Chapter 3: Collaboration Technical Communication: Strategies for College and the Workplace by Dan Jones & Karen Lane Chapter 3: Collaboration Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively Face-to-Face Determine leadership duties early Determine the subject, purpose, scope, audience, and context for the document or project Organize the project effectively —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively Face-to-Face Assign tasks to everyone in the group Organize efficient meetings Create a project schedule —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively Face-to-Face Encourage creative thinking - Use brainstorming - Use mind mapping —continued—

Collaborating Effectively Face-to-Face Be sensitive to cultural and gender differences within the group Determine in advance how differences of opinion will be resolved Determine how each group member’s contribution will be reviewed and evaluated . Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively Online Keep in mind that you are communicating with other people Agree on the method or methods for communicating online Determine an appropriate style for group communications —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively Online Be alert of peak Internet times Establish an agenda Make sure someone saves all of the work from each session —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively Online Use the tools with which you are most familiar Use private communications when necessary Be alert to new tools that can help you collaborate more effectively Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively in Peer Reviews Before commenting, read the entire document Know the purpose and intended audience of the document Be thorough; read carefully —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively in Peer Reviews Note errors in the margins or attach a separate sheet of comments Ask your peers to clarify their points or to tell you their concerns —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively in Peer Reviews Rank your suggestions for revisions Find something good to say about the document—and say it first Offer constructive criticism —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Collaborating Effectively in Peer Reviews Treat your peers courteously and professionally Be helpful and take your peer reviews seriously Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Benefiting From Reviews of Your Work Remember that the criticism is about your document, not about you If you are uncertain about the criticism offered, ask questions Be receptive and take your reviewer’s comments seriously —continued— Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Benefiting From Reviews of Your Work Learn from the reviews of others Reward your reviewers! It’s a mutually beneficial relationship Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.