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> >Maybe there could be multiple types of certification - one for
> >those doing policy & procedures, another for software tech
> >writers, etc.
> >There's no reason that there should be a one-size-fits-all
> approach - this has just led to alienation and disagreement.
>
> I agree with Robert on that last line, because I believe that a
> one-size-fits-all approach really can't possibly work. A year ago I
> was writing commercial aircraft jet engine maintenance manuals -
> lots of emphasis on welding, grinding, inspections, and torque
> limits. Today I'm writing network operation and configuration
> manuals - lots of emphasis on servers, security, nodes, VPNs, and
> traps.
>
> How on earth do you come up with a "certification" that covers both
> of these areas?
By ignoring the subject about which you are writing and concentrate
on the process of writing.
How is it that you were able to do both? Is it because of your
knowledge of the subject? I doubt it. I think it has to do with your
writing skills, you knowledge of how to learn the subject, how to
manage a project, how to break down subjects into small-enough
elements that can be handled, etc.
> My personal opinion is that one of the big roadblocks to
> certification is that we in this profession tend to hop from job to
> job, which frequently means "from subject matter to subject
> matter." (I'm not the only one who does this, am I?) A certificate
> will be limiting in those circumstances. I was working at Lucent
Again, the certification isn't on the subject you are writing about,
but the ability to write at some level regardless of the subject.
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