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Technical Managerial Written Skills

Writing effective documents to influence teams and decision-makers is one of the essential elements of successful management. Additionally, in all of its forms, writing remains one of the primary vehicles by which a leader exercises leadership. Just like the other forms of communication, it must be coherent, complete, make a clear argument, and include appropriate decorum. This course focuses on these attributes as applied in all forms of modern written communication.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

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Syllabus

Effective Managerial Writing

The best trait when working to achieve effective and professional writing is humility. Although all of us consider ourselves above-average writers, the fact is that there are only a few who rise above the rest with "perfect" documents that achieve "flow", and exercise exceptional word choice, correct paragraph sentence and paragraph structure, and perfect grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and hyphenation. These, then are the attributes and standards we hope to achieve starting with this first module. Our goal is that each of us rise above our current level of writing expertise.

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Develops professional writing skills that are highly relevant to industry and leadership

Provides a comprehensive study of professional writing styles, techniques, and best practices

Teaches effective managerial writing which is essential for successful management in engineering

Covers various forms of written communication including letters, proposals, and executive summaries

Taught by Daniel Moorer, an expert in engineering management and communication

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Reviews summary

Practical writing for technical leaders

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and essential resource for technical professionals aiming to improve their written communication skills. Students particularly value the focus on crafting compelling executive summaries and well-structured research proposals, finding the content directly applicable to their roles. Many praise the clear explanations and engaging instruction. While the course provides a solid foundation in clarity and conciseness, some experienced learners felt certain grammar exercises were too basic. A few noted the section on formal letters felt outdated, and the peer review system sometimes offered inconsistent feedback. Overall, it's considered excellent for refining existing skills.

The instructor is praised for clear explanations and an effective teaching style.

"The instructor's explanations were clear and engaging. I feel much more confident in my written communications now."

"Excellent course! The instructor is fantastic and the material is highly relevant for managers."

"I found the instructor’s approach made complex topics easy to understand."

Strongly reinforces essential writing principles like clarity, coherence, and proofreading.

"The focus on structuring arguments and making a clear case is invaluable."

"I particularly liked the emphasis on proofreading and attention to detail."

"Solid course for foundational writing skills. It helped me tighten up my proposals and internal reports."

Provides excellent guidance on creating effective executive summaries and research proposals.

"The section on writing effective executive summaries was particularly insightful, providing practical templates and advice I could immediately apply."

"The module on research proposals was well-structured, but I wished there were more real-world examples beyond the provided templates."

"I particularly enjoyed learning how to craft compelling executive summaries that grab attention."

The course content is highly practical and directly applicable to professional roles.

"This course was incredibly helpful for my role as a project manager. The section on writing effective executive summaries was particularly insightful, providing practical templates and advice I could immediately apply."

"Absolutely essential for anyone in a technical leadership position. The focus on clarity and conciseness in formal letters and proposals significantly improved my professional correspondence."

"A very practical course that directly applies to daily work. The focus on structuring arguments and making a clear case is invaluable."

The quality of feedback received through the peer review system can vary.

"While the core content is strong, the peer review system sometimes felt inconsistent, with feedback varying widely in quality."

"The peer feedback was mostly good, but occasionally I got unhelpful reviews."

"I wish the peer review process offered more consistent and constructive criticism."

Certain sections, like formal letters, may feel outdated to some learners.

"I found some parts of the course outdated, especially the section on formal letters. Modern business communication relies more on emails and short internal memos."

"While the principles are sound, the application felt a bit archaic. Not what I expected for 'modern written communication.'"

"It felt a bit dry at times, and I struggled to stay engaged. The concepts are good, but the delivery could be improved."

Some content may be too basic for highly experienced writers seeking advanced strategies.

"The content is decent, but some of the grammar exercises felt a bit too basic for someone with my level of experience. I was hoping for more advanced strategies for influencing through writing."

"It's a good starting point, but perhaps not for experienced professionals."

"It's more about refining existing skills than building from scratch."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Technical Managerial Written Skills with these activities:

Review effective writing

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Improve your written communication skills by reviewing key concepts of effective writing.

Browse courses on Writing Techniques

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Identify elements of effective writing
Analyze examples of well-written documents
Practice writing clear and concise sentences

Review grammar and punctuation

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Enhance your understanding of fundamental grammar and punctuation rules to improve the accuracy and clarity of your writing.

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Review grammar and punctuation concepts
Practice applying grammar and punctuation rules

Writing peer review and feedback

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Improve your writing skills and gain valuable feedback by engaging in peer review and feedback sessions.

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Exchange writing samples with a peer
Provide constructive feedback on each other's writing
Revise and improve your writing based on feedback

Six other activities

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Peer mentoring

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Strengthen your understanding of concepts by mentoring and assisting other learners in the course.

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Identify an area where you excel
Provide guidance and support to other learners
Engage in discussions and share resources

Review - On Writing Well by William Zinsser

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Gain insights into the art of writing from a renowned author and improve your ability to communicate effectively.

