Identifying the informational needs of readers; A management responsibility

With today's growing emphasis on audience analysis in technical communication there needs to be a sharper focus on the informational needs of various audiences. Much empirical study is needed to provide a fuller definition and understanding of the nature of these informational needs and how they directly affect the writing we do. Effective upward management communication is directly dependent upon the quality of communication moving downward in the organization to the staff, and on how the staff is made to understand the decision-making role and informational needs of the management reader. Of all the people involved in technical communications, the manager of the writers may be best equipped to determine the informational needs of readers, especially those of upper management. A brief review of two empirical studies conducted by the author demonstrates the value of such studies and encourages others to undertake similar studies.