What working life requires: An approach to a technical communication competency model

Abstract

Technical communication is undergoing constant change as new technologies replace old technologies both within and outside the workplace. Ongoing changes require diverse competencies, i.e., skills that need to be studied. This paper examines how competencies in technical communication can be modeled, and proposes a model that is based on previous research focused on competencies in technical communication. First, the concept of competence in this context is defined. Then the principles undergirding the building of the model and the model itself are described. I argue that many of the competencies for technical communicators based on previous studies are general competencies that are needed in today's information society. I also argue that general competencies and subject area knowledge need to be taken into consideration in order to examine competencies in technical communication.