Technical Documents as Information Systems

Information is the stock in trade for all technical communicators, yet the concept of information as it applies to technical communication has not been well defined. This article presents an understanding of information that, it is hoped, will promote the development of a unified, theoretical base for the practice of technical communication. The concept of information is examined from the perspectives of mathematics, engineering, biology, and human behavior. Characteristics of information common to all information systems are brought forward to a key understanding-that information is inextricably linked with behavior. It follows that the first step in designing an information product is to state its purpose in terms of a desired behavioral outcome. Measuring behavior then becomes the most significant measure of an information product's quality.