Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By
Courtney Martin
Dr. Kain
Engl 7765; Section 601
July 21, 2012
Page | 1
Table of Contents
Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
Case 5
12
Case 8
17
Page | 2
aardvark
Memo
To:
From:
Date:
3/22/15
Re:
Page | 3
Goal 2: Create the most user friendly, yet informative documents in the
software industry.
Objective 1: Develop a departmental style manual that will allow for
consistency in designing product documentation. (Ongoing but begin in
the first month)
Objective 2: Develop templates that will create an expected, easy-tofollow format for users. (Within second month)
Objective 3: Develop a peer review process that will effectively
assess and edit all documentation. (Within 2 months)
Goal 3: Focus on creating the best possible experience for the customer.
Objective 1: Create a customer panel to discuss the needs and wants
concerning the product and documentation. (Within second month)
Objective 2: Create an online group solely to evaluate the language
used within the documents. (Within first month)
Page | 4
aardvark
Memo
To:
Human Resources
From:
Date:
3/22/15
Re:
As you know, I have been given the task of recruiting a technical communications team. I envision
having three levels of employees below the managerial level. I have included the job titles and
salaries I recommend in the chart below. My rationale is included after the chart so that you may
understand from where I drew my recommendations.
Position Title
Information Developer I
Information Developer II
Information Developer III
Salary Range
$33,000 - $58,000
$48,000 - $70,000
$60,000 - $90,000
Rationale:
The figures in the next section were reported by the Society for Technical Communication in its annual
salary database. The latest accessible database is the 2010-11 document. If you would like to
analyze this document or look for other information, start with the societys website: www.stc.org. In
addition, while developing my recommendations for the above salary ranges, I attempted to account
for three areas outside the reported salary ranges: 1) inflation, 2) incentive to physically move, and 3)
negative job growth. As a result, while I started with the basic salaries reported in the STC salary
database, I increased or decreased my estimate in accordance when the additional factors were
considered.
According to the Coin News Media Group, LLC, there has been a 2.2% inflation rate since 2011. An
increase in salary from the 2010-11 document seems necessary to account for this inflation. Also, it is
possible that new hires may have to be lured away from other metropolitan regions outside NC.
According to the STC data, in 2010 not one of the top ten metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) for the
number of technical writers employed could be found in NC. This would also indicate a need to
increase the salary to have enough incentive for a candidate to move to a new state. The salary may
not need a large increase as NC also has a lower cost of living than most of the MSAs listed; for
some, the NC cost of living is significantly lower. Therefore, both inflation and the incentive needed to
move to a new locale caused me to increase my estimated salary range to near the range listed
Page | 5
above. On the other hand, the STC data indicates a fall in demand for technical writers. The
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services section fell 2.7%, or by 490 jobs, in 2010, which
seems to indicate a competitive job market. With this added information, I lowered my salary range
estimates slightly.
Job Titles
The TC department will be responsible for a wide range of products. Since TC staff do not simply
write or communicate, it is important that the job title fit the job. The TC staff will need to create, or
develop, products of many forms. They will handle information in multiply formats both for the
customer and for internal organizational purposes. Therefore, Information Developer is a more apt
job title.
Job Descriptions
Information Developer
I
Information Developer
II
Information Developer
III
Reward System
I plan to incorporate two separate reward systems within the department. The first will be to formally
recognize superior work completed by an employee. The second will be less formal and intended to
foster collaboration among coworkers and a friendly work atmosphere.
1. Each quarter I would like to award any employee that has demonstrated outstanding
performance.
Page | 6
a. I recommend that all employees be eligible to receive a bonus of 1.5% each quarter.
The criteria would include meeting all small and large deadlines, receiving very good or
excellent on product reviews, and attempting to foster an atmosphere of cooperation.
b. I would also purchase a plaque with multiple spots to list people. This plaque would
hang in the office. Each quarter, one persons name could be added to the plaque. The
original plaque will cost $130, including the first engraved name. Each additional
engraving will cost approximately $25.
