May 25, 2009
Dear friends,
The India chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) is
pleased to announce a special event for technical communicators on May
30, 2009 at VMware, Bangalore. The theme of this event is “Know Your
Customer Quotient (CQ)”. Thanks to VMware for sponsoring this event.
We have limited seats. So, please register at the earliest.
Here are the details:
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REGISTRATIONS WILL CLOSE ON 29TH MAY
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Time
=====
9:30AM – 10:00AM: Registration
10:00AM – 10:45AM: “Support Case Analysis” by Vasanth
10:45AM – 11:15AM: Tea/Coffee break
11:15AM – 1:00PM: “You May Help Me!” (Case study & best practices to
collaborate with Support) by Gururaj BS
1:00PM – 2:00PM: Lunch
2:00PM – 3:00PM: ”Customers at Work” (Establishing credibility across
values and attitudes), a workshop by Niranjan Jahagirdar
About the sessions
===================
Support Case Analysis
———————————-
In this session, Vasanth will talk about the need to analyze technical
support cases and look for areas to improve documentation. There is a
need to make documentation user-friendly so that it is used to solve
real customer issues. One can acquire a wealth of information about
why customers read documentation and what customers really look for in
documentation by going through support cases.
You May Help Me!
—————————
Agenda:
Why work with Support?
Involving them in doc reviews
“Support readiness” of docs
Support’s perspective
How they use our docs
Their pet peeves!
Patch docs - how they are written, how technical writers can
contribute, and why it is important.
Release notes – how to determine “relnotability” of a known problem or
workaround and identify platform- or environment-specific problems
This session is intended to be interactive. Participants are requested
to share their own, specific experiences working with support. Also,
we will have a 10-minute role-play or a constructive argument to
understand and handle different perspectives: Dev/QA, Doc, Product
Management, and Support. So there will be 4 volunteers/actors playing
different roles. The session participants will vote for the best
actor/actress.
Customers at Work
—————————–
This presentation will give a brief overview of different work-related
values and attitudes, discuss how the traits translate to differences
in behavior, enable attendees to identify some of these traits, as
well as establish credibility with co-workers having traits different
from their own.
About the speakers
===================
Vasanth holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics & Communication Engg,
& a Masters degree in Software Systems. His wide industry experience
areas include software development, technical support, release
engineering, performance testing, and technical documentation. Vasanth
is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM). He is a senior member of STC, and
is the immediate Past President of the STC India chapter. He has also
presented papers in several conferences, winning the “Best Paper”
award in the PMI APAC conference held in India in 2005. Vasanth is
currently the Documentation Manager at Consona Software, Bangalore.
Gururaj is a Senior Documentation Manager working at BEA Systems (an
Oracle company) in Bangalore. He has over 11 years of experience in
technical communication. He is a weekend guest faculty teaching
technical writing to undergraduates and PG students at Christ
University & Dayanand Sagar Institutions, Bangalore. He is the owner
of the TWIN community portal, mailing list, and registered
organization for technical writers. He is a former president of STC
India.
Niranjan is a Technical Editor at VMware, Bangalore. He has earlier
worked with publishing houses such as Wrox and Packt, and throughout
his career has interacted with authors and customers from different
nations and cultures.
Venue
=======
VMware Software Pvt. Ltd.
3rd Floor, Kalyani Magnum,
Block-1, 165/2 Doraisanipalya,
Bannerghatta Road,
Bangalore - 560076
Note: Please carry an identfication proof, as the VMware security will
require it for verification.
Directions (VMware can be located on Google Maps)
=======================================
From Bannerghatta Road (Jayadeva Hospital flyover)->Shopper’s
Stop->Ring Road Signal (Mandovi Motors on the right corner) take a
right->at the next signal (Aris Global across the road on the left)
take a left->continue straight till you arrive at Kalyani Magnum
Towers and take a left.
