Survey - Proposed TECHNICAL WRITING Program

[Louis Rondeau <LOUIS -at- LACITEC -dot- ON -dot- CA>]

Hi everyone,

Be forewarned: this message is LONG.  If it does not apply to you or
your organization, do not reply to it. If you do reply, please
address your messages to me, Louis Rondeau, at my address
(louis -at- lacitec -dot- on -dot- ca).  Do not reply to the list.

The following is a survey aimed at potential employers. We are mainly
looking for input from employers in Ontario and Quebec, but ALL
replies will be accepted.

Thanks for your cooperation.

*********************************************************************
      SURVEY FOR A PROPOSED _TECHNICAL WRITING_ PROGRAM
*********************************************************************
La Cit=E9 coll=E9giale is dedicated to meeting the educational and
training needs of the people, businesses and communities of
Eastern Ontario.

To develop the programs and courses necessary to meet the needs
of the community, La Cit=E9 coll=E9giale needs your help.  We are
presently developing a Technical Writing program and we would
appreciate your input to ensure that this program meets your
needs.  We are therefore asking you to complete the questionnaire
below, and return it by e-mail, before April 5, 1996,
to Louis Rondeau at the following address: louis -at- lacitec -dot- on -dot- ca

If you have any questions, please call Louis Rondeau, 613-742-
2493, ext 2414, or e-mail him at louis -at- lacitec -dot- on -dot- ca

On behalf of La Cit=E9 coll=E9giale, I would like to thank you for
your help.
*********************************************************************
Please type in the following information:

   Name of business/organization:

   Your name:

   Telephone:

*********************************************************************
                          PART I - PROFILE
*********************************************************************
1.    How would you classify your business/organization using the
      following categories?

      1.1    Federal government                                [  ]
      1.2    Provincial government                             [  ]
      1.3    Municipal government                              [  ]
      1.4    Association                                       [  ]
      1.5    High technology                                   [  ]
      1.6    Manufacturing                                     [  ]
      1.7    Service sector                                    [  ]
      1.8    Health Sector                                     [  ]
      1.9    Social services                                   [  ]
      1.10   Other (specify) _____________________________     [  ]

2.    What is the size of your organization/firm?

      2.1    1 to 5 employees                                  [  ]
      2.2    6 to 15 employees                                 [  ]
      2.3    16 to 30 employees                                [  ]
      2.4    31 to 100 employees                               [  ]
      2.5    More than 100 employees                           [  ]

3.    What is your firm's normal annual employee turnover rate?

      3.1     0  -  10%                                        [  ]
      3.2    11  -  20%                                        [  ]
      3.3    21  -  30%                                        [  ]
      3.4    More than 30%                                     [  ]

4.    Which of the following language profiles describes your target
      clientele?

      4.1    0  - 10%  French-speaking                         [  ]
      4.2    11 - 20%  French-speaking                         [  ]
      4.3    21 - 40%  French-speaking                         [  ]
      4.4    41 - 60%  French-speaking                         [  ]
      4.5    61 - 80%  French-speaking                         [  ]
      4.6    81 - 100% French-speaking                         [  ]

5.    Do you believe your sector of the economy will experience some
      growth in the next three years?

      5.1    In your region
      5.1.1              Yes                                   [  ]
      5.1.2              No                                    [  ]
      5.1.3              I don't know                          [  ]

      5.2    Throughout the province in general
      5.2.1              Yes                                   [  ]
      5.2.2              No                                    [  ]
      5.2.3              I don't know                          [  ]

6.    In the last three years, has your firm hired graduates from a
      college program?

      Full time:
      6.1  Yes                 (go to question 7)              [  ]
      6.2  No                  (go to question 8)              [  ]
      6.3  I don't know        (go to question 8)              [  ]

      Contract:
      6.4  Yes                 (go to question 7)              [  ]
      6.5  No                  (go to question 8)              [  ]
      6.6  I don't know        (go to question 8)              [  ]

7.    In what specialization(s) and approximately how many?

      7.1    Specializations                    7.2   Number
             _____________________                    ____________
             _____________________                    ____________


      N.B.  If you have answered question 7, please proceed to
            question 9.

8.    Can you give reasons for this?

      8.1    Preference given to university graduates          [  ]
      8.2    No planned expansion or turnover                  [  ]
      8.3    Unaware of what is taught in colleges             [  ]
      8.4    Training not suited to realities of the job       [  ]
      8.5    Other (specify)_______________________________

9.    In your organization/firm, bilingualism is an asset.

      9.1    Completely agree                                   [  ]
      9.2    Agree                                              [  ]
      9.3    I don't know                                       [  ]
      9.4    Disagree                                           [  ]
      9.5    Completely disagree                                [  ]

10.   In your opinion, are there currently job opportunities for
      graduates of a college program with the following language
      profiles?

