ABSTRACT
Research on writing in nonacademic settings has demonstrated that numerous factors influence the development of a report, including a considerable amount of social interaction. Writing in the workplace has become increasingly collaborative and complex. Surveys of writers in the workplace have shown not only that writers in various disciplines spend a substantial portion of their work week writing, but also that they often write as part of a team. Postdrafting collaboration is a fact of life in many firms because reports and other documents generally undergo an elaborate approval process in the work world. Transactions between writers and managers about a text can occur before, while, or after the text is written. Ideally, perhaps, they should occur at all points. Suggestions for fostering better interaction throughout the report process include a variety of mechanisms, all of which would help to cut down on the review time and document cycling.
