One of the aspects of technical communication is writing a report that requires gathering information from various sources and presenting this information to the audience in a concise way. Suppose that a technical writer is researching the impact of a siesta on the performance of engineers. If this writer works for an organization that requires them to write about a negative effect of a catnap, they will try to find appropriate information in various scholarly sources. However, if an academic article demonstrates a positive impact of a siesta, but the writer distorts this data in favor of their organization, such an action will be unethical but not illegal.
On the one hand, the workers of this organization may believe that their employer is right, and they do not need a siesta. On the other hand, if the author knows the truth and does not inform the colleagues about it, they will lie to them, which is unethical. If a technical writer does not want to damage relationships with co-workers and to feel remorse, they should avoid such behavior.
In addition, if a technical writer forgets to cite the source or does not cite it intentionally, thus misleading their audience, their action will also be unethical but not illegal. In the United States, plagiarism is not a crime, but it is often considered unethical (Wex Definitions Team, 2021). It may violate other people’s property rights, honor, and code of ethics and result in disciplinary actions. Moreover, plagiarizing another person’s words may ruin a technical writer’s reputation and relationships with their co-workers, friends, and employers. Since both examples of unethical behavior may negatively affect the relationships between the organization and its audience, such behavior should be avoided even though it is not illegal.
Reference
Wex Definitions Team. (2021). Plagiarism. Legal Information Institute. Web.