What Experience Collaborators Say About Collaborative Writing by Nancy Allen et al, they authors conduct research on collaborative writing on the job. According to the research conducted after surveying at least 200 professionals, 73.5 percent of employees admitted to collaborative writing on the job. This was a big percentage and prompted the case study of collaborative writing. Collaborative writing involves multiple people working together to create a document. Nancy Allen and her colleges conduct research which they deem provides valuable insights into collaborative writing using interviews with experienced writers. Collaborative writing involves writers working and contributing thoughts, ideas, and discussing details about a topic they all agree on.
Working collaboratively requires a great deal of effort from all involved. For a successful writing experience there needs to prior discussion about roles, responsibility, and effort regarding the paper. Each group member should take on a specific role within the collaborative piece. Some roles include researchers, fact checkers, typists, editors, and so much more. These roles could be assigned, or people can choose their role based on their area of expertise. The main idea of collaborating on a shared document is to bring diverse ideas into an organized final document.
Allen et al, explains that collaborative writing does not necessarily need to happen between colleagues. After conducting the study, the author revealed that collaborative writing could include a supervisor and a team member. The authors mention that true collaboration involves shared ownership of the document, allowing all contributors to add to the document and engage in meaningful discussions in the planning stages of the writing. According to the authors the most interaction happens in the planning stages of the writing when all members of the group are discussing “roles, setting goals, designing research plans, generating alternative solutions, and discussing past experiences”.
Although I am not a professional writer, I do have experience working collaboratively. It wasn’t always the best experience, but I always made the best of the experience. Some benefits include an enhanced understanding of the topic, as well as respect for others’ opinion and perspectives. It also help me understand others’ writing style and allows me to make necessary adjustments. The biggest concept about writing collaboratively is the preparation it gives you when doing writing on a professional scale. A great written document can be produced collaboratively when all members of the group participate and do their jobs effectively.
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