Clear communication skills are essential in every field, and though writing has been considered a “soft skill” in the past for technology workers, the prevalence of remote work has changed this perception. Many companies that previously utilized remote teams or offered remote options to employees have since moved to all-remote settings. Gone are the days when impromptu conversations and tech huddles happened in person. Employees now interact through video meetings, collaboration platforms, messaging and email.
According to Fast Company, it is more important than ever that technology team members utilize good written communication skills. Nurturing writing skills makes team members “more productive and focused by improving communication, establishing institutional knowledge, and crystallizing strategic thinking. Writing is the most important new skill for tech workers, regardless of role.”
Through core curriculum courses like Technical Writing, the online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Information Technology (IT) – Network and System Administration program at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) equips graduates for success with essential technical writing skills.
What Is Technical Writing?
Indeed describes technical writing as “a form of communication that professionals use to convey information about specialized topics.” This type of writing is useful in creating instructional materials, explaining technical concepts and generating product specifications and descriptions. It’s also useful for writing reports, case studies, textbooks and other types of documentation for various audiences.
However, technical writing is more than just writing instructions, user manuals and documentation, although those are primary resources that require clear and concise written communication. According to Fast Company, it’s also critical that technology teams can use, expand and create institutional knowledge by making it available to everyone on their teams. This resource becomes especially important when team members work asynchronous schedules or are in different time zones. Having access to a complete and concise body of information helps ensure consistency and avoid mistakes and time delays.
Learning to write and share technical information clearly and accessibly is essential to all successful technology professionals in a wide range of industries, not just those tasked with writing documentation. For example, some companies have substituted writing for talking after recognizing the challenges of video call fatigue and the ineffectiveness of some presentations.
How Is Technical Writing Used Today?
Conveying complex information in a clear and concise written manner is an essential skill that improves communication flow and efficiency. As noted in Fast Company’s article, the CEO of HackerRank shared how their executive team cut weekly meetings from an hour to 30 minutes and created a resource everyone can reference later.
They note: “We spend the first 10 minutes reading the agenda and writing feedback, then 20 minutes discussing it. We’ve gotten 30 minutes back every week, and our meetings are more productive than ever.” This approach also allows everyone on the team to express their thoughts in writing, which fosters inclusivity.
Fast Company also showcases another example. Amazon technology teams have adopted six-page written memos as a replacement for presentations. This practice helps teams develop their writing skills and results in a body of information that is more accessible and useful than presentations.
Effective technical writing helps companies organize information in a user-friendly way, keep projects on time and create useful training materials. These tasks are required of all technology team members, not relegated to a designated technical writer. In today’s technology world, every employee needs strong communication skills and the ability to articulate clearly in writing.
Technical Writing in Network and System Administration
As Indeed notes, network administrators install, configure and manage technical infrastructure. Systems administrators set up and maintain the organization’s software and enable user access. Both roles require different types of documentation for different audiences.
A network and system administration career requires communicating technical information clearly and effectively. Configuring hardware, software, upgrades and network systems also involves providing documentation, technical support, troubleshooting IT issues and maintaining security. Technical team members not only communicate with each other but also regularly communicate with users throughout the company who don’t have a technical background. Good writing skills are essential.
IT departments regularly produce reports shared with employees, departments and executives. It’s important to produce documents that can present technical or complex information in a readable way for people without the same technical background. Subject matter experts need to be good communicators to share their expertise.
Preparing for a Successful IT Career
Earning a B.S. in Information Technology – Network and System Administration degree is attainable with the fully online program offered by NKU. The seven-week courses and six available start dates make this program flexible for all students. In addition to preparing students for a career as a network administrator or system administrator, students will learn the principles and techniques of technical writing that will serve them in a number of roles.
Learn more about NKU’s online B.S. in Information Technology – Network and System Administration program.