If travelling from Banashankari, Jayanagar, JP Nagar: get on the 80FT
ring road, which has Big Bazaar, Woody’s, RaagiGudda Temple->take a
right at the traffic light after RaagiGudda Temple->continue straight
on this road till you arrive at Kalyani Magnum Towers and take a left.
For more information, contact 9880061915 (Purnima) or 9845248847 (Venkat).
Contact details
================
Akash Dubey, Bangalore City Representative, STC India Chapter
Email: adubey@interwoven.com, akashjd@yahoo.com
Mobile No: 9845795343
Registration details
=====================
To confirm your participation, please send a mail to Akash Dubey at
adubey@interwoven.com or akashjd@yahoo.com. Please do not inquire
about the session on this mailing list. Your participation is
confirmed only if you receive a confirmation mail from Akash Dubey.
Participation fee
==================
Rs. 100.00 for non-STC members
Free for STC members
Please note the following:
All participants (STC members or Non-STC members) have to register and
get a confirmation mail from Akash Dubey on or before May 30, 2009.
Non-STC members have to pay the participation fee by May 30, 2009.
Participants can leave cash in a sealed envelope for the contact
person with the security personnel at any of the following venues
(please ensure that you include your name and contact information on
the envelope):
Francis Anthony
NetApp India Private Limited
1st Floor, Fair Winds Block
Embassy Golf Links Software Park
Off Intermediate Ring Road
Bangalore 560071
+91.80.4184 4484
+91.9663331912
OR
Gururaj BS
Lexington Tower,
Prestige Street, St Jhon’s Wood,
No.18, 2nd Cross Road, Chikka Audugodi,
Bangalore 560029
+91.80.4108 5000
+91.9900137636
OR
Subash Babu
Juniper Networks, 5th Floor,
Embassy Prime, Embassy Business Park,
CV Raman Nagar, Bangalore - 560093
+91.80.4190 4363
+91.9886214301
Hope to see you at the session.
Best regards,
Akash Dubey, Bangalore City Representative
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April 14, 2009
Hi all,
The India chapter of Society for Technical Communication (STC) is organizing a 1-day workshop on “Enhancing your Career Skills” in Chennai on May 9, 2009.
We have lined up multiple topics, which would help you in enhancing your skills.
Schedule for the event
———————–
9:00 AM to 9:30 AM - Registrations
9:30 AM to 10:00 AM - Welcome Speech
10:00 AM to 11:15 AM - How to learn through Social Networking Skills - Kiruba Shankar
11:30 AM to 12:30 AM - Essentials of Documentation Project Management - Kamalakannan Srinivasan
12:45 PM to 2:00 PM - LUNCH
2:00 PM to 3:15 PM - Stepping into the World of Technical Writing - Vidula Sundaram
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM - Session to be announced.
About the Speakers
——————-
Kiruba Shankar
————–
Kiruba Shankar is CEO of Business Blogging Pvt Ltd and Director of F5ive Technologies. He has 12 years of experience in the Internet space. Prior to this, he was Associate Director at Sulekha.com.
Kiruba is one of the founders of The Knowledge Foundation, the group behind successful events like BlogCamp, India’s Biggest Unconference on Blogging, Proto.in, premiere event showcasing startups. He also regularly organizes MobileMondays and BarCamps. He is on the advisory board of Brand Asia Summit.
Kiruba loves teaching and teaches at Asian College of Journalism, Anna University, Madras Advertising Club, SRM University. He has lectured on Social Media at IIM Kozhikode, IIM Bangalore and IIT Madras.
He is a key member in Creative Commons India and had been selected to represent India at the iCommons Summit at Sapporo, Japan.
He authors technology columns at the New Indian Express and Business Standard Newspaper . He is an official blogger for NASSCOM and IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India)
He is a professional podcaster and hosts a show called ‘The Kiruba Show’ where he interviews CEOs of Indian IT companies. BusinessWorld Magazine ranks his blog www.Kiruba.com as one of India’s top blogs.
