National Occupational Standards
- Element 24.1 - Monitor work activities used
in the development of a technical publication
- Element 24.2 - Ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements
- Element 24.3 - Monitor resources used in the
development of a technical publication
- Element 24.4 - Evaluate the effectiveness of
resources
- Element 24.5 - Improve the use of resources
This unit describes the competence required from technical communicators
who have to monitor the development of a technical publication. Technical
communicators have to monitor work activities by obtaining information on
the work that is being undertaken, identifying any problems that might arise,
and suggesting solutions for them. Technical communicators also have to ensure
the technical publication complies with all regulatory requirements that are
relevant. They will need to highlight any non-compliance, obtain reasons for
it, and propose amendments. They must also monitor the resources that are
being used, assess their effectiveness, and ensure any solutions to problems
are implemented as soon as possible. They will then be in a position to evaluate
the effectiveness of the resources that have been used, and this involves
analysing financial data and verifying the results. Finally, technical communicators
have to identify ways in which the use of resources can be improved.
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 |
|
|
|
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
- Correspondence, memos, faxes, and e-mail
- Organisational records
- Recommendations
- Supplementary evidence
- Budgets and other financial information
- 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:
- information
- information systems
- people
- resources
- style
- technical publication
You must be able to:
- Ensure systems for monitoring work activities are applied correctly
- Maintain regular contact with the people involved in the work activities
- Obtain accurate information on the outcomes of the work activities
- Identify any problems in achieving the work activities
- Identify and recommend solutions for resolving problems
- Ensure the people implementing the work activities are provided with appropriate
feedback on their work
- Record information on the work activities in the appropriate information
systems
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Work activities
- what methods can be used for monitoring work activities
- what types of problem could occur when undertaking the work activities
- what are the potential solutions for resolving problems
- why it is important to provide appropriate feedback to people
- People
- who are the people that need to be contacted
- what are the procedures for contacting people
- what are the normal priorities of people
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Identify the regulatory requirements that are relevant to the technical
publication
- Review the technical publication to identify whether it complies with
regulatory requirements
- Highlight correctly any non-compliance with regulatory requirements
- Highlight correctly any non-compliance with legislation and ownership
rights
- Highlight correctly any non-compliance with health and safety requirements
- Ensure people's work is acknowledged correctly
- Obtain clarification of the reasons for any non-compliance with regulatory
requirements
- Propose amendments to the technical publication to remove non-compliance
- Provide versions of the edited technical publication to the relevant people
according to the agreed time scale
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Regulatory requirements
- what are the regulatory bodies that are relevant to the industry
- which regulations are normally relevant to the technical publication
- what are the health and safety requirements that are relevant
- Compliance with regulatory requirements
- what are the indications that the regulatory requirements might be
infringed
- what are the methods for highlighting non-compliance with regulatory
requirements
- what are the possible reasons for non-compliance with regulatory requirements
- who requires versions of the edited technical publication
- Legislation and ownership rights
- what is the relevant legislation relating to using materials and data
- what are the rights of owners of materials
- where to obtain information on licensing agreements
- where to obtain information on copyright, patents, and trademarks
- why it is important to respect the ownership rights
- why it is important to acknowledge the work of other people
You must be able to:
- Ensure systems for monitoring resources are applied correctly
- Maintain regular contact with the people who are allocating and utilising
the resources
- Obtain accurate information on the amount of resources used
- Assess the effectiveness of the resources that are used and identify any
problems
- Identify and recommend solutions for resolving resource problems
- Ensure people are provided with appropriate feedback on their effectiveness
- Record information on resource utilisation 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
- Monitoring resources
- what systems can be used for monitoring resources
- who are the people allowed to allocate and utilise resources
- what are the potential solutions for resolving different types of
resource problem
- why it is important to provide appropriate feedback to people
- People
- who are the people that need to be contacted
- what are the procedures for contacting people
- what are the normal priorities of people
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Confirm the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the resources
- Review all relevant information on the effectiveness of the resources
- Identify trends and developments relating to the use of resources
- Analyse financial data accurately according to the agreed methods
- Verify the results of the analysis by using the appropriate methods
- Consult with colleagues on the results of the evaluation
- Record the results of the evaluation in the appropriate information systems
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Evaluating resources
- what are the evaluation criteria that could be used
- what methods could be used for obtaining information
- who should be involved in an evaluation process
- what are the potential trends and developments that could emerge
- what are the financial analysis methods that can be used
- what are the methods for verifying the results of a financial analysis
- who should be consulted on the results of the evaluation
- 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
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Identify areas for improvement in the use of resources
- Identify the most appropriate methods for improving the use of resources
- Present a clear rationale for the improvements and support it with suitable
evidence
- Identify the most suitable format and style for providing information
on improvements
- Provide constructive feedback to the people involved in the use of the
resources
- Record and disseminate information on improvements to the relevant people
- Obtain feedback on the results of the improvements
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
- Improvements in the use of resources
- what are the different methods for improving the use of resources
- what resources are required to implement the improvements
- what type of evidence is needed to support any recommendations for
improvements
- why it is important to provide constructive feedback to people involved
in the use of resources
- who should be provided with information on improvements
© Crown Copyright, 1999,
© Publishing Training Centre, 1999,
© ISTC, The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, 1999 |
