Profiling Jobs and Competencies with the tekom Competence ... · Framework for Technical...

Profiling Jobs and Competencies with the tekom Competence Framework

tcworld India 2016

Prof. Sissi Closs - Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences&

Dr. Daniela Straub – tekom Germany

1

What is the tekom Competence Framework?

A tekom advisory body with experienced heads in TD and university teachers has created a cross‐industry Competence Framework for Technical Communication.

This new Competence Framework describes the occupational profile and potential job profiles in technical communication.

©2016 tekom. All rights reserved. tekom Competence Framework for Technical Communication, Prof. Sissi Closs & Dr. Daniela Straub2

Why is a competence framework necessary?

Demand of the industry: Specially trained and qualified staff with specific competencies is required: Technical Communicators! A constant demand for Technical Communicators (EU figures)

1.4% of all employees in the industry sector 3.6% of all employees in the software sector

Lateral entrants with background in engineering and translation

There is a need for a better understanding of the profession and its competence requirements The occupational profile and roles are unclear The competencies and qualifications for Technical Communicators are

unclear

©2016 tekom. All rights reserved. tekom Competence Framework for Technical Communication, Prof. Sissi Closs & Dr. Daniela Straub


The tekom Competence Framework focuses on the creation of information products.

Because the requisite competencies, proficiencies and necessary knowledge were derived from tasks, it was possible, during modeling, to ensure that the Competence Framework was strictly task‐ and action‐oriented.

In doing so, it defines practice‐based and action‐oriented skills of the kind that are used in technical communication workplaces and the requisite qualifications.

4©2016 tekom. All rights reserved. tekom Competence Framework for Technical Communication, Prof. Sissi Closs & Dr. Daniela Straub

How was the tekom Competence Framework developed?

The tekom Competence Framework was developed on the basis of thereference process for developing information products.

It describes r the seven process steps, the respective areas and fields of competence, as well as the underlying thematic blocks with teaching contents and learning objectives in four levels.


Contextanalysis Planning Concept

developmentInformationcreation

Mediaproduction

Publication and

distributionObservation

Information Product (iP) Development

S u p p o r t P r o c e s s e s, e.g. IT Tool Support

S u p p o r t P r o c e s s e s, e.g. Terminology Management

P a r a l l e l P r o c e s s e s, e.g. Translation/Localization

Results of Observation

Arranginglocalization and

translation

Product life‐cyclesupport

Information creation planning

Project Management

Content presentation

Legal requirements

Normative requirements

Target groups

Country‐specificrequirements

Products andtechnologies

Information products

Information architecture

Access

Informationsources

Acquisition and selection of information

Content creation

Tools for creatingcontent

Print media

Electronic media

Automation andprogramming Screen Design

Quality Control for delivery

Printing

Delivery ofelectronic media

User Feedback

Evaluation

Web Monitoring

Media

Internationaliza‐tion/localization

Methods

Information flow

Integration ofcontent Archiving

Quality assurance for content




translation


tekom’s Competence Framework provides clear, basic guidance for companies of any kind and for technical communication employees and people who are interested in or entering the profession who need to make decisions relating to job advertisements, personnel selection, careers, further education, training, curricula, or exams.

The Competence Framework is made available on the Internet to all users and interested persons as a multilingual, interactive profiling tool.


For whom is the tekom Competence Framework intended?

Company managers and personnel departments For drawing up specialist job profiles and roles For targeted personnel recruitment and writing job advertisements For HR development and targeted employee competency development

Further education institutes and training providers, including universities For developing new training offerings and curricula

People interested in further education For identifying and defining individual further education content and

objectives For developing individual, needs‐based further education concepts

Technical communication employees and people who are interested in the profession As guidance on job and workplace requirements As a definition of the occupational profile


Persona “Technical communicator” 3 profiles for jobs in technical

communication:What do these people do and what do

they have to do/know for it?

http://jobsearch.naukri.com/technical-writer-jobs-in-bangalore


Beginner / AssociateTechnical Writer

Experience: 0‐1 years Supports a team of experienced Technical Writers to produce high‐

quality product documentation for software products Generates output for publication and performs file maintenance tasks Assists with routine documentation tasks, such as capturing screen

shots, correcting formatting issues and applying styles Makes minor content updates to product documentation/online help

project topics. Incorporates review feedback and minor edits.


1



Mediaproduction

Publication and





Project Management


Legal requirements


Target groups





Access

Informationsources


Content creation


Print media

Electronic media



Printing


User Feedback

Evaluation

Web Monitoring




Media



Methods

Information flow




translation

Associate Technical Writer


Beginner / Junior Technical Writer

Experience: 2‐4 years Works with internal teams to obtain an in‐depth understanding of the product

and the documentation requirements Ability to extract technical information from software design documents Interviews subject matter experts to extract required information Analyzes existing and potential content, focusing on reuse and single‐sourcing

opportunities Writes easy‐to‐understand user interface text, online help and developer guides Contributes to technical writing processes and standards for the team


