Chapters 5 and 7

Chapter 5 discusses rhetorical theory within the field of Technical Communication.  One personal takeaway from the chapter were the different means of defining “theory.”  Within academia, “theories” are almost revered because of the extensive research and testing that goes into establishing them.  In lay terms, however, a “theory” could mean just about anything, especially a conjecture without much substantiation.  Another method, supported by Jonathan Culler, holds that theories are 1) interdisciplinary, analytical and speculative, critiques of commons sense, and reflexive (129).  For example, the book highlights a theory of “cultural usability” as a means of understanding how different groups can best be communicated with and understood.  Without a form of cultural understanding, technical communicators might risk slipping into a more robotic or systems-based approach that would neglect the human aspects of the group or organization.

Chapter 7 discusses how the connection between history and organizational culture can be helpful to technical communicators attempting to tailor their work to their audience.  By understanding organizational culture, writers are better able to address the needs of their organization, and historical organizational culture can give clues as to what would be well-received by the organization and in what manner. The author offers a heuristic for using history within technical communication: 1) Know what systems of order the workplace creates, 2) Know how the history and culture of the workplace influences the ordering process, and 3) Know how decisions in the workplace shape and order the actions of others. (175-176). Through understanding history within an organization, technical communicators can understand how its culture came to exist at present, and can give clues as to how it might change in the future.