2. I intend to create an area on a wall where employees can post thank you notes to other
employees who have helped in some fashion. The thank you could be for anything from
solving a problem with a design layout to getting someone a cup of coffee. At the end of
each month, these will all go in a basket and one will be drawn. That person will receive a
gift card for one of several options. The gift card may be for a car wash, lunch at a
restaurant, or some other possibility depending on the interests of those I end up hiring. I
estimate that I will give one $20 gift card each month.
Appendix 1
STC Salary Database Pertinent Information
Page | 7
In 2010, the median wage for technical communicators in NC was $60,001 to $70,000.
Specifically within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services section of technical
communications:
o
The annual wage in the 10th percentile was $36,910 and $48,420 in the 25th
percentile. I deemed this an indication that the Information Developer I salary range
should be $33,000 to $58,000.
The median wage was $64, 680, which is in line with the median wages of technical
communicators in NC. I used the median pay as well as the scale for Information
Developer I to conclude that the Information Developer II salary range should be
$48,000 to $70,000.
The annual wage in the 75th percentile was $82,400. I used the 75th percentile
wage, as well as my estimated ranges for Information Developer I & II, as my basis
for suggesting a salary range of $60,000 to $90,000 for Information Developer III.
Page | 8
aardvar
k
Variables $6,750
Markup $8,775
Travel $3,000
Software $1,000
Tri-fold Brochure
Midas Software
TC Hours
$900
Variables
$270
Page | 9
Markup $351
aardvar
k
Installation Manua
Variables $24,000
Markup $31,200
Travel $3,000
Software $1,000
TC Hours $15,750
Variables $4,725
Installation Manual
Currently, engineers must make trips to
install large financial software programs.
P a g e | 10
Markup $6
Vertical-Market Documents
The marketing and sales department
believes they could sell a VerticalMarket document to 5,000 businesses if
the TC department were to create it.
They believe they can sell these
documents for $100 each. The revenue
would be $500,000. Subtract the
development costs incurred by the TC
Totals
aardvar
k
When adding up all the costs and revenues generated by the TC Department, I have
determined that an efficient use of technical communicators skills would create a gain
of $1,605,561.50 for the company.
If I take into account that the upcoming year will be the first year for the TC department,
I must consider that acculturation and needed training may add to the variables I have
already calculated for having a new staff and department. But, as you can see in the
table below, if I were to increase costs and decrease revenue by $1 million, the TC
Department would still positively affect the financial situation of the company.
Savings
Call Center
Vertical-Market
Documents
Installation Manual
Reduction in Midias
Returns
Cost Reduction per
100,000 Units
Avoidance
Revenue
Costs
$84,160.00
$500,000.0
0 $82,235.00
$400,000.0
0
$30,617.50
$400,000.0
0
$517,000.
00
$139,200.0
0
$1,521.00
$42,025.00
$1,901,160
.00
Total Costs:
$295,598.5
0
$1,605,561
Net Gain:
.50
P a g e | 11
Conclusion
Accurately and efficiently disseminating information is an effective means to save both
time and money. The job of the TC Department is to save time and money both for the
company and for the customer.
aardvar
k
P a g e | 12
aardvark
Memo
To:
From:
Date:
3/22/15
Re:
Per your request, I have developed a schedule for my continued education in the field of technical
communications as well as management. The three-year schedule and costs are attached. I have
attempted to keep cost, both in money and my time from work, to a minimum in most areas. There
are many books, journal publications, webinars, and online seminars from which I can learn.
I have included the yearly membership fee for the Society for Technical Communication (STC). The
classic membership would cost $250, but considering the main benefit of interest in this case is the
training available it would be better to get the education membership. As long as I take advantage of
the free and reduced cost options within the Gold Education Membership, it will save the company
$447.50 (after subtracting the $145 increase in the membership cost). In addition, the TechComm
Summit is run by the STC. Either membership saves an additional $300 for the conference.
