Technical Report Writing

"If you can't explain something simply, you do not understand it well enough."

Whether you are trying to develop a manual for your new business or write a proposal to obtain a grant, technical writing is a necessity. Many engineers spend between 1/3 and 1/2 of their work time engaged in technical writing. Stories help us make sense of things. They get our attention and tap into the well of our emotions. So, it is no surprise that attorneys seek experts who can convey their knowledge in a compelling way. This presents a big challenge for technical experts, whose communication style can be, in a word – dry.

SkillsPlus Technical Report Writing course encourages writers to be efficient and logical in their use of words, ensuring that the purpose of each component is understood and achieved. The workshop focuses on the real challenge – to express complex ideas simply. This entails anticipating the needs of readers and supplying whatever context may be needed to understand the meaning, relevance and importance of what is written.

What will you learn in this course?

  • Understand the types and purposes of technical reports
  • Organise reports and plan the sections and subsections you need
  • Fully understand the steps in writing a report and apply the principles of clear and concise writing
  • Develop effective communication with technical as well as non-technical staff at all levels – matching your content to your readers’ knowledge
  • Keep information specific rather than general and apply active writing
  • Brainstorm and identify technical problems and solutions
  • Collect, organise, analyse and evaluate information
  • Identify and edit wordy phrases – use simple words rather than complex ones
  • Keep technical terms to a minimum – avoiding jargon, acronyms and abbreviations
  • Transfer technical information into graphs, flowcharts and tables
  • Apply the good layout to draw attention to key technical information.
  • Translate technical documents into compelling oral presentations

Who is this course for?

Professionals who are dealing with business and technical reports and assisting in completing the same ones. Engineering professionals (e.g. project and design engineers), Technical Personnel, Maintenance/Supervisory Managers, Maintenance Planning Staff, Technical managers, Project team members in manufacturing, process industries, tendering, contracting, marketing, procurement, research & development, utilities, and local authorities.

Learning methodology

  • Face to face or webinar
  • Group discussions
  • Individual and team activities
  • Individual test
  • Case studies
  • Practical activities
  • Role plays
  • Small projects
  • Video recording/play back
  • Individual action plans

 

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