Infopool (completed)

The Infopool working group was founded during the 2007 TCeurope AGM, originally with the objective of producing a brochure aimed at aspiring technical communicators and based on the TecDocNet guideline. Later that year, this original objective was modified, as a single brochure could not meet the needs of all member organizations and would soon become obsolete.

The objective was re-defined as follows:

to produce a set of unformatted electronic text modules aimed at the general public, from which member organizations can select specific components to assemble information packages (such as brochures, websites, etc.) corresponding to their specific needs and intentions.

This document contains the aforementioned modules. All member organizations of TCeurope are invited to use them in any promotional materials regarding the technical communication profession, in any way or form, as they see fit. In doing so, they accept full responsibility for the publication in which the material contained in this document is used. Neither TCeurope nor the individual members of the Infopool working group will be held responsible in any way for the contents of this document.

Click here to download a ZIP archive containing all modules as HTML, for easy copying and pasting.

Click here to view or download a PDF file containing all modules, formatted for easy reading.

The following Infopool modules are available:

What Is Technical Communication?

Why Do You Need a Technical Communicator?

  • Cost benefits
  • Professionalism and quality control
  • Legal benefits
  • Resource benefits

Skills Checklist

Personal Aptitudes

  • Drive for quality
  • Analytical thinking
  • Social skills
  • Flexibility
  • Willingness to learn and self-development
  • Ability to accept and deliver feedback
  • Ability to work to deadlines
  • Attention to detail
  • Self-motivation and self-management
  • Curiosity and sense of humour

Documentation Along the Product Life Cycle

  • Planning
  • Development
  • Launch
  • Usage
  • Recycling, storage and disposal

Documentation Development

  • Gathering information
  • Planning the documentation
  • Producing drafts
  • Validating

Tools Used in Technical Communication

  • Desktop publishing tools
  • Graphics and multimedia tools
  • Help authoring tools
  • Web tools
  • Content management tools

Ways of Qualifying

  • Qualification through formal higher education
  • Qualification through life-long training
  • Vocational and professional training
  • Certification

Employment Status and Career Prospects

Personas

  • Elisabeth Daniëls (48, NL)
  • Peter van der Laar (32, NL)
  • Francien Jonkman (51, NL)
  • Donovan Bailey (54, PT)
  • Sarah Freitas (26, PT)
  • Miguel Andrade (31, PT)
  • Bengt Lindquist (52, SE)
  • Lena Svensson (39, SE)
  • Peter Bergström (31, SE)
  • Arthur Goroncy (29, DE)
  • Dr. Ulla Riedel (46, DE)
  • Anna Lindgren (25, DE)
  • Jean François Petit (23, DE)
  • Marja Järvinen (51, FI)
  • Tom Virrankoski (28, FI)
  • Laura Kuusisto (30, FI)

Technical Communication Organizations in Europe