Technical Communications
An Overview
© M. Reber
3/12/2016
Technical Communications
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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 technical
communications skill?
What industries hire individuals with technical
communications skill?
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What is Technical Communication?
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Applied communication designed to accomplish
specific tasks or to help solve problems, such
as:
 Informing users about an update in computer
software
 Instructing assembly line workers to produce a new
product
 Warning customers about unsafe ways to operate a
machine
 Instructing buyers how to assemble a bicycle
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What is Technical Communication?
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Communication that conveys complex
information in an easy-to-understand manner,
often to inexperienced users, on topics such as:
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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?
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Technical communication exists in many forms:
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User manuals
Training materials
Videotapes
Satellite broadcasts
Workshop outlines and handouts
Reports
Interviews
Persuasive speeches
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Why Should I Care?
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Even if you don’t 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:
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Brainstorming
Notetaking
Organizational planning
Drafting, revising and editing
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Why Should I Care?
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The California Employment Development
Department expects the number of technical
writing jobs to grow 23.3% between 2002 and
2012
Whatever your particular technical profession,
you will spend a significant part of your time
communicating, even more than you spend in
school
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Why Should I Care?
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Technical communication skills can be used in a
variety of fields
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Journalism
Marketing
Business Management
Administration
Software Engineering
Education
Biotech/Pharmaceuticals
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How Does It Relate to My Job?
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Engineers are often responsible for writing
feasibility studies for such technological changes
as:
 New buildings
 Electrical systems
 Computer networks
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How Does it Relate to My Job?
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If your goal is to manage the technical products
division of an industrial corporation, you will use:
 Written specifications
 Lectures
 Videotapes
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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 Is Technical Communication
different from other Communication?
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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 use
rather 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 the
beauty of language or impress with extensive vocabulary
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Technical communication explains how to accomplish a
variety of tasks, some extremely dangerous with grave
consequences for mistakes
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How Is Technical Communication
different from other Communication?
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Technical communication is a collaborative
effort, unlike most other types of writing
 Various individuals work together to create one
technical document:
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writers
editors
technical experts
graphic artists
 You can rarely claim full authorship of any document
 The company’s name, rather than yours, usually
appears on the final product
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How Is Technical Communication
different from other Communication?
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Technical communication represents a
company’s image, brand, practices, and goals
The manner of communication accomplishes
several 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 company’s brand image or equity in
the marketplace
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What are Characteristics of
Technical Communication?
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Reader-Based Orientation
Focus on Subject
Corporate Representation
Collaboration
Style
Organization
Visual Display
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Characteristics include…
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Reader-Based Orientation
 Write and design NOT from the point of view of what
you know, but from what inexperienced users NEED
to know
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Focus on Subject
 The main subject or topic determines the kind of
information you write and the form it takes
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Focus on subject because your purpose is to instruct or
describe rather than to evoke images or emotions
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Characteristics include…
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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 consistently
and precisely
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Characteristics include…
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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
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For example, a computer manual might require input from:
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Software developer
Systems analyst
Technical communicator
Document manager
Graphics specialist
 One person cannot know it all!
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Characteristics include…
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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 your
reader
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Use “you” to talk to the reader rather than writing in passive
voice
 Your document should be “task-oriented” to help the
reader do something, rather than merely descriptive
 Follow the company style guide in every detail to
ensure consistency of voice, style, and conventions
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Characteristics include…
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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 what’s to come so they can
scan a document quickly to get the information they
need
 Present information in a way that will be logical to a
beginner.
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Break the whole into parts
Separate out tasks the user must do chronologically
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Characteristics include…
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Visual Display
 Readers rely on visual cues to process information
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Use visual displays to group information into different units
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Groups are often separated by white space, bullets
or numbers
Use visual displays to order groups hierarchically to convey
order and importance
Filter information by differences and similarities
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Readers will visually abstract the purpose of the elements in a
document based on its relationship to the entire document
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What jobs are available to those with
technical communications skill?
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Summary of Technical Writing Opportunities
 Jobs are not industry specific
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One job fits many industries
Many industries use the same skills
 Multi-Industry Positions
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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
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Business plans
Proposals
Progress reports
Instructions
User’s guides
Organizational policies and procedures
Abstracts
Oral presentations
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
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High-tech
 Examples of high-tech writing jobs
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Technical director or supervisor
Technical writer
Technical editor
Technical translator
Marcomm
 Duties could include
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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
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
 Previous experience writers may need
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Software programming languages
Publishing software applications
Hardware expertise
Graphic design
Desktop publishing
 Average compensation for high-tech technical writing
positions
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$55,444-$141,799
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
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Aerospace and Defense
 Examples of aerospace and defense jobs
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Contract and RFP writer
Reporter and analyst
Grant writer
Technical writer
 Duties could include
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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
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Commercial aviation
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Boeing Co.
Defense
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NASA
Raytheon
Halliburton
Lockheed Martin
 Average compensation for aerospace and defense
technical writers
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Average salary or staff position
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$57,000-$90,000
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
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Pharmaceutical and biotech
 Examples of pharmaceutical and biotech jobs
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Product development
Clinical trial writer
 Duties could include
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Document quality control procedures
Develop and document procedures for FDS regulatory
compliance
Develop and document facilities management and
manufacturing processes
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
 Previous experience writers may need
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Medical or scientific research
Lab procedures
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
 Average compensation for pharmaceutical and biotech
writers
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Average salary for staff position
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$53,000-$90,000
Average payment for freelance positions
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$35-$100+/hour
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
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Media Jobs
 Examples of media jobs
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Editors
Journalists, news reporters, and correspondents
Advertising, marketing, and public relations specialists
Web designers
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Generating stories and leads
Editing articles, scripts, and other copy
Maintaining strategic relationships through written
communication
Planning the aesthetics of a magazine spread or Webpage
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
 Average compensation for media jobs
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Communications editor
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Journalists, news reporters, and correspondents
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From $39,000-$63,000
Advertising, marketing, and public relations specialists
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$64,000
From $60,000-$96,000
Web designers
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$80,000
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
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Agriculture
 Examples of agriculture jobs
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Technical background reports writer
RFP writer
Statistics analysis writer
 Duties could include
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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
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Agriculture is the world’s largest industry
Agriculture industry makes up 40% of world labor force
Major players in the agriculture industry are:
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US Government Department of Agriculture
Agribusiness firms like Archer Daniels Midland
Biotech organizations like Monsanto
 Average compensation for agriculture technical writers
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Average salary for staff position for private sector
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$45,000-$88,000
Average salary for staff position for government job
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$43,000-$93,000
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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
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Non-profit
 Examples of non-profit jobs
 Grant writers
 Contract/budget analyst
 Project coordinator
 Administrative assistant
 Online content writer
 Event planner
 Duties could include
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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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What industries hire individuals with
technical communications skill?
 Average compensation for non-profit technical writers
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Average salary for a staff position:
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From $37,000 to $53,000
Average payment per freelance project
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From $25-$35/hour to $60-$100+/hour
$2,000-$14,000+ per project
Percentage commission
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References for Salary Information
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idealist.org
indeed.com and multiple job listing Websites
CIA World Fact Book
monster.com
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