Showing papers on "Technical performance measure published in 1994"
TL;DR: Organizational activity analysis examines unit mission-related functioning through the use of an activity database and provides decision makers with reliable information upon which decisions for operations improvement can be made as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The role of a technical manager is changing as the skills for success become more managerial, and the technical function becomes more tightly coupled with organizational goals. The purpose of this paper is to suggest an approach to evaluating technical organizations or units in a quantitative way consistent with the needs of many technical managers who increasingly are being asked to make decisions about reorganization, downsizing, and productivity improvement. Organizational activity analysis examines unit mission-related functioning through the use of an activity database. The methodology provides decision makers with reliable information upon which decisions for operations improvement can be made. A description of the methodology, example applications, and implementation strategies are presented. >
7 citations
28 Sep 1994
TL;DR: Three western Canadian chapters of the Society for Technical Communication undertook a $132,00 research project aimed at helping businesses become more competitive with effective technical communication.
Abstract: Technical communication in western Canada lags far behind the rest of Canada and the US. As the first major attempt to increase the awareness of the profession in this area, three western Canadian chapters of the Society for Technical Communication (BC, AB and MB) undertook a $132,00 research project aimed at helping businesses become more competitive with effective technical communication. There were five major components to the research study: needs assessment survey, ie., identify industry needs for and current perception of technical communication; capabilities assessment survey, ie., identify the capabilities of technical communication practitioners in western Canada to see if they can meet the needs identified in the industry survey; research report, ie., communicate the results of the above two surveys, identify current and desirable standards of technical communication, and present strategies for increased exposure and usage of the profession in business; resource kit, ie., provide advice on the logistical and administrative tasks involved in technical communication projects, describe practical methods to successfully accomplish the necessary tasks, and illustrate improved communication documents with before and after examples; and workshops, ie., formally present the contents of the resource kit and expand on how companies can use effective technical communication to their advantage. >
1 citations
TL;DR: A real-world investigation of technical proposal development is an excellent way for the technical writing course, often constrained by time and standard writing assignments, to prepare students to meet these demands.
Abstract: When technical students begin their professional careers, they are not always adequately prepared for the complex communication demands that will be made of them/spl minus/especially during the process of developing a technical proposal. A real-world investigation of technical proposal development is an excellent way for the technical writing course, often constrained by time and standard writing assignments, to prepare students to meet these demands. The investigations include practice in collaborating, planning and scheduling, and oral reporting. >