I have also included tuition reimbursement toward the ECU masters program in Technical and
Professional Communications. The training benefits are not listed under any specific skill set in the
attached chart, but the program should add to my skills in most areas of technical communications.
I have also included a trip to the TechComm Summit for next year. In addition to the 80 workshops,
numerous sessions, and many panel discussions, there will be an assortment of vendors showing
technology I would like to evaluate. This technology may be important for creating a more efficient
department.
Please find the skills development chart followed by another chart outlining the costs in the following
pages. I submit these for your approval.
P a g e | 13
TC Schedule for
Skills
Development
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Development
Method
Developmen
Method
Software:
RescueTime
Software:
RescueTime
General Skill
General
Project Management
Development
Method
Book: Lessons
Learned in
Project
Management $8.95
Management
Skills
Time Management
Software:
RescueTime
Personnel Management
Financial Management
STC Journal:
Intercom
Book: Finance &
Accounting for
Nonfinancial
Managers $16.95
STC Journal:
Technical
Communication
Strategic Planning
Book:
Publications
Management:
Essays for
Professional
Communicato
- $6.95
Problem Solving
Tech CommSpecific
Document Management
Management
Skills
Book: Managing
Your
Documentation
Projects - $30
STC Free
Archived
Seminar:
Scenario-Driven
Information
Architecture
STC Free
Archived
Seminar: The
New Face of
Documentatio
Document Assessment
Design of Document Libraries and
Individual Documents
Editing
Esitmating
General Technical
Computers/Networks/Communicati
P a g e | ons
14
Skills
Online and Web-based
Technologies
TechComm
Summit - $1100
+ hotel, flight,
expenses
TechComm
Summit
TechComm
Summit
Webinar: Clou
Computing
Networking $30
TechComm
Summit
P a g e | 15
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Books
$68.90
$6.95
STC
Member
$395.0
0
$395.0
0
$395.0
0
Software
$0.00
$72.00
$72.00
Webinars
apart
from STC
TechCom
m
Summit
TPC
Master's
Yearly
Totals
$30.00
$2,835.
00
$1,700.
00
$2,835.
00
$567.0
0
$3,298.
90
$5,002.
00
$1,070.
95
ThreeYear
Total
P a g e | 16
$9,371.
85
Executive
Summary
The following
reportoutlines
the time and
cost needed to
fully develop
the
documentation
for the Midas
software
release. The
documentation
in total will
cost $136,420
todevelopand
use
approximately
1,034 hours of
TC
department
time. In
addition to the
timeoftheTC
department,anengineerfromthesoftwareteamwillbeneededtoassistindevelopmentof
the documentations. The TC department intends to work with Bob Greene from the
engineeringdepartmentasthemainsourceofthesubjectmatter.
Midas
Documentation
TheTC departmentwill develop
atrifold
job aid brochure, a50page gettingstarted
guide,andanonlinehelptool.Thethreedeliverablesshouldbeavailableinanearfinal
formforthealphatest,anupdatedformforthebetatest,andcompleteinafinalformat
leastaweekprior(barringlastsecondchangesfromengineering)tofinalreleaseofthe
software.
July20,2012
Inadditiontothethreedeliverables,Iwouldsuggestanother$600todevelopasurveyfor
thebetatesters.Thissurveywouldhelptofocuscommentsandareasofconcernforthe
customer.Asthedocumentationproductsarenewtoaardvark,thesurveycouldserveto
betterevaluatethembeforefinalrelease.
TheTCdepartmentwillreducecostsassociatedwithproducingdocumentationthereby
increasing the bottom line. Since TC department staff are trained in communication
techniques,thecustomerwillfindtheinstructionseasiertounderstand.
Benefits to Customer
Thenewdocumentationwillallowcustomerstobetterunderstandandsetupthesoftware
fromaardvark. Itwillreducethenumberofreturnsbecausethecustomerscouldnot
understandhowtosetupandoperateprevioussoftware.Thisisbestaccomplishedby
professionalswhohavebeentrainedinproducingaccurate,clear,andeasilyunderstood
documentation.Technicalcommunicatorsaretrainedtoassesshowanaudiencewillusea
documentandputthatassessmenttousecreatingdocumentstheaudience,orthecustomer
P a g e | 17
aardvark
inthiscase,willunderstand.