View Extraordinary Lives on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key principles
Apply the principles to your writing practice
Discuss the book's ideas with others

Letter writing practice

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Reinforce the fundamentals of letter writing and improve your ability to compose professional and persuasive letters.

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Review letter writing formats
Practice writing letters to various audiences
Receive feedback on your letters

Communicating with impact - Workshop

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Enhance your written communication skills through interactive workshops and discussions led by industry experts.

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Attend a workshop on effective writing
Participate in group exercises and discussions
Receive personalized feedback and guidance

Executive summary writing

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Learn best practices for writing effective executive summaries that capture key points and drive decision-making.

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Review examples of strong executive summaries
Identify key elements and structure of executive summaries
Practice writing executive summaries for different scenarios

Research proposal development

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Develop your skills in creating compelling research proposals that clearly articulate research questions, objectives, and methodologies.

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Identify a research topic and formulate a hypothesis
Review literature and conduct preliminary research
Write a research proposal outline
Draft and revise the research proposal

Career center

Learners who complete Technical Managerial Written Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create user manuals, white papers, and other documents that explain technical information. They must be able to write clearly and concisely, and they must be able to understand and explain complex technical concepts. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Technical Writers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective technical documents. The course also covers the importance of user-centered writing, which is essential for creating documents that are easy to understand and use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Technical Communicator

Technical Communicators write and edit technical documentation, such as user manuals, white papers, and marketing materials. They must be able to write clearly and concisely, and they must be able to understand and explain complex technical concepts. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Technical Communicators by providing them with the skills they need to write effective technical documents. The course also covers the importance of audience analysis, which is essential for creating documents that are tailored to the needs of the intended audience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Communicator

Management Consultant

Management Consultants provide guidance to businesses on how to improve their performance. They analyze business processes, identify areas for improvement, and develop and implement solutions. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Management Consultants by providing them with the skills they need to write effective reports, proposals, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of clear and concise writing, which is essential for communicating complex information to clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and direct projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. They must be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Project Managers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective project plans, status reports, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of project management tools and techniques, which are essential for success in this role.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and identify areas for improvement. They develop and implement solutions that can help businesses improve their performance. They must be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Business Analysts by providing them with the skills they need to write effective business analysis reports, proposals, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of data analysis and modeling, which are essential for identifying areas for improvement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design and develop computer systems. They must be able to understand and analyze business requirements, and they must be able to create and implement technical solutions. They must be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Systems Analysts by providing them with the skills they need to write effective system requirements documents, design documents, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of systems analysis and design techniques, which are essential for developing systems that meet the needs of users.

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Engineering Manager

Engineering Managers lead and manage teams of engineers. They are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing engineering projects. They must be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Engineering Managers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective reports, proposals, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of leadership and management skills, which are essential for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers lead the development and launch of new products. They are responsible for defining the product vision, setting the product roadmap, and working with engineers and designers to bring the product to market. They must be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Product Managers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective product requirements documents, marketing materials, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of user research and feedback, which are essential for developing products that meet the needs of customers.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software systems. They must be able to understand and analyze user requirements, and they must be able to create and implement technical solutions. They must be able to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Software Engineers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective software requirements documents, design documents, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of software engineering tools and techniques, which are essential for developing software systems that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses make better decisions. They must be able to understand and analyze data, and they must be able to communicate their findings effectively. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Data Scientists by providing them with the skills they need to write effective data analysis reports, presentations, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of data visualization and communication, which are essential for communicating complex data insights to non-technical audiences.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts analyze financial data and make recommendations on investments. They must be able to understand and analyze financial statements, and they must be able to communicate their findings effectively. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course can help Financial Analysts by providing them with the skills they need to write effective financial analysis reports, presentations, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of financial modeling and valuation, which are essential for understanding and making recommendations on investments.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. They must be able to understand and analyze customer needs, and they must be able to create and implement marketing strategies. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course may be useful for Marketing Managers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective marketing plans, proposals, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of marketing research and analytics, which are essential for understanding customer needs and developing effective marketing campaigns.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and manage teams of salespeople. They are responsible for setting sales targets, developing sales strategies, and motivating and training salespeople. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course may be useful for Sales Managers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective sales plans, proposals, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of leadership and management skills, which are essential for success in this role.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers lead and manage human resources departments. They are responsible for developing and implementing HR policies and procedures, and they must be able to communicate effectively with both employees and management. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course may be useful for Human Resources Managers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective HR policies, procedures, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of HR law and compliance, which are essential for developing and implementing HR policies that are compliant with the law.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers lead and manage operations departments. They are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing operations activities, and they must be able to communicate effectively with both employees and management. The Technical Managerial Written Skills course may be useful for Operations Managers by providing them with the skills they need to write effective operations plans, procedures, and other documents that will influence decision-makers. The course also covers the importance of operations management tools and techniques, which are essential for planning and managing operations activities effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Technical Managerial Written Skills.

The Elements of Style

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This classic guide to writing style and usage must-read for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills. It provides clear and concise rules for grammar, punctuation, and style, and it is full of helpful examples and exercises.

Technical Managerial Written Skills

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical writing for technical leaders

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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