Project management is not a core skill normally associated with technical writing, but it is one that technical communicators should have in their toolkits. I am not talking about heavy-duty project management exemplified by formal processes and important-sounding polysyllabic words, but about common sense — practical project management that is about getting the job done efficiently and effectively.
Technical communicators frequently do work that is or is perceived to be part of a larger project rather than a project unto itself. Unless we are involved in managing a department, we can lose sight of the fact that our work still needs to be managed, even if it is only us doing the managing. Anyone who has ever worked in the high-tech sector is familiar with our part of the project being allocated little more than a line or two at the end of the work plan.
One of the most practical and down-to-earth books on project management that I have read is The Art of Project Management by Scott Berkun (O’Reilly Media, 2005). Berkun’s writing style is lively — he makes the subject entertaining while providing a wealth of practical information. And he cuts through the jargon associated with the topic of project management.
In The Art of Project Management you will find useful tools and techniques immediately applicable in the workplace, described in a way that anyone can understand. Although the book is obviously rooted in the world of engineering and software development, Berkun manages to distill the information into a form that can be applied to other disciplines. Because of this, the book becomes a useful tool for any situation in which a technical communicator might find him- or herself working.
At the risk of stating the obvious, one way that not managing your work or project can cause you to suffer is by allowing other people to disrupt the flow of your work. This is particularly relevant if you need SMEs to provide the information that you need to do your job. If you have to wait for someone to complete his or her work before you can complete yours, you are at the mercy of your co-worker’s process and timing.
I have both observed and experienced how challenging the situation can become if the person you are depending on for your information is overworked or just chaotically disorganized. If you do not manage the situation, you can find yourself continually struggling to deliver your work at the last minute because you have not had sufficient time due to your co-worker’s lateness.
One of the hardest things to learn is to not take extraordinary measures to compensate when someone else’s timing has affected your delivery deadline. Project management includes communicating with the team when you see that deadlines will be affected.
I highly recommend reading The Art of Project Management for the real-life examples and hard-earned experience shared throughout the book. Find some tools that resonate with you and your particular situational challenges, use the checklists provided, and put your creative problem solving to work. After all, what can you lose except some of that stress!
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