Kiruba is a rowing champion and has captained the Sify Rowing Team to four championship titles. He has participated in Chennai and Bangalore marathons. His recent passion is Ultimate Frisbee.
Vidula Sundaram
—————
12 years in the field of Technical Writing, Vidula has worked as an Independent Consultant handling documentation projects for various clients in Chennai and outside India through Cyberword, which she had set up in the year 1996. Vidula has designed and created user guides, installation guides, quick start guides, online helps, demos and process documents. Also mentored technical writers for some clients.
Vidula graduated in Physics helped in looking at the ‘technical’ end of things and an MCA from Anna University provided exposure to programming languages and software systems
Kamalakannan Srinivasan
————————
Kamalakannan Srinivasan has over 8 years of experience in the technical writing field and about 14 years experience in the IT arena. Kamalakannan holds a Masters Degree in Marketing Management from IGNOU and a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics from Chennai University. Kamalakannan has worked for companies such Cognizant, Symphony, SumTotal, Airbee, and is currently employed with KLA-Tencor as Manager – Documentation.
Venue
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The workshop will be held at IIT Madras. The address for IIT Madras is located at Guindy, Chennai.
To reach the venue, use the following link on Google Maps:
http://maps.google.co.in/maps?near=IIT+Madras&q=iit+madras+address&f=p&btnG=Search+Maps
We would send an updated email with exact auditorium details later.
Directions to reach the venue:
——————————-
IIT Madras is located next to the Cancer Institute Adyar.
Participation Fee
——————–
Free for STC members
Rs.150/- for non-STC members
How to register for the event
——————————-
Please visit the following hyperlink to register for the event:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cE9wWU43NEVEYi1LWXZXbnhHdGlwWFE6MA..
You can pay the registration fees directly at the venue.
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Registrations close on May 7, 2009
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If you have any queries, please write to me at swami@mrmwrites.com.
Thanks and Regards
Swaminathan Moorthy
Employment Manager - STC India Chapter
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April 11, 2009
Firstly, much many apologies for missing merry March month’s Photowalk. Work, life, travel and new ventures kept interrupting and a total lack of sleep meant that, um, I couldn’t sleep and therefore wake up.
So, to make up for that, this month, April, will see two photowalks.
Walk #1.
What I call the Chennai Photowalk Classic
On the 19th of April 2009, at 6:30 AM, we all assemble at Mylapore’s Kapaleeswara Temple. Walk a bit in the back streets of Mylapore, and then board the MRTS line to Fort St. George. We then explore Fort St. George like it has never been explored before (in the month of April, that is). For those of you who’ve not been to the fort earlier (WHAT! HOW DARE THOU CALL YOURSELF A PHOTOWALKER?), there are a lot of high points to hit. The Fort Museum, Clive’s House, St. Mary’s Church, the Secretariat building (which one’s not allowed to photograph) and the many things there. Then one can just walk around the fort and soak in the atmosphere. Of which there’re many bushels.
Walk #2
Bowing to public pressure, I present the Chennai PhotoWalk in the The Chennai Central Jail.
This walk’s on the 26th April 2009, at 8 AM.
So there we go. Quick recap
Walk #1 – Mylapore to Fort St. George. 19th April 2009 at 6:30 AM
Walk #2 – Chennai Central Jain. 26th April 2009 at 8 AM
via CC (http://www.selectiveamnesia.org/)
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March 24, 2009
Hi all,
The India chapter of Society for Technical Communication (STC) is organizing a 1-day workshop on “Enhancing your Career Skills” in Bangalore on April 4, 2009.
We have lined up multiple topics, which would help you in enhancing your skills.
