tech communications an overview
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M. Reber10/10/2012
Technical Communications
An Overview
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Technical Communications
What is technical communication?
Why should I care?
How does technical communication relate to my job? How is technical communication different from other
communication?
What are characteristics of technical communication?
What jobs are available to those with technicalcommunications skill?
What industries hire individuals with technicalcommunications skill?
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What is Technical Communication?
Applied communicationdesigned to accomplishspecific tasks or to help solve problems, suchas: Informing users about an update in computer
software
Instructing assembly line workers to produce a newproduct
Warning customers about unsafe ways to operate amachine
Instructing buyers how to assemble a bicycle
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What is Technical Communication?
Communication that conveys complexinformation in an easy-to-understand manner,often to inexperienced users, on topics such as: Repairing a copy machine
Selecting a home computer
Operating a digital camera
Creating handmade ceramics
Assembling a kite
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What is Technical Communication?
Technical communication exists in many forms:
User manuals
Training materials Videotapes
Satellite broadcasts
Workshop outlines and handouts
Reports
Interviews
Persuasive speeches
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Why Should I Care?
Even if you dont plan to become a professional
communicator, you will be, or already are, a
technical professional who communicates! Studies show that 44% of your professional time
will be spent in some kind of writing activity,including:
Brainstorming
Notetaking
Organizational planning
Drafting, revising and editing6
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Why Should I Care?
The California Employment DevelopmentDepartment expects the number of technical
writing jobs to grow 23.3% between 2002 and2012
Whatever your particular technical profession,you will spend a significant part of your time
communicating, even more than you spend inschool
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Why Should I Care?
Technical communication skills can be used in avariety of fields Journalism
Marketing
Business Management
Administration
Software Engineering
Education
Biotech/Pharmaceuticals
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How Does it Relate to My Job?
If your goal is to manage the technical productsdivision of an industrial corporation, you will use: Written specifications
Lectures
Videotapes
These items will then teach:
Technicians to install products Sales people to sell products
Customers to use and adapt those products
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How Does It Relate to My Job?
Engineers are often responsible for writingfeasibility studies for such technological changes
as: New buildings
Electrical systems
Computer networks
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How Is Technical Communication
different from other Communication? Technical communication emphasizes conveying
information so it can be understood quickly/easily
It differs from other types of communication in its
emphasis on clarity, accuracy, conciseness, consistency,readability, and usability
Technical communication is usually put to some userather than enjoyed for its own sake Individual voice, poetic expression, and metaphorical language
are generally de-emphasized, discouraged, or entirely eliminated
The purpose of communication is to instruct, not showcase thebeauty of language or impress with extensive vocabulary
Technical communication explains how to accomplish avariety of tasks, some extremely dangerous with graveconsequences for mistakes 11
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How Is Technical Communication
different from other Communication? Technical communication is a collaborative
effort, unlike most other types of writing Various individuals work together to create one
technical document: writers
editors
technical experts
graphic artists You can rarely claim full authorship of any document
The companys name, rather than yours, usuallyappears on the final product
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How Is Technical Communication
different from other Communication? Technical communication represents a
companys image, brand, practices, and goals
The manner of communication accomplishesseveral purposes:
Conveys how a company is perceived
Conveys a generally accepted image of what a
company "stands for" Suggests a mental picture to the public
Reinforces the companys brand image or equity in
the marketplace
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What are Characteristics of
Technical Communication? Reader-Based Orientation
Focus on Subject
Corporate Representation Collaboration
Style
Organization Visual Display
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Characteristics include
Reader-Based Orientation
Write and design NOT from the point of view of what
you know, but from what inexperienced users NEEDto know
Focus on Subject
The main subject or topic determines the kind of
information you write and the form it takes Focus on subject because your purpose is to instruct or
describe rather than to evoke images or emotions
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Characteristics include
Corporate Representation
When you create documents at work, you create them
as a representative of the company that hired you Communication within some companies must reflect
corporate images and philosophy in regards to safety,outreach to the public, environmental awareness, etc.
You must follow the company style guide consistentlyand precisely
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Characteristics include
Collaboration
Different people possess different skills, education,
experience, or special knowledge The most effective documents are often produced by
collaborative groups or teams For example, a computer manual might require input from:
Software developer
Systems analyst
Technical communicator
Document manager
Graphics specialist
One person cannot know it all! 17
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Characteristics include
Style Use terminology, language, and organization the
reader can understand and readily identify with.
