What does the future hold for technical communicators? 21 st May 2012

What does the future hold for me? 21 st May 2012

How do I prepare myself to thrive as a technical communicator? 21 st May 2012

Illustrate the diversity of our world with 5 example projects Explore the business drivers behind the projects Propose a skills model that helps us to understand our value How I will answer the question

1996 Copyright Exxon Mobil Corporation

2003 Copyright Motorola Solutions Inc

2005 Copyright Roche Diagnostics GmbH

2010 Copyright Skype

2012 Copyright Transport for London

Business Drivers Complex products Complex processes Corporate change Support costs Customer experience Regulation Contract terms Health and Safety Task segmentation Scalability

Emerging trends Products are becoming both simpler to use and more complex to maintain Regulation is increasing and affecting more industries Producers and users are getting further apart: complex supply chains Producers and users are getting closer: simple supply chains Shifts of global manufacturing locations English is still the world language Using local language is increasingly important Customers expect better information about what they buy

Skills model How would you rate your Technical Communication skills? -allocate 100 points between these Points Domain - SME Domain - User Writing Quality Information Design Anything But Text Technical Process Tools Expert Strategy Leader Team Organiser Business Influencer Copyright 3di Information Solutions Ltd.

Summary Technical communication exists as a response to specific needs Many of those needs are the same they have always been There are also more changes that are helping us, than changes that are not To thrive, we must make the connection between what people need, and what we can do to deliver it for them That may not be in your current job specification Understand your skills, and their value to the business Continue to learn, and to adapt, to thrive

Thank you Paul Ballard Managing Director, 3di Information Solutions Ltd President, Institute of Scientific and Technical