User Rank: Author
11/21/2013 | 9:31:19 AM
Re: Intranets & internal social networks are key
Kristin, I couldn't agree more. I've always found it hard to really absorb technical instructions in the abstract, whether it's how to use a device or how to work with a programming language. Once I've painted myself into a corner and really need the information, that's when I go look it up. Community resources are great for that kind of just in time information. Of course, to be a good community member, you ought to give back some discoveries of your own from time to time.

That's what it's all about!.
Kristin Burnham
IW Pick
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Kristin Burnham,
 User Rank: Author
11/21/2013 | 8:48:20 AM
Intranets & internal social networks are key
I hate reading instruction manuals. Whenever I have a question about why something stopped working or when I see an error message, I always Google it. And inevitably what pops up first: Similar questions -- and solutions -- on user forums.

The applications of something similar in the workplace are just as useful: Have a question? Skip the email in which you CC everyone and search for the answer on your intranet. If your company has an internal social network, use that to ask the question or search for the answer. You'll likely find it quickly, and without cluttering everyone's inboxes.


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