Getting Personal: Individuality, Innovation, and Technical Communication

Carol J. Steiner RMIT University

Abstract

This philosophical article explores individuality and innovation (creating new technology) as they relate to the communication approaches of scientists, engineers, and technologists. I suggest that effective communication between technical and non-technical people is difficult because technical communication lacks humanity, a personal dimension. I also suggest that dimension is lacking because technical people give up their identity to be considered competent and I argue that a different approach to communication education for scientists, engineers, and technologists is required to equip them with requisite communication skills to make their personal contribution to successful innovation.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1999-10-01
DOI
10.2190/cmbb-e8k1-827t-f38k
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

References (65) · 2 in this index

  1. From Analysis to Action: Undergraduate Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and…
  2. National Science Foundation Convocation on Undergraduate Education
  3. Shaping the Future: New Expectations for Undergraduate Education in Science, Mathematics,…
  4. Changing the Culture: Engineering Education into the Future
  5. Learning for Life: Final Report of the West Review of Higher Education
Show all 65 →
  1. 10.1080/08956308.1998.11671190
  2. 10.2307/41165899
  3. Manager Update
  4. Management Review
  5. 10.1016/0737-6782(95)00058-5
  6. Drug and Cosmetic Industry
  7. 10.1177/001872679805100402
  8. The Leadership Challenge: How to Keep Getting Extraordinary Things Done in Organisations
  9. Harvard Business Review
  10. Journal for Quality and Participation
  11. Harvard Business Review
  12. 10.1111/1467-8616.00032
  13. 10.1177/107179199900500208
  14. 10.1016/0268-4012(95)00007-T
  15. 10.1021/ed074p722
  16. The McKinsey Quarterly
  17. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  18. 10.1109/13.284983
  19. 10.1016/1047-8310(91)90016-H
  20. 10.1177/0021886395312007
  21. Managing New Product and Process Development: Text and Cases
  22. 10.1177/001872679604900507
  23. The Uneasy Alliance: Managing the Productivity-Technology Dilemma
  24. Journal for Quality and Participation
  25. Fortune
  26. Management Research News
  27. Hospital Materiel Management Quarterly
  28. Management Guide for Engineers and Technical Administrators
  29. Nuunally P. and Saad S., Technical and Business Communication for Entrepreneurs, in Proceedings of the 1993 I…
  30. 10.1111/j.1467-9310.1992.tb00812.x
  31. 10.1021/ed074p720
  32. 10.1021/ed073p840
  33. Being and Time
  34. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
  35. Heidegger M., The Age of the World Picture, in The Question Concerning Technology and Other Essays, Harper an…
  36. Connected Knowledge: Science, Philosophy and Education
  37. 10.1063/1.881421
  38. Science in Action
  39. The Social Construction of Technological Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and His…
  40. Scientific Practice and Ordinary Action
  41. 10.7208/chicago/9780226668208.001.0001
  42. The Scientific Attitude
  43. 10.1152/advances.1997.272.6.S31
  44. The Myth of Science
  45. 10.1177/107780049700300404
  46. 10.1016/0263-2373(96)00020-5
  47. Engineering Culture: Control and Commitment in a High-Tech Corporation
  48. Executive Excellence
  49. 10.1287/mnsc.42.11.1592
  50. Personnel Review
  51. 10.1108/09534819410072683
  52. Researcher-Technology Management
  53. 10.1177/0021886394301005
  54. 10.3233/EFI-1994-12205
  55. 10.1177/030631299029004005
  56. Steiner Carol J., Innovating Engineers and the Courage to be Incompetent, Proceedings of the World Innovation…
  57. 10.1109/13.660779
  58. Steiner Carol J., Meeting Employer Demand for Resolute Communicators: Extra-Disciplinary Education for Scient…
  59. Steiner Carol J., Preparing Students for Cross-Discipline Communication: What's the Problem? Australian Commu…
  60. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication