Ethics in Action: A "No-Talk" Workshop  

This workshop takes the study of ethics in technical communication to the next level—translating values into action. In recent years, the presenters have conducted numerous workshops focusing on the use of value analysis to clarify and resolve ethical dilemmas. Participants analyzed scenarios involving value conflicts in technical communication, formulated potential solutions, and dramatized the scenarios in role-playing. This approach remains valuable; indeed, it is one of the tools the STC Ethics Committee uses to help members bring our values into the workplace. The core values have not changed much since last year: honesty, legality, cultural sensitivity, and the like can hardly be expected to fluctuate from conference to conference. This workshop, however, starts where the others left off. Participants had better bring pencils along with philosophy—because this time they won’t just talk about solving thorny ethical dilemmas, they will actually solve them!

Allen, Lori A. and Daniel W. Voss. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>TC>Ethics

From Soup to Nuts: Fashioning the Menu for a New Program in Technical Communication  

The process of revising an English Communications emphasis proceeded smoothly for the most part because of good planning by a Curriculum Committee. However, unseen pitfalls and departmental politics hindered some aspects of the experience. It will be necessary to apply lessons learned to continue the revision process and create a successful emphasis.

Allen, Lori A. STC Proceedings (2002). Academic>Education>Instructional Design>Assessment

GRAYSCALE: A Workshop in Ethics and Technical Communication  

Increasingly, technical communicators are confronting ethical issues in the workplace. Conflicts arise that appear to defy black-and-white solutions. To render every verdict as “gray,” however, begs the question. This workshop exposes participants to the use of value analysis to clarify ethical conflicts in technical communication. The presenters use a framework of 10 common values, based on the initial work of the STC Ethics Committee, to support objective analysis and resolution of such ethical conflicts. The workshop gives participants the opportunity to explore ethical dilemmas “hands-on” through small-group discussions and a series of role-playing vignettes on selected conflict scenarios.

Allen, Lori A. and Daniel W. Voss. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>TC>Ethics

Increase Your Impact on Proposal Preparation  

To succeed in the 1990s, technical communicators must become more financially precise and increase their impact on procedures. These capabilities are especially critical during preparation of new business proposals. This workshop focuses on techniques and tasks that can increase the technical communicator’s ability to contribute while they reduce preparation time and cost. The techniques presented in this workshop have been successful in producing both commercial and government proposals.

Allen, Lori A. and William C. Wiese. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>TC>Proposals

Secrets of Low-Cost Proposal Preparation  

To succeed in the next decade, technical communicators need to become more financially precise and need to increase their procedural impact. The ability to influence preparation procedures and awareness of financial issues are especially criticaI during preparation of new business proposals. This workshop focuses on techniques and tasks that increase a technical communicator’s ability to contribute to successful proposal preparation while reducing preparation costs. The techniques presented in this workshop have been successful in both commercial and government proposals.

Allen, Lori A. and William C. Wiese. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Grants>Proposals

Use Your Fog Lights: Ten Values for Technical Communicators  

Ten values that can be applied to technical communication are honesty, legality, privacy, quality, teamwork, loyalty, fairness (avoiding conjlict of interest), cultural sensitivity, social responsibilip,professional development, and advancing the profession. This article provides an operational definition of each value and a capsule-size real-world scenario that spotlights the value in an imbroglio of ethical conflict.

Allen, Lori A. and Daniel W. Voss. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Ethics

When the Customer Isn’t Right: A Workshop in Handling Conflicts When Clients Behave Unethically  

As consultants and freelancers, we try to adhere to the theory that our clients are always right. However, clients are sometimes dead wrong. Most of us at one time or another face situations in which clients ask us to behave unethically or treat us unethically. How do we handle such situations and maintain good client relations? This workshop explores the use of a value analysis model in resolving ethical dilemmas, using representative case studies.

Allen, Lori A. and Dean Graves. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Freelance>Ethics