Information Design: Research and Practice, edited by Alison Black, Paul Luna, Ole Lund, and Sue Walker, is a compendium of theories and practical examples of information from leading researchers and practitioners. This is an excellent resource, comprehensively addressing multiple aspects of information design. Erik Speikerman, one of the contributors to the book, describes the volume […]
The New Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and the End User: Supporting Usability Through Documentation
The medtech industry is undergoing significant change, from the introduction of the new MDR and the update to ISO 13485, to the growth of home-based healthcare and the uncertainties of Brexit. This post was originally published in November 2017 and updated in March 2018. At some recent Irish medtech events, the major topics dominating conversation were: […]
Human Error Reduction in the Biopharmaceutical Industry: How Outsourcing Can Help
By Liadain O'Driscoll and Carmel Murphy on February 19, 2018 in Pharma and BioPharma, Technical Writing
Improving your Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) documentation is often a central aspect of a human error reduction project. Unclear or poorly written standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and batch manufacturing records contribute to increased human error and inefficient training. In this post, we outline how a managed service solution for documentation can support human […]
The Continued Relevance of Dekker’s “Field Guide to Understanding Human Error”: From Blame Culture to Safety Culture
When investigating a workplace accident, you might be inclined to believe that the employees involved should automatically be held responsible for the unfortunate incident. If so, you are taking what author Sidney Dekker describes as “the old view” of human error. Taking this old view, as the book reveals, will do little to prevent further […]
Current Practices and Trends in Technical and Professional Communication: Review of ISTC’s On-Target Collection
Writing style and voice, prominent software and tools, career and workplace issues – just some of the topics addressed by Current Practices and Trends in Technical and Professional Communication. Edited by Stephen Crabbe, and published by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC), the book brings together academics and professionals from the field of […]
3 Copywriting Tips for (Confused) Technical Writers
Are you a technical writer looking for copywriting tips? We’re not surprised. The boundary between marketing communications and technical communications is fading. This isn’t news—people have been saying it for years. But it doesn’t make the transition any less confusing for technical writers who are suddenly asked to write marketing content. (more…)
Medtec Ireland 2017 Conference: How Documentation Supports Usability
The program for the upcoming Medtec Ireland 2017 Conference (Galway, 4–5 October) reflects the increasing focus on the end user in the medtech industry. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and international regulatory bodies have recently issued various appeals to pay more attention to usability. This has strengthened awareness in the medtech community of the […]
TWi and Cork Simon Partnership Recognised by Chambers Ireland CSR Awards
In 2004, the country’s largest business organisation established the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards to encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The awards feature excellent CSR initiatives by Irish and multinational companies, and promote sustainability and responsibility in business. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, observed that the growth of the CSR Awards over the past […]
Creating Documentation with Limited Resources: Weighing Up the Outsourcing Options
Outsourcing is a valuable tool for project managers with limited resources, under pressure to deliver a user manual, training guide, or datasheet. We outline two outsourcing options for delivering high-quality documentation and identify the scenarios with which they are best matched. Resourcing Challenges You have documentation requirements that you cannot fulfil with the resources currently […]
What Story Does Your Process Documentation Tell?
Good process documentation tells the story of an organisation. All businesses are comprised of sets of interrelated processes, the reliability and repeatability of which hinges on the quality of the process documentation. We’d like to share some insights on how strengthening the narrative of your organisation’s processes can help you achieve your business goals. This […]
