When we are writing at work, the document we produce needs to achieve an outcome for our organisation.

Perhaps the outcome is people buying a product, workers acting in a specific way, staff well aligned to goals, or some other intent.

Documents we produce at work can be described as ‘functional documents’.

That is, we write them to help the organisation achieve a goal of some sort.

Having this goal clearly in mind as you craft your document gives you focus. It helps you decide what content you will include, how you will organise the ideas, and the words you will use to get these ideas into your readers heads in a way they will they will respond in they way you want.

But, of course, your document must also meet your users’ needs.

Keep both sets of needs in mind as you write – the needs of your organisation and the needs of your reader.