1



Mediaproduction

Publication and





Project Management


Legal requirements


Target groups





Access

Informationsources


Content creation


Print media

Electronic media



Printing


User Feedback

Evaluation

Web Monitoring




Media



Methods

Information flow




translation

Junior Technical Writer


Experienced / SeniorTechnical Writer

Experience: 5‐9 years Understands customer requirements and product specifications to collect information for writing

manuals Designs and develops written and/or visual product‐related manuals for print, web, and mobile

devices Analyzes existing content to identify and bridge documentation gaps Identifies and resolves any technical writing/documentation‐related issues Drafts Standard Operating Instructions to standardize layout and format, so that technical

descriptions and instructions can be readily understood by the users Adheres to defined technical writing standards, best practices, style guides, templates, scripts, style

sheets, and graphic libraries Reviews and tests the product for consistency with regards to documentation, identifying problems

and suggesting revisions Works and acts as liaison with other technical writers, multimedia, technology team and reviews

their work Provides input and guidance regarding time estimates for planning and deploying documentation

solutions14


1



Mediaproduction

Publication and





Project Management


Legal requirements


Target groups





Access

Informationsources


Content creation


Print media

Electronic media



Printing


User Feedback

Evaluation

Web Monitoring




Media



Methods

Information flow




translation

SeniorTechnical Writer


Technical Writer Manager

Experience: 6‐9 years

As manager of user assistance, leads a team that designs and writes conceptually complex parts of new and existing documentation

Responsible for directing the activities of a staff that creates, develops, plans, writes and edits operational, instructional, maintenance, or user manuals for paper, multimedia or web‐based publications

Supervises the timely design, production and delivery/completion of product documentation and document sets

Recognizes design dependencies with related product documentation and/or products and proposes design changes or new designs

Provides subject matter guidance company‐wide to all levels Frequently interacts with supervisors and/or functional peer group managers. May interact with senior management


Head of Technical Writers

Experience: 6‐9 years Manages a team of technical writers who will produce high-quality documentation, videos, and other forms of

assistance in coordination with other departments and developers Leads a team of technical writers through the adoption of new tools, standards, and processes, and explores

new deliverables, such as videos Leads various user assistance projects and releases from inception to completion Develops project plans, negotiates the scope, priorities and milestones, manages assignments, creates schedules,

monitors execution, and reports status Keeps manager(s) well-informed about the progress of writers Ensures that documentation meets commitment to quality, ensures that writers follow the style guide Comes up with process changes and leads department-wide initiatives/tasks Conducts workshops for educating writers on best practices related to style and grammar Develops writers through coaching and mentoring on language and style issues Participates in cross-functional teams and collaborates with internal stakeholders to define documentation

requirements and release deliverables Stays up-to-date with the latest industry trends and learns new user assistance tools and technologies


1



Mediaproduction

Publication and





Project Management


Legal requirements


Target groups





Access

Informationsources


Content creation


Print media

Electronic media



Printing


User Feedback

Evaluation

Web Monitoring




Media



Methods

Information flow

Integration ofcontent



translation

Head

tekom 2016© competence framework for technical communication Prof. Sissi Closs & Dr. Daniela Straub

SpecialistProofreading and Quality Assurance

Performs editorial tasks to support technical software documentation Achieves the following quality goals for published content:

High level of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation Adherence to the standards of American English Consistent application of the editorial standards of the organization Consistent use of the terminology standards of the organization


2



Mediaproduction

Publication and





Project Management


Legal requirements


Target groups





Access

Informationsources


Content creation


Print media

Electronic media



Printing


User Feedback

Evaluation

Web Monitoring




Media



Methods

Information flow




translation Specialist


2



Mediaproduction

Publication and





Project Management


Legal requirements


Target groups





Access

Informationsources


Content creation


Print media

Electronic media



Printing


User Feedback

Evaluation

Web Monitoring




Media



Methods

Information flow




translationJunior Technical Writer

Associate Technical WriterSeniorTechnical Writer

Specialist

Head


How to use the profiling tool of the tekom Competence Framework

Company managers and personnel departments For drawing up specialist job profiles and roles Defining key responsibilities and qualification needs For targeted personnel recruitment and writing job advertisements For HR development and targeted employee competency development

http://competences.technical‐communication.org/


Another example of use for thetekom Competence Framework

Further education institutes and training providers, including universities For developing new training offerings and curricula

People interested in further education For identifying and defining individual further

education content and objectives For developing individual, needs‐based further

education concepts


TCTrainNet

Online Trainingand Certificationfor TechnicalWriters, basedon the tekomCompetence Framework forTechnicalCommunication

http://www.technical‐writing‐training‐and‐certification.com/

24


TecComframe

TecComFrame: A joint European Academic Competence Framework and Curricula for the Training of Technical Communicator The project aims to develop standard curricula based on a common academic qualification and competence framework Transparency, recognition, and transferability of the qualification and competencies of Technical Communicators Harmonization with EU‐standards and approaches (EQF‐levels & ECTS‐grades)


Thank you!

Questions?…

Prof. Sissi Closs – [email protected]. Daniela Straub – [email protected]


Profiling Jobs and Competencies with the tekom Competence ... · Framework for Technical...

Documents

Transcript of Profiling Jobs and Competencies with the tekom Competence ... · Framework for Technical...