2005 Survey of Australian Technical Communicators: Responses to Work questions |
| Total Responses: |
|
103 |
| Survey End Date: |
|
15 October 2005 |
| (M): |
|
Mandatory question |
How many years have you worked as a technical communicator? (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Less than 2 years |
7 |
7.00% |
| 2 to 5 years |
20 |
20.00% |
| 6 to 10 years |
22 |
22.00% |
| 11 to 15 years |
29 |
29.00% |
| 16 to 20 years |
12 |
12.00% |
| more than 20 years |
10 |
10.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
What is your main job title? (select the one that most closely matches what you do) (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Content developer/manager |
3 |
3.00% |
| Documentation manager/specialist |
12 |
12.00% |
| Information developer/architect |
4 |
4.00% |
| Instructional designer |
1 |
1.00% |
| Online help developer |
1 |
1.00% |
| Technical editor |
3 |
3.00% |
| Technical writer |
60 |
60.00% |
| Usability specialist |
1 |
1.00% |
| Web designer |
1 |
1.00% |
| Other... |
14 |
14.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
(if "Other...", please specify)
| Answer |
Number |
| Publishing manager |
1 |
| Product Information Specialist |
1 |
| Lecturer |
1 |
| IT Training & Support Analyst |
1 |
| Information Designer |
1 |
| I also freelance as an editor. |
1 |
| Electrical/elctronic service manager - computers, scientific instruments - various fields |
1 |
| documentation consultant |
1 |
| Documentation and Training Team Lead |
1 |
| Business Analyst |
1 |
Where do you do most of your technical communication work? (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| On site (employer or client workplace) |
78 |
78.00% |
| From home or own office |
10 |
10.00% |
| Varies - both on site and from home/office |
12 |
12.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
(if "Other...", please specify)
| Answer |
Number |
| Have previously written reports at work- am currently student full time |
1 |
How would you classify your level as a technical communicator? (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Entry level (junior) tech communicator |
3 |
3.00% |
| Mid-level (non-supervisory) |
30 |
30.00% |
| Mid-level (supervisory) |
8 |
8.00% |
| Senior level (non-supervisory) |
35 |
35.00% |
| Senior level (supervisory) |
22 |
22.00% |
| Other... |
2 |
2.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
(if "Other...", please specify)
| Answer |
Number |
| As
a contractor the role varies; often its more as a consultant (work out
the solution to the problem) and implementor (implement it). This can
be supervisory or not, but I would say it was a senior role. |
1 |
What work activities do you spend more than 10% of your time on? (select all that apply) (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Technical writing |
83 |
83.00% |
| Technical/copy editing |
47 |
47.00% |
| Indexing |
4 |
4.00% |
| Training |
12 |
12.00% |
| Documentation consulting |
33 |
33.00% |
| Website/intranet management/development |
26 |
26.00% |
| Management (project/team/people/change...) |
32 |
32.00% |
| Quality assurance/testing |
15 |
15.00% |
| Usability/accessibilty consulting/testing |
19 |
19.00% |
| Sales/technical support |
0 |
0.00% |
| Knowledge management |
18 |
18.00% |
| Business analysis |
17 |
17.00% |
| Graphic design |
13 |
13.00% |
| Document/content management |
55 |
55.00% |
| Document planning |
44 |
44.00% |
| Other... |
8 |
8.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
|
(if "Other...", please specify)
| Answer |
Number |
| XMetal typesetting |
1 |
| Student |
1 |
| Marketing Communications |
1 |
| IT Support |
1 |
| Education |
1 |
| editing |
1 |
| content modelling, content/publication auditing, tools analysis |
1 |
| Consultant in Program Management for communtiy groups |
1 |
| Business sales/Marketing - run own company |
1 |
What materials do you produce? (select all that apply) (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Paper-based documentation (incl. books, magazines, journal articles) |
74 |
74.00% |
| Online documentation |
56 |
56.00% |
| PDFs |
82 |
82.00% |
| HTML Help systems (*.CHM) |
43 |
43.00% |
| HTML-based Help systems (e.g. WebHelp) |
45 |
45.00% |
| WinHelp (*.HLP) |
16 |
16.00% |
| Web pages/sites (incl. intranet content) |
50 |
50.00% |
| Multimedia (incl. Flash, video/screen animations) |
13 |
13.00% |
| API documentation |
10 |
10.00% |
| Marketing materials |
26 |
26.00% |
| Policies and procedures |
41 |
41.00% |
| Proposals and tenders |
11 |
11.00% |
| Surveys |
4 |
4.00% |
| Specifications |
28 |
28.00% |
| Templates and forms |
46 |
46.00% |
| Training and educational materials (incl. e-learning) |
45 |
45.00% |
| User documentation |
87 |
87.00% |
| White papers and case studies |
7 |
7.00% |
| Analysis/research papers |
12 |
12.00% |
| Presentations |
25 |
25.00% |
| Other... |
3 |
3.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
(if "Other...", please specify)
| Answer |
Number |
| PR |
1 |
| Mostly university related |
1 |
| Have only just started |
1 |
| business plans, project briefs, quality management plans |
1 |
Does your employer/client employ other technical communicators? (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Yes |
62 |
62.00% |
| No, I am the only one ("lone writer") |
28 |
28.00% |
| I don't know |
10 |
10.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how many do they employ in addition to you? Skip this question if you are a "lone writer".
