Sustainability communication tracks in technical communication: Our value in deriving sound, sustainable solutions

Abstract

Technical communicators need to understand the definition of sustainability for sustainability communication. According to the Brundtland Commission's 1987 report, Our Common Future, if something is sustainable than it considers economics, environment and social equity for sustainable solutions are at the intersection of these three variables. However, according to Michael M. Crow, President of Arizona State University, complications arise because as a society we have immature economic and political tools and there is a need to consider the common good as well as the future. As a profession, technical communication has an important role to play here since its value can be found in helping us to attain innovative and practical solutions for a sound future and be able to communicate them. This paper argues that technical communication is ideal for deriving and communicating sound solutions because of our background in problem solving, logical and creative thinking, technical and business communication, intercultural communication, heuristics, decision-making, cognitive psychology, audience analysis, human factors and usability that enables us to derive a sustainable solution that can be implemented. Therefore, sustainability communication courses should be a track in technical communication programs so students are equipped with the ability to offer practical, realistic and innovative solutions that are understood.