Chapter 3 focuses on how technical communication can be used
to incorporate into an organization’s culture.
Along with providing a framework that technical communicators can use to
assimilate within an organization, the chapter follows a team of three women
working a project for Women’s Family Planning Centers (WFPC). As the team with WFPC discovers,
understanding organizational culture helps one meet specific needs as well go
above-and-beyond and meet needs the organization did not even know were
unmet.
On page 78, the author quotes organizational psychologist
Edgar Schein in defining culture: “A pattern of basic assumptions invented by a
given group as it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptations and
internal integration that has worked enough to be considered valid, and
therefore, is to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think
and feel in relation to those problems.” From this definition, the reader can
gather that organizational culture involves learning, adapting, integrating,
and teaching – significant areas to understand by any measure.
The chapter also discusses a heuristic of the “5 W’s” for
fitting into and understanding an organization’s culture: Who, What, When, Where,
and How. Using the answers to these
questions as a foundation, technical communicators can proceed confidently with
their day-to-day work and hold a better understanding of culture.
Chapter 4 delves into how students and professionals can
improve their skills in technical communication. It starts by introducing three technical
writers who graduated from Utah State University; although they have different
jobs, their career paths began with a degree in technical communication. Later in the chapter, the author includes
personal narratives from each of the students on how they developed
professionally in their early career. Although
their careers took different paths, they each considered early preparation
vital in their profession. The chapter
also focuses on the importance of defining the field of “technical
communication,” because as the author relays on page 101, “unless we are able
to define our field, we are unlikely to be recognized as a profession.”
As someone completing a major in the college of business, I
found it helpful that the chapter broke down the different competencies a
practitioner of technical communication might need. Qualities such as “write clearly” and “evaluate
their own and others’ work” stood out as fairly obvious, but other qualities
such as “ability to collaborate” and “assess and learn technology” and “conduct
research and usability tests” might not be readily apparent to someone
unfamiliar with the field (103-104).
(2) Job Posting
Job Title: Land Representative (Surface)
Job is
available in these locations: Midland, Texas, USA
Overview External: Chevron is one of the world's leading energy
companies, with approximately 60,000 employees working in countries around the
world. We explore, produce and transport crude oil and natural gas; refine,
market and distribute fuels and other energy products; manufacture and sell
petrochemical products; generate power; and develop future energy resources,
including biofuels and geothermal energy. To learn more, visit the Explore
Chevron website.
Position Details: Responsibilities
for this position may include but are not limited to:
- Develop and maintain close relationships with the owners of the surface where Chevron has oil and gas leases and or unit operations.
- Oversee placement of locations and staking of such for new wells and expansion of pads for work-overs and re-completions.
- Notify and coordinate meetings, if applicable, with appropriate parties for staking the well.
- Negotiate terms and draft rights-of-way, surface use agreements, damage schedules and all other applicable agreements regarding surface use or damage settlement with surface owner, partners, and government agencies Input and maintain agreement in Land's textual system; use of Chevron's spatial system, QGIS for the printing of maps.
- Provide Operation Supervisors, Health Environment and Safety (HES), additional support on surface problems and serve as contact for surface owners who require special attention.
- Verify surface ownership through checking public records and verify Chevron's access to company assets.
- Oversee and document payment of damages through company process.
- Work with appropriate government and regulatory offices as necessary regarding Chevron's operations.
Required Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree is required.
- A minimum of 1 year of experience in the oil industry or agriculture experience.
- Able to handle tense situations with tact and diplomacy for win-win solution.
- Knowledge of field operations and/or surface work.
- Preferred Qualifications:
- A degree in Energy Management or Agriculture and/or 05
- years in Land work with emphasis in
- surface or prior work in the oil industry.
- Knowledge of oil and gas operations and geography and history of the Permian Basin.
- Must work well with a wide diversity of people.
- Demonstrated effective time management skills.
- Effective communicator and good negotiation skills.
(3) Personal Competencies for Job
- Bachelors degree in Energy Commerce from a leading program in USA
- Industry experience through 3 Summer Internships and exposure through family
- Excellent Negotiator
- Attention to Detail
- Strong Oral and Written Communication Skills (minor in Technical Communication, former writing tutor for 3+ years)
- Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
