nichttechnische

Nichttechnische is a German term formed from nicht meaning "not" and technisch meaning "technical." It functions as an adjective and, in some contexts, as a noun phrase (die Nichttechnischen) to designate domains, tasks, or people that are not technical in nature. The term is commonly used to distinguish non-technical from technical aspects in industry, education, and administration.

In practice, nichttechnische Aspekte umfasst soft skills, organizational tasks, regulatory compliance, user experience, communication, and project management. It is often used in contrast to technische or engineering aspects. The expression appears in various contexts to separate non-technical considerations from technical ones within projects, curricula, and job descriptions.

Examples include nichttechnische Qualifikationen (non-technical qualifications such as teamwork, communication, leadership), nichttechnische Anforderungen (non-technical requirements like usability and accessibility in product development), or Nichttechnische Mitarbeiter (staff who perform administrative or support roles rather than engineering tasks).

In education and labor markets, the term helps distinguish curricula and career tracks into technical and nichttechnische streams. It is often translated as non-technical or soft skills in English, though the German term encompasses a broader category that includes organizational and human-centric aspects.

The use of the term can be broad and somewhat context-dependent, and its precise meaning usually depends on the field or situation. It is most helpful when clarifying whether a discussion concerns technology, engineering, management, or other non-technical facets of work or study.