Communicate directly, personally and in a complete,no-nonsense manner
Avoid being overly formal and distant from yourreader
Use you to talk to the reader rather than writing in passivevoice
Your document should be task-oriented to help thereader do something, rather than merely descriptive
Follow the company style guide in every detail to
ensure consistency of voice, style, and conventions 18
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Characteristics include
Organization
Use deductive organization reveal your conclusions
up front and then demonstrate how you reached them Give readers a preview of whats to come so they can
scan a document quickly to get the information theyneed
Present information in a way that will be logical to abeginner. Break the whole into parts
Separate out tasks the user must do chronologically
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Characteristics include
Visual Display Readers rely on visual cues to process information
Use visual displays to group information into different units Groups are often separated by white space, bullets
or numbers
Use visual displays to order groups hierarchically to conveyorder and importance
Filter information by differences and similarities
Readers will visually abstract the purpose of the elements in adocument based on its relationship to the entire document
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What jobs are available to those with
technical communications skill? Summary of Technical Writing Opportunities
Jobs are not industry specific
One job fits many industries Many industries use the same skills
Multi-Industry Positions Copy writer, marketer
Web content writer
Technical editor
Grant writer
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What jobs are available to those with
technical communications skill? Multi-Industry Writing Skills
Business plans
Proposals
Progress reports
Instructions
Users guides
Organizational policies and procedures
Abstracts Oral presentations
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? High-tech
Examples of high-tech writing jobs
Technical director or supervisor Technical writer
Technical editor
Technical translator
Marcomm
Duties could include Develop standard documentation methods
Create and/or edit user guides or marketing materials
Oversee internal processes and documentation
Administer overall goals and policies for TWRT department 23
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Previous experience writers may need
Software programming languages
Publishing software applications
Hardware expertise
Graphic design
Desktop publishing
Average compensation for high-tech technical writing
positions $55,444-$141,799
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Aerospace and Defense
Examples of aerospace and defense jobs Contract and RFP writer
Reporter and analyst
Grant writer
Technical writer
Duties could include Writing manuals and procedures
Acquiring contracts
Scheduling
Documenting research and test findings
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Examples of aerospace and defense industries
Commercial aviation
Boeing Co.
Defense NASA
Raytheon
Halliburton
Lockheed Martin
Average compensation for aerospace and defensetechnical writers Average salary or staff position
$57,000-$90,000
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Pharmaceutical and biotech
Examples of pharmaceutical and biotech jobs Product development
Clinical trial writer
Duties could include Document quality control procedures
Develop and document procedures for FDS regulatory
compliance
Develop and document facilities management andmanufacturing processes
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Previous experience writers may need
Medical or scientific research
Lab procedures
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Average compensation for pharmaceutical and biotechwriters Average salary for staff position
$53,000-$90,000 Average payment for freelance positions
$35-$100+/hour
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Media Jobs
Examples of media jobs Editors
Journalists, news reporters, and correspondents
Advertising, marketing, and public relations specialists
Web designers
Duties could include Generating stories and leads
Editing articles, scripts, and other copy
Maintaining strategic relationships through writtencommunication
Planning the aesthetics of a magazine spread or Webpage 29
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Average compensation for media jobs
Communications editor $64,000
Journalists, news reporters, and correspondents From $39,000-$63,000
Advertising, marketing, and public relations specialists From $60,000-$96,000
Web designers $80,000
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Agriculture
Examples of agriculture jobs Technical background reports writer
RFP writer
Statistics analysis writer
Duties could include Documenting procedures and practices
Writing technical manuals for equipment
Developing quality standards to government specifications
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Agriculture industry facts
Agriculture is the worlds largest industry
Agriculture industry makes up 40% of world labor force
Major players in the agriculture industry are: US Government Department of Agriculture
Agribusiness firms like Archer Daniels Midland
Biotech organizations like Monsanto
Average compensation for agriculture technical writers
Average salary for staff position for private sector
$45,000-$88,000
Average salary for staff position for government job
$43,000-$93,000
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Non-profit
Examples of non-profit jobs Grant writers
Contract/budget analyst
Project coordinator
Duties could include Writing internal management guides
Writing newsletters and press releases
Designing brochures and flyers
Writing case statements
Writing funder and board reports
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Administrative assistant Online content writer
Event planner
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill? Average compensation for non-profit technical writers
Average salary for a staff position:
From $37,000 to $53,000
Average payment per freelance project From $25-$35/hour to $60-$100+/hour
$2,000-$14,000+ per project
Percentage commission
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References for Salary Information
idealist.org
indeed.com and multiple job listing Websites
CIA World Fact Book
monster.com