P a g e | 18
Documents/Services to be Delivered
TheplanforMidascallsforthedevelopmentofthreedeliverables:
Thefirstisatrifoldbrochurejobaidwhichwillfunctionasaquickreferenceguide
tousersofMidas.
Thesecondisa50pagegettingstartedguidetofacilitatetheinitialsetupandto
describebasiccapabilitiesofthesoftware.
The third, and last, is an online help system with 200 topics which will enable
softwareuserstofullyunderstandandintegrateallofMidascapabilitiestheuser
wishes.
P a g e | 19
aardvark
the variables associated with creating documentation, the costs of the deliverables
increases.The50pagegettingstartedguideshouldcostapproximately$31,250.Thetri
fold brochure should cost about $1,170. The online help system should cost around
$106,000.
P a g e | 20
aardvark
Tri-Fold
50-Page Guide
Online Help
TC Hours
$900.00
$22,500.00
Variables
$270.00
$6,750.00
Markup
Indirect
Individual
Deliverable
Totals
$1,170.00
$80,000.00
aardvark
$24,000.00
$2,000.00
$2,000.00
$31,250.00
$106,000.00
$138,420.00
aardvark
representedwithintheteamworkingontheproject.
JaneDoeoftheTCdepartmentwillbecreatingboththe50pagestartingguideandthetri
fold brochure. She will need the cooperation of Bob Greene from the engineering
departmenttocompleteherassignment.BobGreeneshouldkeepappointmentswithJane
Doesothatthedevelopmentofbothdocumentsmayremainonschedule. BobGreene
shouldalsobesuretonotifyJaneDoeofanyengineeringchangesmadetoMidasassoonas
thosechangesarise.JaneDoewillalsoneedtostayincontactwithJohnSmithandAmber
Dobbs,whowillbeworkingontheonlinehelpsystem.
JohnSmithandAmberDobbs,bothoftheTCdepartment,willbeworkingtogetherto
developtheonlinehelpsystem. BobGreenewillalsoliaisewiththeonlinehelpsystem
team to develop the most efficient system. Again, Bob Greene will notify the team
immediatelyifthereareanychangestothesoftware.JohnSmithandAmberDobbswill
coordinateeffortsfortheonlinehelpsystemwithJaneDoesworkonthestartingguide
andbrochure.
Inaddition,JaneDoe,John Smith,and AmberDobbs willkeepCourtneyMartin,TC
Department Manager, up to date with any delays, changes, or progresses made to the
deliverables. Inturn,CourtneyMartinwillinformmanagersofotherdepartmentsand
uppermanagementofsaiddelays,changes,orprogresses.
aardvark
P a g e | 22
aardvark
Assumptions
Increatingaplantoproducedocumentationandinestimatingitscost,certainassumptions
mustbemade.ThemostimportantassumptionImakeisthattheengineeringteamwillbe
on schedule when producing the Midas software. Another assumption concerning
engineeringisthattherewillbelimitedchangestothesoftwareafterthealphaandbeta
tests.Ifeitheroftheseassumptionsprovefalse,theconsequencestothetimeandcostof
thedocumentationcanbevast.
Iassumethatthedatesofreleaseforthetestsandforfinalreleasewillnotbechanged.I
alsoassumethatanychangestotheofficialscheduleofreleasewillbeforwardedtomeas
soonaspossible.
IassumethattheTCstaffwillbegivensuppliesandopportunitytocompletethework
P a g e | 23
aardvark
Jun 17 - 21
P a g e | 24
Jun 3 - 14
May 15 - 31
Apr 15 - May 14
Apr 1 - 12
Mar 18 - 29
Feb 23 - Mar 15
Feb 4 - 22
Jan 21 - Feb 1
Jan 1 - 18
aardvark
aardvark
P a g e | 25
aardvark