Speeches on Issues in Business Issues in Training and Communications by Saul Carliner

the studio of
Saul Carliner
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Speeches on Business Issues in Training and Communication

In this List of Speeches
Experience
Speeches Available
How to Schedule a Speech or Request More Information

Experience

Have spoken at these events:

Online Learning
Online Learning Asia
Training Director's Forum
American Society for Training and Development Conference
Society for Technical Communication Annual Conference
Central Connecticut chapter of ASTD
TECHCOMM/99, TECHCOMM/2000, TECHCOMM/2001
SOLUTIONS Management Clinics
Wisconsin Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning
The following chapters of the Society for Technical Communication: Atlanta, Boston, Central Connecticut, Chicago, Israel, Metro Baltimore, Orange County, Philadelphia Metro, Singapore, Toronto, Twin Cities, Washington DC

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All speeches are 60 to 90 minutes. Length can be changed on request.

Speech

Description

Intended Audience

Classic
Business Models for Training and Performance Improvement Departments

How can trainers have influence in organizations? A training department’s business model-the way in which it receives funding-has a more profound effect on power and influence than any other single factor. Applying research on organizations that develop training content, this session explains what business models are and explores how they affect influence and power. It surveys the most common business models for training organizations and gives participants an opportunity to assess the model under which they operate.

CLOs, training and performance improvement directors, training and performance improvement managers, senior training specialists, senior performance technologists, and consultants.

Business Models for Technical Communication Departments

Although the professional literature extols our role as the user advocate, only a change in the way we run our departments can result in our playing this role. The department’s business model--the way in which it receives funding--has a more profound effect on power and influence than any other single factor. Applying research on organizations that develop technical communication products, this session explains what business models are and explores how they affect influence and power. It surveys the most common business models for technical communication organizations and gives participants an opportunity to assess the model under which they operate.

Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.

New!
ROI for E-Learning: Can You? Should You? How Do You?

Because e-learning usually requires a heavy up-front financial investment, organizations have a strong interest on calculating the return on that investment (ROI). This session explores some common approaches to calculating ROI, and identifies some of the challenges involved in calculating and reporting ROI. It also suggests the types of projects for which you should calculate ROI-and which ones aren’t worth the effort.

Training and performance improvement managers, senior training specialists, senior performance technologists, and consultants.

New!
We Are What We Manage: The Portfolios of Technical Communication Managers

Provides results from a survey funded by an STC Research Grant into the portfolios of technical communication managers. First, this presentation introduces the current state of effectiveness and productivity metrics in technical communication, and the rationale for this study. Next, it provides results from the study. Last, participants discuss how they might apply this information in their own management practice.

Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.

Classic
We Are What We Measure: Metrics for Technical Communication Departments

If your internal or external clients view user’s guides, help, and related communication products as "necessary evils," then this session has some suggestions for you. Research-based, yet interactive, this session first presents the challenges in developing metrics for communication activities, then presents an emerging methodology--adapted from a widely followed methodology used by trainers and instructional designers--for working with your clients to demonstrate the bottom-line impact of your technical communication products.

Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.

We Are What We Measure: Metrics for Corporate Communication Departments:

If your internal or external clients view public relations, employee communications, product information, and related communication products as "necessary evils," then this session has some suggestions for you. Research-based, yet interactive, this session first presents the challenges in developing metrics for communication activities, then presents an emerging methodology--adapted from a widely followed methodology used in training--for demonstrating the bottom-line impact of your communication products.

Corporate communication directors, corporate communication managers, communication planners, senior communication specialists, contractors and consultants.

New!
The Worst Case Survival Plan Book: Exit Strategies for e-Learning Projects

Although most instructional designers and project managers plan e-learning projects for success, in the real world, some projects still turn sour. For example, vendors go out of business. Technology does not work. Teams do not coalesce. This session explores issues you can address before a project begins, so that you can protect your work from a possible "disaster" afterwards. This session also identifies issues to consider should you need to implement your exit strategy.

Training and performance improvement staff who oversee contracts for products and services; contractors, consultants, and other suppliers who provide contracted services.

Demonstrating the Value and Effectiveness of Communication Products and Services

Are you suffering from the Rodney Dangerfield syndrome? Do you think that trainers and communicators get no respect? If so, you might benefit from this entertaining and interactive presentation. It:

Identifies common challenges to our work posed by technical professionals and managers

Explains that value is a perception, not a forumula

Suggests data that you can collect to promote the perception that you provide value

Proposes a framework for collecting the data

And, because data alone is not sufficiently convincing, suggests ways you can persuasively present this data and to whom you can most effectively present it.

Through exercises (time permitting), you assess your current ability to demonstrate value and solve case studies culled from real world experience in which technical communicators need to demonstrate their value.

Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.

The Information Design and Development Industry

To thrive as an instructional designer or technical communicator requires a broader understanding of the field than document design and related issues. It also requires business knowledge about the field (o) general demographics, (o) the "musts" of being an information designer or developer, (o) beliefs and values: the core beliefs of technical communicators, and (o) trends and issues, which could affect your long-term competitiveness. In addition, you have an opportunity to compute your "competitive index" and, from the information provided, can chart a course for improving your competitiveness.

People working in the technical communication and information design industry, and those who would like to.

Classic
Future Travels of the InfoWrangler

Are you an InfoWrangler? As new technologies, an increasingly competitive business environment, and more complex assignments merge the work of training and communications, a new field is arising--codenamed the InfoWrangler. Through this presentation, explore the roots of infowrangling, the change ahead for people working in communications and training, and challenges awaiting people in the field.

Note that a specialized version of this presentation is available for trainers and instructional designers who are making the transition to online and other distance learning technologies.