Schedule for the event
———————-
9:00 AM to 9:15 AM - Welcome Speech
9:15 AM to 10:15 AM - “So, you’re thinking of becoming a Technical Communicator” by Susan Alexander
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM - “The Seven Principles of Technical Writing” by Ram Venkatraman
11:45 AM to 12:45 PM - “Professional Development Through Continuing Education” by Kumar Dhanagopal
1:00PM to 2:00 PM - Lunch
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM - “Career Path for Technical Writers” by Michelle Cherian
3:15 PM to 4:15 PM - “Making Professionalism A Habit” from Vasanth Vaidyanathan
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM - Panel Discussion on “Is it easy for writers to be entrepreneurs? Yes/No? Why” (panelists: Rakesh Shukla, Usha Mohan, and Pradeep Vasudev)
Speakers
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Susan Alexander
Susan Alexander has around 23 years experience in the technical communication field. She began her career as a research assistant at Harvard Business School. Susan later worked as a technical writer/ technical editor/ and technical communications manager at companies such as Sonata Software, TCS, TI India, and Sallie Mae Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd.
An MBA from Bentley College, USA, Susan founded the Bangalore-based technical writing firm, Write Concept in 2000. Write Concept undertakes technical writing projects on a turnkey basis and also provides technical writing resources to organizations that require their services. In addition, Write Concept conducts technical writing training at the individual and corporate level.
Susan has always been an active member of the STC India Chapter.
She was the chapter’s Education Manager from December 2000 to December 2002 and the chapter Secretary in 2003. Susan was STC India Chapter President in 2004. Susan has presented papers at international conferences organized by the Society for Technical Communication (STC) and IEEE Professional Communication Society (IEEE PCS).
Michelle Cherian
An accountant by profession, Michelle ventured into technical communication during her long stay at Texas Instruments (TI). With a post graduate degree in Commerce, post-graduate diplomas in Business Management and Systems Administration from NIIT and good writing skills, she had just the right credentials.
She began writing internal user documents for TI’s ASIC division in 1998 and progressed to user manuals, reference guides, and release notes. She moved to a startup company called SoftBrands in 2002 for a year where as a lone writer her main work was creating online help for several web based hospitality products. She moved to Misys Financial Systems in 2003 where she built and led a team of 5 permanent writers and also coordinated the work contract writers and writers overseas for Retail Banking Products.
She moved to BEA Systems in 2006 where she worked on user manuals and online help and release notes for the Middleware domain.
She is currently with Cisco Systems as a senior technical writer in the IOS software documentation team. She has 10.5 years experience in technical writing and has worked extensively with the STC India chapter spending 4 years as an admin council member - 2 years as the Treasurer and 2 years as Vice President.
Kumar Dhanagopal
Kumar Dhanagopal works as Principal Technical Writer at Oracle. In the past, he has worked at Bosch, Intel, SAP, and BEA Systems for over 14 years in all, 9 of them as a technical communicator. He is currently the Vice President of STC’s India chapter. On weekends, he teaches technical communication to post-graduate students of Christ University. Kumar believes that continuous learning, be it on the job or in the classroom, is essential to perform and grow in any profession. In his session, Kumar will discuss the advantages of setting aside time for learning, the different ways in which we can acquire new knowledge and skills, obstacles to continuous learning, and how we can overcome those obstacles.
Ram Venkatraman
Ram works at Cisco Systems in Bangalore and manages a team that produces technical documentation for Cisco IOS XR operating system, CRS-1 and XR 12K series routers, and Broadband Telephone Services. Before joining Cisco, Ram worked as technical writer at Sun Microsystems.
Ram migrated from journalism to technical writing in 1999 after completing a 1-year certificate program in technical communications at the De Anza College in California. During the dot.bomb days, he went back to journalism and edited a newspaper in the SF Bay Area for a couple of years before returning to technical writing. Ram coaches writers in his team on content organization, structured writing, and soon will take part in the migration of documents to XML/DITA based architecture. His other interests include travel and travel photography.
Vasanth Vaidyanathan
Vasanth holds a bachelors degree in Electronics and Communication engineering, and a masters degree in software systems. His wide industry experience areas include software development, technical support, release engineering, performance testing, and technical documentation. Vasanth is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM). He is a senior member of Society for Technical Communication (STC), and is the Immediate Past President of STC India chapter. He has presented papers in several conferences. Vasanth won the “Best Paper” award in the PMI APAC conference held in India (2005). Vasanth is currently a Documentation Manager at Consona Software, Bangalore.