      Unilingual - Francophone
      10.1         Yes                                         [  ]
      10.2         No                                          [  ]

      Unilingual - Anglophone
      10.3         Yes                                         [  ]
      10.4         No                                          [  ]

      Bilingual
      10.5         Yes                                         [  ]
      10.6         No                                          [  ]

      3rd language (specify)____________________________

11.   Can you give us an idea of the number of jobs you will offer
      (full time and\or contract) by the year 2000 in the sector in
      question?

      11.1         in 1996                              [          ]
      11.2         in 1997                              [          ]
      11.3         in 1998                              [          ]
      11.4         in 1999                              [          ]
      11.5         in 2000                              [          ]

12.   a)In your sector, what is the average annual salary of a
        college graduate at hiring?

      12.1         $ 12 000 to 15 000                           [  ]
      12.2         $ 16 000 to 20 000                           [  ]
      12.3         $ 21 000 to 25 000                           [  ]
      12.4         $ 26 000 to 30 000                           [  ]
      12.5         Over $ 30 000                                [  ]

      b)     If an hourly rate is charged, please specify

      12.6         15 dollars                                   [  ]
      12.7         20 dollars                                   [  ]
      12.8         25 dollars                                   [  ]
      12.9         More than 30 dollars                         [  ]

13.   How do you train your personnel?

      13.1         On the job                                   [  ]
      13.2         In-house training program                    [  ]
      13.3         Courses provided by specialized
                   institutions                                 [  ]
      13.4         All of the above                             [  ]
      13.5         Other (specify): ________________________________

14.   On-the-job training (practical experience) is a necessary
      component in students' education.

      14.1         Completely agree                             [  ]
      14.2         Agree                                        [  ]
      14.3         I don't know                                 [  ]
      14.4         Disagree                                     [  ]
      14.5         Completely disagree                          [  ]

15.   If so, the length of on-the-job training during the school
      year should be:

      15.1         2 to 4 weeks                                 [  ]
      15.2         4 to 6 weeks                                 [  ]
      15.3         6 to 8 weeks                                 [  ]
      15.4         More than 8 weeks (specify)______________________

16.   In your opinion, the most suitable period of the year for a
      training session would be:

      16.1         Autumn                                       [  ]
      16.2         Winter                                       [  ]
      16.3         Spring                                       [  ]
      16.4         Summer                                       [  ]

17.   Would your organization/firm be willing to accept trainees?

      17.1         Yes                                          [  ]
      17.2         No                                           [  ]
      17.3         I don't know                                 [  ]

18.   How many trainees would you be willing to accept at the same
      time?

      18.1         One                                          [  ]
      18.2         Two or three                                 [  ]
      18.3         Between three and five                       [  ]
      18.4         More than five                               [  ]

19.   Would your organization\firm be willing to remunerate
      cooperative ("coop") program trainees?

      19.1         Yes                                          [  ]
      19.2         No                                           [  ]
      19.3         I don't know                                 [  ]


Your comments:





***************
End of Part One
***************

*********************************************************************
           PART II - Program Learning Outcomes (competencies)
*********************************************************************
The following list of program learning outcomes (competencies)
describes the graduate's knowledge and abilities. To help us focus
training activities on employers' expectations, we would like you
to indicate the level of importance you place on each of the
following program learning outcomes (competencies).

A - Very useful
B - Important
C - Not appropriate
D - No opinion

1. Write a wide array of documents in French and in     A   B   C   D
   English for a varied audience (user manuals,
   reference manuals, on-line help, etc.).

2. Devise a documentation plan, and develop an           A   B   C   D
   effective strategy for its execution.

3. Retrieve all relevant information through             A   B   C   D
   interactions with members of a multidisciplinary
   development team.

4. Efficiently use a wide array of tools for             A   B   C   D
   document production and distribution.


5. Anticipate the end user's thought process.            A   B   C   D


6. Play an active role in the development of             A   B   C   D
   a product.

7. Demonstrate the ability to adapt to a fast-           A   B   C   D
   changing environment (workplace, tools,
   products, etc.).

***************
End of Part Two
***************

Thank you very much for your help.


*********************************************************************
Louis Rondeau                                      La Cit=E9 coll=E9giale
R=E9dacteur technique/Technical Writer     801, promenade de l'Aviation
Ress. informatiques/Comp. Resources          Ottawa (Ontario) K1K 4R3
Internet: louis -at- lacitec -dot- on -dot- ca        (613) 742-2493 - Poste/Ext. 2414
          ak004 -at- freenet -dot- carleton -dot- ca
*********************************************************************