REPORT WRITNG

SKILLS

Definition of Technical
Communication (A)

Course Coordinator

Dr. Ayyaz Qadeer

Definition of Technical
Communication
• A General Definition of Technical Communication
• What Is Technical Communication?
• What Counts as Technical Communication?
• Who Creates Technical Communication?
• How Important Is Technical Communication?
• Major Traits of Technical Communication
• Technical Communication Is Audience Centered
• Technical Communication Is Responsible
• Technical Communication Is Global
• Globalization and Cultural Awareness
What Is Technical
Communication?

• Technical communication is “writing that aims to get work

done, to change people by changing the way they do
things” (Killingsworth and Gilbertson, Signs 232).

• Authors use this kind of writing “to empower readers by

preparing them for and moving them toward effective
action” (Killingsworth and Gilbertson,Signs 222).
What Counts as Technical
Communication?
• The Society for Technical Communication, an international
professional organization, offers a certification to become
a professional technical communicator. In such a capacity,
a communicator is able to do all of the following:
• ◗◗User, Task, and Experience Analysis— Define the users
of the information and analyze the tasks that the
information must support.
• Information Design—Plan information deliverables to
support task requirements. Specify and design the
organization, presentation, distribution, and archival for
each deliverable.
What Counts as Technical
Communication?
• ◗◗Process Management—Plan the deliverables schedule
and monitor the process of fulfillment.
• ◗◗ Information Development— Author content in
conformance with the design plan, through an iterative
process of creation, review, and revision.
• ◗◗ Information Production—Assemble developed
content into required deliverables that conform to all
design, compliance, and production guidelines. Publish,
deliver, and archive
How Important Is Technical
Communication?
• Communication duties are a critical part of most jobs. Survey
after survey has revealed that every week people spend the
equivalent of one or more days communicating.

• In one survey engineers have reported that they spend 34

percent of their time writing on the job.

• “The most critical skill required in today’s business world is

the ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing.
Effective communication has a direct impact on one’s
potential within an organization.” (Bob Collins)
Major Traits of Technical
Communication
• Focus on Audience
• Use Presentational Strategies
• Assume Responsibilities
Technical Writing is
Audience Centered
• Deals with specific situation
• Enables readers to act
• Occurs within a community
• Is interactive
• Has definite purpose
Technical Writing is
Audience Centered
• Deals with Specific Situation

• Specific audience with specific needs

• Writer’s goal is to satisfy the audience’s
needs
Technical Writing is
Audience Centered
• Enables Readers to Act
• Moving them toward effective action
• Figure 1.1
Technical Writing is
Audience Centered
• Occurs within Community

• How a document should look to what tone

you should use address certain people
• Community values
• We write in order to help someone else act
Occurs within Community
THANKS