Panelists
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Usha Mohan (from Triumph India)
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Usha Mohan is the one of the senior Tech-Comm professionals in India. She pioneered the concept of offering Technical Writing as a service and set up Triumph India about a decade back. Today, Triumph continues to be the largest pure play, 150 strong technical writing services company having its offices in India, China and USA.
Couple of things that heralds Usha as the torch bearer of our industry:
- She brings extensive hands-on experience of executing large scale documentation projects. In fact Triumph carries the privilege of setting up large Offshore Documentation Centre’s for its customers (not principals) in India.
- She has also been instrumental in setting up the first Quality Management System (QMS) for documentation projects. The QMS setup at Triumph for this kind of outsourced project management activity is again first of its kind in the world. She is a member of the Society for Technical Communication.
- She has been instrumental in creating and nurturing the Tech-Comm talent pool. To quote numbers, Triumph has churned out close to 400 technical writers who are today major contributors in our industry. In the management context, she has envisioned and created roles like General Manager, Sr. Managers, Quality Manager, Lead Writers – all in the realm of Technical Writing.
Apart from managing Triumph, she spends a lot of time on social initiatives. She is a member of the Rotary Club of RT Nagar and actively participates in their social initiatives. She works with the children of Corporation School Ganga Nagar and takes active part in Polio Eradication campaigns. A sports and nature enthusiast, she plays table tennis, tennis, and loves trekking! An amateur veena player and an avid reader, she loves to cook, play scrabble, and shoot pictures of her family!
Rakesh Shukla (from The Writer’s Block)
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Rakesh Shukla is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Writers Block (TWB). Rakesh has formidable experience in the field of business management and strategy, especially in technology driven businesses.
Rakesh is responsible for the overall growth objectives of TWB and has led the company from scratch to being the leader in technical documentation services in Asia. Before setting up TWB, Rakesh was the Director - APAC of jNETx Inc - the world’s leading provider of Telco service delivery platforms. He has previously had several stints with companies such as Hughes/Flextronics Software Systems, Sasken Communications, and River Run Software Group. He has a rich experience of P & L responsibility for business lines including for budgets/funding, strategy design, marketing, development and staffing decisions, and has moved several business from languishing ‘dog businesses’ generating multiples of USD$ 50K - to a star business generating several million USD. Rakesh is also the co-founder of One97 (www.one97world.com). Started in 2000, One97 is one of India’s leading mobile VAS companies and has present revenues of over $5 Million.
When he isn’t planning product development or implementing business strategies, Rakesh paints, spends time with his cars and bicycles, and listens to what he likes to term as ‘great music’.
Pradeep Vasudev (from Collabis Consulting)
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Pradeep Vasudev is the VP India of Collabis Consulting Pvt. Ltd., a documentation company. Before Collabis, Pradeep was Documentation Manager at Oracle India Pvt. Ltd. Pradeep has been in the documentation business since 14 years.
Venue
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The workshop will be held at NetApp Labs Bangalore
Here is the complete address:
NetApp India Private Limited
3rd Floor, Fair Winds Block
EGL Software Park
Off Intermediate Ring Road
Bangalore 560071
+91.80.4184 3000
Participation Fee
——————–
Free for STC members
Rs.150/- for non-STC members
How to register for the event
——————————-
Please visit the following hyperlink to register for the event:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cE9wWU43NEVEYi1LRzV3RXEzb0V5Q3c6MA..
You can pay the registration fees directly at the venue.
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Registrations close on April 2, 2009
*****************************************************
If you have any queries, please write to me at swami@mrmwrites.com. Please do not discuss this event on the mailing list.
Thanks and Regards
Swaminathan Moorthy
Employment Manager - STC India Chapter
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