Avoiding the Top 20 Global Documentation Errors

The biggest single hurdle to a smooth globalization effort is written documentation. However, with careful planning, companies can remove communications obstacles before they arise. The technique described in this presentation is called "PokaYoke," a Japanese term for any device or software that can prevent process errors. Learn how you can build quality into your documentation and translation. The presentation covers the top 20 errors that a linguistic "PokaYoke" can find, monitor and correct.

John Smart has spent over two decades helping companies write technical documentation for readers in 218 countries. This presentation uses real-life examples to highlight terms, words and phrases guaranteed to fail any quality control. Attendees will be encouraged to adopt a "PokaYoke" approach to their localization and technical documentation.

Avoiding the Top 20 Global Documentation Errors was presented by John Smart, President, of SMART Communications, and is previously recorded. For more details or to download this event, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

Effective Translation Process for Japan Regulatory Submissions

Many companies that do business in Japan rely on their Japanese affiliates to handle the creation of regulatory documentation, due to language and cultural considerations and the complexities of Japanese regulations. A problem with this approach is that often the US-based companies then don't know exactly what was submitted to the government, which can have serious implications.

The Japan submission dossier preparation and translation process requires a unique approach. Cooperation among submission authors, the translators and the Japanese affiliate is essential to make it work. When it does, a company can be assured that its English and Japanese submissions stay consistent, and there are no questions about what is submitted. It has the side benefit of building cross-cultural teams, where both parties focus on their core competencies.

This audio conference discusses how regulatory documentation gets translated, looks at specific approaches companies take for their Japan dossier creation, identifies the problems with the usual approaches, and then presents best practices for creating consistent, accurate and timely submissions.

Effective Translation Process for Japan Regulatory Submissions is being presented by Jason Heaton, with ForeignExchange Translations, and airs on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. For more details, or to register for this audio conference please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

To learn more about Japanese Translations, please visit ForeignExchange Translations website at www.fxtrans.com

Content Convergence: Making Your Content Work Harder

Organizations invest tremendous amounts of resources on delivering the framework for a great user experience - fabulous website, robust content management infrastructure - yet when it comes to the content itself, there's often a gap. The end result is that the value proposition for customers can't be delivered because the content is insufficient, inadequate, inappropriate and hard to find.

If you're being asked to use your content in more than one way, you might be at the stage where the “more” part includes unfamiliar methods or technologies, syndication or collaborative creation, localization or social media, or communities and user-generated content. This session covers the strategies for delivering the content in ways that meets the user experience needs with sufficient quality to deliver on your brand.

Content Convergence: Making Your Content Work Harder is being presented by Rahel Anne Bailie, Principal, with Intentional Design Inc and airs on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. For more details or to register for this conference, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

Workflow & Version Control: Taming the Documentation Tiger

Take a look at your email inbox. Chances are someone has sent you a working document as an attachment because they are finished with it and now it's your turn. It's also a good bet bet that the folder containing your current project has file names like Operation-v1.doc and Operation-v2.doc. Every document goes through some kind of workflow and version control. Many companies do this using email attachments and file naming conventions. A true document management environment will include workflow and version control, but these systems are usually too costly for the small documentation shop.

In this audio conference, Brian Travis discusses the shortcomings of current document management practices, and ways to streamline and improve the process.

Workflow & Version Control: Taming the Documentation Tiger was presented on 2007-05-10 and is available for download. For more details or to download this conference, please visit our site www.fxconferences.com

Writing for Translation: The 1% Solution

Why should you learn how to use Controlled English? Increasingly, documentation must be designed for two distinct but related types of audiences—-those reading the text in translation, and those for whom English is a second language.

While many businesses still have their documentation translated, English is quickly becoming the standard of our global village. But English is a complex language to read, write, and understand. Using Controlled English makes documents easier for non-native English speakers to understand, and the more consistent, less ambiguous language also makes for less expensive translations. It is critical that technical documentation and training manuals clearly convey meaning in fields with complex products and liability issues.

This audio conference explains how 1% of the English language is sufficient to communicate with customers in 181 countries. It will also cover the steps to implement Controlled English and its pitfalls and benefits for the translation of technical documentation.

Writing for Translation: The 1% Solution was presented by John Smart, SMART Communications, on 2005-06-21 and is now available for download. For more details or to purchase a recording, please visit our site www.fxconferences.com

How to Write for a Global Audience

In today's world, technical documentation must be designed for multiple audiences - both the users who read the text in translation, and those for whom English is a second language. By using Controlled English and authoring with an eye to translation, companies can make the entire process of product globalization faster, cheaper and less prone to errors.

This audio conference provides some basic guidelines on how to write for a global audience, enabling attendees to reduce the cost and improve the quality of translations, improve training and customer support, and protect their companies from litigation under the "failure to warn" principle.

How to Write for a Global Audience was presented by John Smart, President, SMART Communications on 2006-05-18 and is now available for download at www.fxconferences.com

Managing the Shift to Electronic Submissions

The electronic common technical document (eCTD) presents many challenges to a Sponsor organization, but may also yield significant benefits through increased efficiencies and improved reviews by regulatory agencies. Sponsor organizations that have decided to adopt the eCTD now have the challenging task of managing and implementing the paradigm shift from paper to electronic regulatory submissions.


The first of many challenges is to evaluate and modify existing document preparation processes to accommodate differences between paper and eCTD. Once these changes have been identified, the next step is to convince upper management the changes are necessary to move the organization forward to preparing electronic submissions. Another challenge is working with vendors to receive electronically-compliant documents. The eCTD will require sponsor organizations to rethink their business and those with whom they do business.

This audio conference is presented by Gina Ross, Director, Managing Consultant, Regulatory Publishing Services, of Beckloff Associates a Cardinal Health Company. To learn more details please visit our site www.fxconferences.com

Avoiding the Top 20 Global Documentation Errors

The biggest single hurdle to a smooth globalization effort is written documentation. However, with careful planning, companies can remove communications obstacles before they arise. The technique to be described in this presentation is called "PokaYoke," a Japanese term for any device or software that can prevent process errors. Learn how you can build quality into your documentation and translation. The presentation covers the top 20 errors that a linguistic "PokaYoke" can find, monitor and correct.

John Smart has spent over two decades helping companies write technical documentation for readers in 218 countries. This presentation uses real-life examples to highlight terms, words and phrases guaranteed to fail any quality control. Attendees will be encouraged to adopt a "PokaYoke" approach to their localization and technical documentation.

This audio conference is presented by John Smart of SMART Communications. Learn more at www.fxconferences.com