atw: Re: Accreditation

The first step in gaining benefits for the fraternity is to ensure that the
right people are in it.

The next is to create a market perception that the fraternity and its
membership have a cache that is going to value add to the bottom line.

As much as anything, we have to communicate or "sell" to management that as
members of the fraternity, with a clear accreditation process, we are self
regulating so that our standards are high.

Therefore, employing an accredited fraternity member will assist in ensuring
quality, timeliness and economic delivery of technical communication.

If you need an example of the way a fraternity can control a market, look at
the Australian Society of Actuaries.

Warren.


-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Marcus Amann
Sent: Friday, 27 August 2004 11:11
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Accreditation


"How are employers going to recognise the accreditation system?"

As someone who has employed tech writers, trainers and web developers, I
depend on:
* a portfolio
* face to face interview including a test
* references

Accreditation may help get an interview, but after that you have to
demonstrate you're better than the next person.

I don't care if someone has qualification up the wazoo, if they:
* don't have a natural flair for the work, or
* don't want to do the work, or
* don't get on with people

Then I won't hire them.=20

I hope that helps.

Marcus Amann
Technical Publications Manager
TOWER Software

-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Matilda Reich
Sent: Friday, 27 August 2004 10:48 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Accreditation

Hello,
I think Steve's idea of a 'masters and apprentices' appproach not a bad
one, if we had some grading system based on qualifications and
experience which was then formalised.

Criteria could be:

*    Years of experience
*    Type of experience
*    Tertiary Qualifications
*    Computer qualifications/experience
*    Employment basis (ie. self employed freelance, contract, permanent)


The problem with Tech Writing as I see it:

1.    TWs come from a variety of different fields (ie. sciences, IT,
teaching, engineering, etc) so it=20
does not belong to any single industry like other professions.

2.    There's no single TW qualification or recognised pre-requisite
(and even if there was, how relevant is that to one's ability to TW?)
Only recently are there tertiary courses in technical communication (ie.
Uni of Western Sydney offers a BA in it, then there's the Grad Dip in
Info Design offered by CPIT). Clearly, employers would be tempted to use
the young graduates who would be lower in salary and higher in
eagerness.

3.    How are employers going to recognise the accreditation system?
Unless you can prove that harm or damage can be done if an employer uses
someone not fully qualified then it would be hard to enforce.  It's not
like other professions or trades which are licenced because lack of
competency could lead to damages.  Even if a TW fluffs a documentation
project there is always some SME or manager who's responsibility it is
to do a final proof or check of accuracy, so liability does not really
rest solely on the TW.

regards,

Matilda Reich
Tel: 9371 7242
Mob: 0412 866 368
Email: matildar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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