The Changing Face of TechComm and STC Susan Burton, CAE Executive Director 31 October 2008 DocTrain East

What is STC? The professional home for technical communicators A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) individual membership association Our members work in industry, government, academe, and the non-profit sector

The professional home for technical communicators

A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) individual membership association

Our members work in industry, government, academe, and the non-profit sector

The Organization of STC Board of Directors with 14 members elected at large 14,000 members in the US and 50 countries 120 chapters, 25 outside the US 21 Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Board of Directors with 14 members elected at large

14,000 members in the US and 50 countries

120 chapters, 25 outside the US

21 Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Define the Profession 1 2 Communicate the Value 3 Improve the Practice 4 Expand our Partnerships 5 Ensure the Viability

Define the Profession

Define the Profession 1

The Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC) List of 820 professions and occupations with formal definitions and terse descriptions Used by: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment and Training Administration Office of Management and Budget solicited changes that reflect new occupations or fundamental changes to existing ones.

List of 820 professions and occupations with formal definitions and terse descriptions

Used by:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment and Training Administration

Office of Management and Budget solicited changes that reflect new occupations or fundamental changes to existing ones.

Technical Writer Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work. Current Definition

Technical Writer

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

Problems with Current Definition A definition based only on “writers” sends false market signals It’s not about the media Documentation playing new role in consumer protection and international competitiveness Communication changing from one-way static to multi-way dynamic

A definition based only on “writers” sends false market signals

It’s not about the media

Documentation playing new role in consumer protection and international competitiveness

Communication changing from one-way static to multi-way dynamic

Recommended Definition 27-1028 Technical Communicators Develop and design instructional and informational tools needed to assure safe, easy, proper and complete use of technical goods and services . Combine multi-media knowledge and strong communication skills with technical expertise to educate across the entire spectrum of users’ abilities, technical experience, and visual and auditory capabilities.

27-1028 Technical Communicators

Develop and design instructional and informational tools needed to assure safe, easy, proper and complete use of technical goods and services . Combine multi-media knowledge and strong communication skills with technical expertise to educate across the entire spectrum of users’ abilities, technical experience, and visual and auditory capabilities.

TRENDS IN THE PROFESSION

Trends Affecting TechComm Content management Data management Knowledge management Convergence (creation, production, and maintenance of technical content)

Content management

Data management

Knowledge management

Convergence (creation, production, and maintenance of technical content)

Trends Affecting TechComm Multimedia and Web 2.0 technologies for help content and user assistance Graphics Audio Videos Interactive media

Multimedia and Web 2.0 technologies for help content and user assistance

Graphics

Audio

Videos

Interactive media

Trends Affecting TechComm Topic-based authoring Structured authoring (XML)

Topic-based authoring

Structured authoring (XML)

Trends Affecting TechComm Collaboration Open source User-generated content Open communication Twitter Wikis Blogs

Collaboration

Open source

User-generated content

Open communication

Twitter

Wikis

Blogs

Trends Affecting TechComm Communicating directly with users

Communicating directly with users

Trends Affecting TechComm Globalization Localization Translation

Globalization

Localization

Translation

WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED IN DEFINING A PROFESSION?

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Professions have: a unique body of knowledge an ethical requirement that puts the needs of the customer (end-user) ahead of the provider’s commercial interest a recognized credential—such as a license or certification

Professions have:

a unique body of knowledge

an ethical requirement that puts the needs of the customer (end-user) ahead of the provider’s commercial interest

a recognized credential—such as a license or certification

UNIQUE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Body of Knowledge (BoK)? BoK task force Comprehensive and inclusive STC Knowledge Portal Web sitemap

BoK task force

Comprehensive and inclusive

STC Knowledge Portal

Web sitemap

Organized by Domains, Nodes, and Knowledge Elements Information Design & Development Tool Knowledge Collaboration Research & Practice Business Knowledge Professional Development Academic Programs Management TC Standards Deliverables About TC 11 Domains

Information Design & Development

Tool Knowledge

Collaboration

Research & Practice

Business Knowledge

Professional Development

Academic Programs

Management

TC Standards

Deliverables

About TC

Domain: Tool Knowledge Tool Knowledge, Skills, Abilities New Tools & Technology Translation Tools Social Media Tools Other Tools Hardware Tool Methodology Knowledge Web Design Tools About Tools: Evolution Programming Languages Tutorials 11 Nodes

Tool Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

New Tools & Technology

Translation Tools

Social Media Tools

Other Tools

Hardware

Tool Methodology Knowledge

Web Design Tools

About Tools: Evolution

Programming Languages

Tutorials

ETHICAL REQUIREMENT

Providing Ethical Considerations? Special task force of members Puts the needs of the customer (end-user) ahead of the provider’s commercial interest Affects practice of the profession

Special task force of members

Puts the needs of the customer (end-user) ahead of the provider’s commercial interest

Affects practice of the profession

RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS

Credentials Required? Special task force Still under debate: Certification License Degree programs

Special task force

Still under debate:

Certification

License

Degree programs

Communicate the Value By Telling Our Powerful Story 2

Communicating Through Our Publications & Website Monthly magazine Quarterly journal Annual Salary Database Monthly electronic newsletter Frequent front page updates

Monthly magazine

Quarterly journal

Annual Salary Database

Monthly electronic newsletter

Frequent front page updates

Telling Our Powerful Story To employers To students entering the field To interested media To technical communicators

To employers

To students entering the field

To interested media

To technical communicators

Globally Improve the Practice 3

STC’s Most Comprehensive & Affordable Education Event 3–6 May 2009 Atlanta, GA

STC’s Most Comprehensive &

Affordable Education Event

Certificate Programs—intensive, two-day, hands-on sessions More than 100 sessions Organized in 7 tracks to identify interest areas Institutes—for more experienced practitioners

Certificate Programs—intensive, two-day, hands-on sessions

More than 100 sessions

Organized in 7 tracks to identify interest areas

Institutes—for more experienced practitioners

NEW! Attendees will have access for one year after the conference to audio recorded sessions synched with PowerPoint on STC website.

Live Web Seminars Get training without leaving the office 90-minute sessions on timely topics No travel expense Pay per site, not per person Very affordable…$79

Get training without leaving the office

90-minute sessions on timely topics

No travel expense

Pay per site, not per person

Very affordable…$79

Expand Strategic Partnerships 4

Expand strategic partnerships AECT AMWA APMP ASSI&T ATA ATTW Content Wrangler CMPros GALA IEEE/PCS INTECOM LavaCon LISA UPA WritersUA Writing Assistance

AECT

AMWA

APMP

ASSI&T

ATA

ATTW

Content Wrangler

CMPros

GALA

IEEE/PCS

INTECOM

LavaCon

LISA

UPA

WritersUA

Writing Assistance

Ensure the Viability of the Organization 5

Active membership in STC is your best insurance policy against unemployment. — John Hedtke Fellow

Active membership in STC is your best insurance policy against unemployment.

— John Hedtke

Fellow

More benefits that are exclusive to membership

More benefits that are exclusive to membership

Exclusive Member Benefits 14-day advance look at new job postings online Access to salary database with average salaries by geographic area and industries Free access to 5,500 best practices reports Software discounts that save members hundreds of $$$ plus so much more…

14-day advance look at new job postings online

Access to salary database with average salaries by geographic area and industries

Free access to 5,500 best practices reports

Software discounts that save members hundreds of $$$

Discounts on Member Benefits Available to Public Competitions Conference and other education fees

Competitions

Conference and other education fees

Visit the website often www.stc.org Thank you! Thank you!

Visit the website often www.stc.org