Transformation of Writing as a Core Business Function: In many organizations where technical writers are employed today, writing is seen as a strategic business function. Making our presence felt requires that we must work harder towards transforming the profession itself into a core business function. It is our responsibility to educate product stakeholders about the importance of hiring technical communicators. However, we are not at that point yet where we can sit down with them and squeeze documentation into their final project plans.

Call for Leadership: In the context of reduced IT savings, organizations everywhere are constantly looking at budgets, which are tightly coupled with resources. The newfound mantra is to increase the profits with lesser work force. This has a direct implication to our profession as well. We must continually remind management about the value that we provide the company. How can we possibly achieve this? For one, we need people with leadership abilities-managers who do not have to wink at the very mention of costs, who can create an effective business case and opportunities for technical communicators. (I am not talking here of return on investments alone, but a person, similar to a user advocate, who can demonstrate value.)

Does that mean writing is going to align itself with management in the business? Well, I am convinced it will. You have already witnessed this trend in the US, where most manufacturing and service-related jobs migrated to cheaper locations, thus causing layoffs on the pretext of costs. US writers are confident that technical communication jobs will return. Many of them are taking on other professional roles as project managers, editors, and so on during this time.

Indulge in Technology, Innovation, and Business: The next best is to understand where we are going as a profession. For this, indulge in technology, innovation, and business. The first step is in being recognized as a part of the development team. This requires you to be adept at technology. The second is to make your presence felt on an organizational level, which requires innovation. You have to make a parallel between a firm's revenue and your contribution to it, which requires business skills. Try attending meetings with development teams and help influence their decisions. You have to step out of your cubicles and understand how the business works. In addition, we waste much of our time on perishable skills, such as understanding the tools. Our focus should remain on intellectual skills and how we can capitalize on that.

Time for Change
For those entering this profession, the groundwork has started for you. I am wary of those who do not belong to the technical communication profession; people who can be at a large disadvantage in the end. We need to carefully watch where we go from here. Complacency can reverse the trends at any moment.

Technical writing is not just about learning and writing about new technologies, domains, product suites, and processes. It is how you can set business direction, align and motivate others and deliver results.