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
% of Answered |
| 1 |
12 |
12.00% |
18.46%
|
| 2 to 5 |
18 |
18.00% |
27.69%
|
| 6 to 10 |
10 |
10.00% |
15.38%
|
| 10 to 20 |
7 |
7.00% |
10.77%
|
| more than 20 |
5 |
5.00% |
7.69%
|
| Varies |
2 |
2.00% |
3.08%
|
| I'm not sure |
11 |
11.00% |
16.92%
|
| Answered |
65 |
65.00% |
| Unanswered |
35 |
35.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
How many people (in total) does your employer/main client employ? (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Fewer than 50 |
21 |
21.00% |
| 51 to 100 |
14 |
14.00% |
| 101 to 500 |
23 |
23.00% |
| 501 to 1000 |
13 |
13.00% |
| 1001 or more |
29 |
29.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
In the past year, how many paid/billable hours did you work in a typical week? (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| 10 or less |
4 |
4.00% |
| 11 to 20 hours |
4 |
4.00% |
| 21 to 30 hours |
8 |
8.00% |
| 31 to 40 hours |
60 |
60.00% |
| 41 to 50 hours |
23 |
23.00% |
| more than 50 hours |
1 |
1.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
In the past year, how many unpaid/non-billable hours did you work in a typical week? (M) (Only include hours worked in a technical communication capacity of some sort, such as volunteer tech comm or professional association work.)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| None |
39 |
39.00% |
| 1 to 10 |
46 |
46.00% |
| 11 to 20 hours |
11 |
11.00% |
| 21 to 30 hours |
1 |
1.00% |
| 31 to 40 hours |
2 |
2.00% |
| 41 to 50 hours |
0 |
0.00% |
| more than 50 hours |
1 |
1.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
How flexible are your work hours? (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Not flexible at all |
3 |
3.00% |
| Some flexibility but I'd like more |
29 |
29.00% |
| About right for me |
38 |
38.00% |
| More than enough |
11 |
11.00% |
| Whatever I need |
19 |
19.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
What changes to your working conditions have occurred in the past year? (select all that apply) (M)
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Made redundant/sacked |
6 |
6.00% |
| Job offers/contract opportunities have increased |
34 |
34.00% |
| Contract terminated/not renewed |
11 |
11.00% |
| Salary/hourly rate has increased |
45 |
45.00% |
| Increased workload due to staff cuts |
17 |
17.00% |
| Extra staff have been added |
17 |
17.00% |
| Projects cancelled or put on hold |
31 |
31.00% |
| New projects have started |
49 |
49.00% |
| Training and/or travel budget cuts |
8 |
8.00% |
| Training and/or travel budget has increased |
4 |
4.00% |
| Management responsibilities increased |
22 |
22.00% |
| Management responsibilities decreased |
2 |
2.00% |
| No (or less than normal) salary/hourly rate increase |
20 |
20.00% |
| No changes |
7 |
7.00% |
| Other... |
12 |
12.00% |
| Total |
100 |
100.00% |
|
(if "Other...", please specify)
| Answer |
Number |
| No great changes for me. Contract rates haven't moved in years. But this year has been relatively easy to get contracts. |
1 |
| Moved to North coast and started remote work |
1 |
| Moved to Australia |
1 |
| Moved from contract to permanent/good job offer |
1 |
| Increased workload due to new projects - no extra staff employed |
1 |
| I changed jobs/country |
1 |
| Found new job |
1 |
| Employment changed from contract to permanent staff |
1 |
| Contract period ended |
1 |
| Commenced with a new employer |
1 |
Which ANZSIC classification best describes the industry in which you work? (M)
[These are the ANZSIC categories from the ABS (we don't have any control over these categories; see http://www.arc.gov.au/apply_grants/anzsic_codes.htm for a complete list). Guide: Select "Property and Business Services" for "Scientific research", "Technical services", "Computer services", or "Marketing and business management services"; select "Manufacturing" for "Publishing"]
| Answer |
Number |
% of Total |
| Accommodation, cafes, restaurants |
0 |
0.00% |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
0 |
0.00% |
| Communication services |
12 |
12.37% |
| Construction |
1 |
1.03% |
| Cultural and recreational services |
0 |
0.00% |
| Education |
6 |
6.19% |
| Electricity, gas and water supply |
0 |
0.00% |
| Finance and insurance |
12 |
12.37% |
| Government administration and defence |
17 |
17.53% |
| Health and community services |
3 |
3.09% |
| Manufacturing |
9 |
9.28% |
| Mining |
6 |
6.19% |
| Personal and other services |
0 |
0.00% |
| Property and business services |
30 |
30.93% |
| Retail trade |
0 |
0.00% |
| Transport and storage |
1 |
1.03% |
| Wholesale trade |
0 |
0.00% |
| Total |
97 |
100.00% |
|