[csforum] Workshops on ISO documentation standards and the TCANZ conference

[Shelley Grell]

Hi everyone,   TCANZ is offering CSI members and non members the opportunity to get to grips with the latest developments in worldwide ISO standards for software documentation - must attend workshops and conference for all document managers of software exporters. Read below for more details:     ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Moss To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 3:36 PM Subject: Workshops on ISO documentation standards and the TCANZ conference Hi Shelley. Here is the information relating to the workshops that will be run by Phil Cohen in about 10 days. Please let me know if you need any further information. Thanks for your help. Steve ________________________ I would like to invite you to attend the following software-documentation-related events being held soon in Christchurch. These events are being run by TCANZ, the Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand. half-day workshop on Getting value from international documentation standards (14th July) half-day workshop on Getting most documentation value per dollar (14th July) two-day TCANZ conference on online documentation (8-9 September). For full details of these workshops, the conference and online registration, please go to: http://www.tcanz.org.nz About the workshops These workshops are being presented by Phil Cohen who is Managing Director of a documentation consultancy in Sydney. Phil also sits on the ISO/IEC working group for software documentation. If you are in the business of developing software documentation (particularly as a consultant, or as a documentation manager) or just catching up on the latest developments in the standards area, these two workshops are for you! The morning session covers the history and application of the worldwide ISO standard for software user documentation, with enough detail to ensure that you come away from the session knowing everything you need to make effective use of the standard. Many of the principles are applicable to general business documentation, including procedures, web sites and other technical documentation. The afternoon session will give you a clear understanding of how to get the best value for your documentation dollar by using the right processes, the right approach and most importantly the right people. Audience The intended audience includes technical communicators, documentation managers and consultants. The workshops will also be of interest to IT professionals including business analysts, software project and software development managers, and IT managers. Prerequisites Participants should preferably have some knowledge of user documentation and/or software development - this is not an introductory course. Morning session: Getting value from international documentation standards Whether you are a purchaser of documentation services, a developer of documentation, or just interested in international standards in the documentation industry, there are two documents you must be familiar with, two ISO standards that set out in detail world's best practice for the analysis and development of software user documentation and online help. In one short, lively session, we will cover the following topics: What is ISO, and how does it work? How can you get involved in Standards? Types of standards: product, process and quality standards History of IS15910, International software user documentation process standard What's in IS15910, and what it means for you How to make use of IS15910 History of IS18019, and how to use it Documentation standards: the next generation - what the next ten years will bring. Afternoon session: Getting most documentation value per dollar This short, practical course covers everything you need to know if you manage the documentation process: from convincing people to spend the money to do the work (particularly important for consultants!), to finding the people to spend the money on, and everything in between. We will cover: Value per dollar?: how to justify spending money on documentation in the first place Audience/task analysis: are there people who need documentation, that you haven't thought of yet? Channels: how do you integrate documentation and training? Delivery: online, paper, face to face ... which delivers best bang for buck? Estimating costs and schedules Hiring writers: what to look for, what to ignore Earned value analysis for effective project tracking and management. More about the presenter Phil Cohen started life as a Chemical Engineer, then moved into journalism, finally ending up in technical writing. He sits on both Australian and ISO documentation standards committees and is past-President of the ASTC (NSW). Phil has been a documentation consultant since 1981, and runs Realisation, a Sydney documentation firm, and also owns HCi Professional Services, a tech writing agency. TCANZ Conference: Communicating with Users: Moving Online and to the Web The Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand presents their 2005 Conference with a focus on the interplay between information design, user interaction and usability. As for previous TCANZ conferences we have sourced speakers from the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand to give you the latest information on their areas of expertise. Pre- and post-conference workshops, presented by conference speakers, will be held on Wednesday 7th September and Saturday 10th September. Further information If you have any questions about these workshops or the TCANZ conference, please go to the TCANZ website (http://www.tcanz.org.nz) or contact Steve Moss, Vice President, TCANZ (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ) or phone (09) 846-5133 or 021-627-768. Best wishes Steve ________________________ Steve Moss Vice President, Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand Inc. Phone: (09) 846-5133 Mobile: (021) 627-768 Skype: stephenrmoss