STC Toronto Documentation Departments'
Processes Feedback

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  1. Are you familiar with what the STC is and does?

    2. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  2. Are you aware that the STC provides a job bank from it's Internet site that employers can interactively post jobs to?

    3. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  3. If yes, have you ever used the STC job bank to solicit employees?

    4. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  4. Would you say that other outside of your documentation department know about the STC?

    5. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  5. If yes, would you say that these other people would be interested in what the STC is, and the services and knowledge that it can supply to the individuals that do the documentation in your company? (In other words, would you say people outside of the Documentation Department are interested in, or already understand, what the task of creating documenation entails?)

    6. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  6. Do you think it would be useful for the STC to have a link on the STC web site that would provide supporting information to documentation departments and their managers? For example, this site could provide information about:
    • A generic documentation process, with information about how it can be used to enhance the creation of documentation.
    • How resources can be deployed.
    • Which documentation tools are commonly used in the industry, and their benefits.
    • The industry standard for compensating individuals (pay and benefits) who create documentation.

    7. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  7. What information would you like to see about the STC in addition to any information you have already seen?

  8. Are there any additional services you would like to see made available by the STC?

  9. Would you be interested in participating in discussions that we might have about creating a supporting web site for documentation departments and their managers?

    10. Yes
    No

    If you are interested, please send an e-mail to stctoronto@email.com (STC Employment Manager) to let us know, and we will schedule the meetings at a time and place that is convenient for everyone.

    Comments:

    Documentation Process

  10. I have been a Documentation Manager (Team Lead) for how many years?
  11. Our department creates documentation for which type of use?

    12. Hardware
    Software
    Process
    Other

  12. The documentation team gets involved in the knowledge or development process at what stage?

    13. Right from the beginning, including helping to create initial project documents, such as functional specifications.

    If you selected the previous choice, can you supply a brief description of what the beginning stage in your process (or the development process) is?

    User interface design stage
    During preliminary prototyping of the product enhancements
    After the (development) team has completed their planning
    After the (development) team has finished coding
    At the very end of the development cycle
    Other time, please specify:

  13. Are you happy with the stage at which you (the Documentation Team) are brought into the development (project) cycle?

    14. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  14. Could you please describe the steps that make up the documentation process that you follow at your company? (Be general, if you feel exposing the details of your process would provide a competitive advantage to others.)

  15. As well as creating the documentation (including online deliverables) for the product, the documentation team also participates in the following tasks within the company. Please check all that apply.

    16. User interface design
    Product design
    Creation of the functional/hardware specifications
    Editing of marketing material
    Creation and maintenance of style guidelines
    Page layout guidelines
    Page layout
    Web page design
    Web page content
    Editing of material that the development team writes. Please specify:


    Writing of marketing material
    Editing of marketing material
    Editing for individuals other than Marketing or Development within the company.
    Other tasks, please specify:

  16. How do you think the process could be improved?

  17. Is your company ISO certified?

    18. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  18. What information would you like to see made available to complement the process that is already implemented in your department?

    19. Resources

  19. How many documentation team specialists are on your team?
  20. What is the mix of senior, intermediate, and junior people that you have?

    21. Junior: 

    Intermediate: 

    Senior: 

  21. How many deliverables are each of them responsible for?

    22. Manuals: 

    Online help: 

    Other, please specify: 

  22. Are they expected to do different types of work according to their seniority or job title?

    23. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  23. If so, how are their job tasks broken down?

    24. Team Lead: 

    Senior Writer: 

    Intermediate Writer: 

    Junior Writer: 

    Editor: 

    Graphic Artist: 

    Other, please specify: 

  24. Do you find that you have the number of people that you require?

    25. Yes
    No

    Comments: 

  25. What is the list of titles assigned to the people in your department?

  26. What information would you like to see made available to complement the resource strategy that is already implemented in your department?

    27. Tools

    Listed below are some of the popular formats and tools used to create documentation.

    Tools:

    Formats:

  27. What tools does your department use to create your information deliverables?
    28. Tool Format/Purpose
  28. Do you do any single-sourcing?

    29. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  29. If so, can you describe how you accomplish this? For example, what format and tools do you use?

  30. Would you say you are happy with the tools you use?

    31. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  31. If not, can you describe how you would like your tools to work so that it would be easier, or more efficient, for the people in your department to create your information deliverables?

    32. According to the 2001 Annual Salary Survey conducted by the STC (www.stc.org), the average pay for the different levels of documentation specialists in Canada are as follows (all amounts are in Canadian dollars):

  32. How do the pay ranges in your company relate to these averages?

    33. Employment Level Mean
    Entry (Junior) $39,660.00
    Mid-Level, Non-Supervisory $47,290.00
    Mid-Level, Supervisory $55,310.00
    Senior, Non-Supervisory $58,220.00
    Senior, Supervisory $64,180.00

    Below
    The Same
    Above

  33. What are the other benefits that your company offers the people in your department as compensation? Please check all that apply.

    34. Bonuses
    Health plan
    Stock options
    Dental plan

    Others, please specify:

  34. If you could improve the rest of your comapny's impression of what the documentation specialists in your department do (considering there is room for improvement here), as well as what they contribute to the product (either through education, or through improving the process, resources, or tools that you currently use), do you think Management could be convinced to increase their pay accordingly?

    35. Yes
    No

    Comments:

  35. What additional information would you like to see made available to complement the employee compensation that is already being paid to the people in your department?