National Occupational Standards
- Element 17.1 - Establish professional relationships
with people
- Element 17.2 - Maintain professional relationships
with people
This unit describes the competence required from technical communicators
in establishing and maintaining professional relationships with people, including
colleagues, clients, specialists, and suppliers. It is important that technical
communicators contact people at the appropriate times, and that they are clear
about respective responsibilities. They also need to allocate a suitable amount
of time to maintaining professional relationships, and this involves respecting
others' workloads, and ensuring that information is passed on promptly. It
is also valuable to provide opportunities to exchange information about a
range of activities.
Evidence Requirements
Evidence of performance and knowledge is required. Evidence of performance
should be demonstrated by activities and outcomes, and should be generated
during the course of normal activities, unless indicated under Assessment
Methods (see below). Evidence of knowledge can be demonstrated through performance
or by responding to questions. A variety of assessment methods can be used
(see below).
Quantity and scope of evidence:
Evidence should show that the candidate can undertake this unit consistently
over a suitable period. The number of times, or the amount of experience,
cannot be specified in detail. However, it is important that the candidate
provides performance evidence of having undertaken this unit a minimum of
two times. Further guidance will be developed during the implementation of
the qualifications.
Assessment methods:
A number of assessment methods are listed below. The ticks and crosses indicate
which methods are or are not recommended. However, these are recommendations,
and this is not a list of sanctioned or prohibited methods: it is up to individual
assessors to determine which assessment methods are suitable in individual
cases. In addition, other assessment methods might be appropriate. Further
guidance will be developed during the implementation of the qualifications.
Recommended Assessment Methods |
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|
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direct observation of the candidate by the assessor |
√ |
outputs (eg publications) produced by the candidate in their normal activities |
√ |
outputs (eg publications) produced by the candidate as special exercises |
x |
supporting documents (eg memos, notes, correspondence) |
√ |
responses to questions from the assessor |
√ |
written answers to questions |
√ |
testimony of others who have witnessed the candidate achieving the standards |
√ |
Evidence Guidance
Examples of Evidence:
- Direct evidence
- Correspondence, memos, faxes, and e-mail
- Minutes of meetings
- Organisational records
- Supplementary evidence
- Correspondence, memos, faxes, and e-mail
Key words in this unit that can be found in the glossary:
- information
- information systems
- people
- resources
You must be able to:
- Contact people at appropriate times according to the correct procedures
- Clarify the work roles and responsibilities of the people
- Identify the needs of people and their different priorities
- Provide appropriate assistance and information to people when requested
- Record details of people in the appropriate information systems
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- People
- who are the people that need to be contacted
- what are the procedures for contacting people
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Allocate suitable amounts of time and resources for maintaining contact
with people
- Respect the needs of people to deal with work and other pressures that
might restrict their time or activities
- Ensure people are provided with suitable methods for making contact
- Provide current and relevant information to people
- Pass on requests for assistance that cannot be immediately met to suitable
colleagues
- Provide opportunities for people to exchange information on any relevant
aspects that might concern them
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- People
- who are the people that need to be contacted
- what are the procedures for contacting people
- Contacting people
- how much time and resource is required to contact people
- what are the types of pressure that restrict the time or activities
of people
- what are the methods for making contact
- who can deal with requests for assistance that cannot be met immediately
- what types of opportunity for exchanging information can be provided
© Crown Copyright, 1999,
© Publishing Training Centre, 1999,
© ISTC, The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, 1999 |
