National Occupational Standards
- Element 23.1 - Assess the resources required
for the development of a technical publication
- Element 23.2 - Establish budgetary control systems
- Element 23.3 - Specify budgets for the development
of a technical publication
- Element 23.4 - Authorise expenditure against
budgets
This unit describes the competence required from technical communicators
who have to allocate resources for the development of a technical publication.
Technical communicators have to assess the expenditure required to achieve
similar technical publications, and calculate the resources required to achieve
the current one. They then have to establish budgetary control systems that
enable the expenditure to be monitored and recorded, and also they should
encourage colleagues to use the resources effectively. They will then need
to specify budgets for different aspects of the development work, including
the retention of some resources for contingencies. Finally, they will assess
and authorise expenditure of the resources according to the procedures they
have established.
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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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 |
x |
testimony of others who have witnessed the candidate achieving the standards |
√ |
Evidence Guidance
Examples of Evidence:
- Direct evidence
- Accounts of projects
- Budgets
- Correspondence, memos, faxes, and e-mail
- Estimates
- Organisational records
- Supplementary evidence
- Contract/order notes/job sheet
- Correspondence, memos, faxes, and e-mail
- Design specification for technical publication
- Designs produced by others
- Technical specifications
Key words in this unit that can be found in the glossary:
- client
- information
- information systems
- people
- resources
- technical publication
You must be able to:
- Obtain full details of the design specification for the technical publication
- Assess and take account of previous expenditure on similar projects
- Calculate accurately the resources required to complete the work
- Identify any issues relating to obtaining and allocating resources
- Inform all relevant people of the resources that are required
- Record information on the resources in the appropriate information systems
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Design specifications
- what is normally included in a design specification
- what are the procedures for obtaining a design specification
- Resources for completion of technical publications
- what resources are typically required for different types of technical
publication
- what are the procedures and methods for assessing them
- what factors should be taken into account when assessing them
- Obtaining and allocating resources
- what is the history of similar projects
- what types of issue could affect the ability to obtain and allocate
resources
- who should be informed of the resources that are required
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Select people to control budgets for the development of technical publications
- Provide clear and consistent information to colleagues and clients on
the effective use of resources
- Select suitable methods for recording the use of resources
- Establish methods to monitor the use of resources at suitable intervals
- Provide systems to identify unusual or unauthorised use of resources
- Encourage colleagues to use resources effectively
- Establish procedures for resolving conflicts over the use of resources
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Budgetary control systems
- what types of budgetary control is required for different types of
technical publication
- who should be allowed to control budgets
- what methods can be used for monitoring the use of resources
- what methods can be used for recording the use of resources
- what methods can be used for providing clear and consistent information
to colleagues and clients
- what types of conflict can occur over the use of resources
- Budgets
- what are the budget headings that could be used
- what level of resources need to be retained for contingencies
- why it is important to specify how resources are to be expended
- who can agree budgets
You must be able to:
- Determine the type of budgetary control required
- Calculate the amount of resources controlled through each budget
- Specify the availability of resources throughout the course of the work
- Specify any resources that need to be retained for contingencies or for
specific activities
- Obtain agreement from the relevant people on the budgets
- Record information on the budgets in the appropriate information systems
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Resources for completion of technical publications
- what resources are typically required for different types of technical
publication
- what are the procedures and methods for assessing them
- what factors should be taken into account when assessing them
- Budgets
- what are the budget headings that could be used
- what level of resources need to be retained for contingencies
- why it is important to specify how resources are to be expended
- who can agree budgets
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Ensure the expenditure proposal is provided according to organisational
procedures
- Obtain accurate information on the reasons for the expenditure
- Assess the expenditure proposal to determine its legitimacy and feasibility
- Confirm the amount available within the budgets
- Authorise expenditure according to established budgetary control procedures
- Record the authorisation of expenditure in the appropriate information
systems
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Expenditure
- what are the organisational procedures for expenditure proposals
- what types of information should be used when assessing expenditure
proposals
- how to assess the legitimacy and feasibility of the expenditure proposal
- Budgets
- what are the budget headings that could be used
- what level of resources need to be retained for contingencies
- why it is important to specify how resources are to be expended
- who can agree budgets
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
© Crown Copyright, 1999,
© Publishing Training Centre, 1999,
© ISTC, The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, 1999 |
