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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

Documents

Tech Communications an Overview