Technical communicators in all positions; training and instructional designers in all positions. People who are thinking about entering this field.

Classic
Trends in the Communication and Training Business

Identifies trends that might affect information and instructional designers, and how those trends might affect us. Based on Saul Carliner's popular annual feature in Intercom.

Technical communicators in all positions; training and instructional designers in all positions. People who are thinking about entering this field.

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How to Schedule a Speech or Request More Information

Please contact me.

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Back to the Speeches

Speech	Description	Intended Audience
Classic Business Models for Training and Performance Improvement Departments	How can trainers have influence in organizations? A training department’s business model-the way in which it receives funding-has a more profound effect on power and influence than any other single factor. Applying research on organizations that develop training content, this session explains what business models are and explores how they affect influence and power. It surveys the most common business models for training organizations and gives participants an opportunity to assess the model under which they operate.	CLOs, training and performance improvement directors, training and performance improvement managers, senior training specialists, senior performance technologists, and consultants.
Business Models for Technical Communication Departments	Although the professional literature extols our role as the user advocate, only a change in the way we run our departments can result in our playing this role. The department’s business model--the way in which it receives funding--has a more profound effect on power and influence than any other single factor. Applying research on organizations that develop technical communication products, this session explains what business models are and explores how they affect influence and power. It surveys the most common business models for technical communication organizations and gives participants an opportunity to assess the model under which they operate.	Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.
New! ROI for E-Learning: Can You? Should You? How Do You?	Because e-learning usually requires a heavy up-front financial investment, organizations have a strong interest on calculating the return on that investment (ROI). This session explores some common approaches to calculating ROI, and identifies some of the challenges involved in calculating and reporting ROI. It also suggests the types of projects for which you should calculate ROI-and which ones aren’t worth the effort.	Training and performance improvement managers, senior training specialists, senior performance technologists, and consultants.
New! We Are What We Manage: The Portfolios of Technical Communication Managers	Provides results from a survey funded by an STC Research Grant into the portfolios of technical communication managers. First, this presentation introduces the current state of effectiveness and productivity metrics in technical communication, and the rationale for this study. Next, it provides results from the study. Last, participants discuss how they might apply this information in their own management practice.	Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.
Classic We Are What We Measure: Metrics for Technical Communication Departments	If your internal or external clients view user’s guides, help, and related communication products as "necessary evils," then this session has some suggestions for you. Research-based, yet interactive, this session first presents the challenges in developing metrics for communication activities, then presents an emerging methodology--adapted from a widely followed methodology used by trainers and instructional designers--for working with your clients to demonstrate the bottom-line impact of your technical communication products.	Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.
We Are What We Measure: Metrics for Corporate Communication Departments:	If your internal or external clients view public relations, employee communications, product information, and related communication products as "necessary evils," then this session has some suggestions for you. Research-based, yet interactive, this session first presents the challenges in developing metrics for communication activities, then presents an emerging methodology--adapted from a widely followed methodology used in training--for demonstrating the bottom-line impact of your communication products.	Corporate communication directors, corporate communication managers, communication planners, senior communication specialists, contractors and consultants.
New! The Worst Case Survival Plan Book: Exit Strategies for e-Learning Projects	Although most instructional designers and project managers plan e-learning projects for success, in the real world, some projects still turn sour. For example, vendors go out of business. Technology does not work. Teams do not coalesce. This session explores issues you can address before a project begins, so that you can protect your work from a possible "disaster" afterwards. This session also identifies issues to consider should you need to implement your exit strategy.	Training and performance improvement staff who oversee contracts for products and services; contractors, consultants, and other suppliers who provide contracted services.
Demonstrating the Value and Effectiveness of Communication Products and Services	Are you suffering from the Rodney Dangerfield syndrome? Do you think that trainers and communicators get no respect? If so, you might benefit from this entertaining and interactive presentation. It: Identifies common challenges to our work posed by technical professionals and managers Explains that value is a perception, not a forumula Suggests data that you can collect to promote the perception that you provide value Proposes a framework for collecting the data And, because data alone is not sufficiently convincing, suggests ways you can persuasively present this data and to whom you can most effectively present it. Through exercises (time permitting), you assess your current ability to demonstrate value and solve case studies culled from real world experience in which technical communicators need to demonstrate their value.	Technical communication directors, technical communication managers, information planners, senior information designers and developers, senior technical communicators, contractors and consultants.
The Information Design and Development Industry	To thrive as an instructional designer or technical communicator requires a broader understanding of the field than document design and related issues. It also requires business knowledge about the field (o) general demographics, (o) the "musts" of being an information designer or developer, (o) beliefs and values: the core beliefs of technical communicators, and (o) trends and issues, which could affect your long-term competitiveness. In addition, you have an opportunity to compute your "competitive index" and, from the information provided, can chart a course for improving your competitiveness.	People working in the technical communication and information design industry, and those who would like to.
Classic Future Travels of the InfoWrangler	Are you an InfoWrangler? As new technologies, an increasingly competitive business environment, and more complex assignments merge the work of training and communications, a new field is arising--codenamed the InfoWrangler. Through this presentation, explore the roots of infowrangling, the change ahead for people working in communications and training, and challenges awaiting people in the field. Note that a specialized version of this presentation is available for trainers and instructional designers who are making the transition to online and other distance learning technologies.	Technical communicators in all positions; training and instructional designers in all positions. People who are thinking about entering this field.
Classic Trends in the Communication and Training Business	Identifies trends that might affect information and instructional designers, and how those trends might affect us. Based on Saul Carliner's popular annual feature in Intercom.	Technical communicators in all positions; training and instructional designers in all positions. People who are thinking about entering this field.