Journal of Business and Technical Communication Oct 2021

Constructive Distributed Work: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Collaboration and Research for Distributed Teams

Michelle McMullin North Carolina State University ; Bradley Dilger Purdue University West Lafayette

Abstract

Academic work increasingly involves creating digital tools with interdisciplinary teams distributed across institutions and roles. The negative impacts of distributed work are described at length in technical communication scholarship, but such impacts have not yet been realized in collaborative practices. By integrating attention to their core ethical principles, best practices, and work patterns, the authors are developing an ethical, sustainable approach to team building that they call constructive distributed work. This article describes their integrated approach, documents the best practices that guide their research team, and models the three-dimensional thinking that helps them develop sustainable digital tools and ensure the consistent professional development of all team members.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2021-10-01
DOI
10.1177/10506519211021467
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Topics
collaborative writing technical communication professional writing
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Citation Context

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    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  4. McMullin et al. (2022)
    Building ethical distributed teams through sustained attention to infrastructure
    Communication Design Quarterly

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