Contracting: Flat Fee or Hourly Rates?  

Recommends that technical writers working as independent contractors quote flat fees for projects instead of hourly rates. The article offers tips on preparing portfolios and conducting client interviews.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. Intercom (2000). Careers>Freelance

Developing a Project Life Cycle for Technical Publications  

Having a technical publications project life cycle (pLC) that parallels an organization's product life cycle (PLC) greatly facilitates its adoption by engineering or development organizations. A technical publications project life cycle relates major documentation project management strategies, tasks, and deliverables to the same model used by technical organizations to control product development in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Some technical organizations perceive the documentation development process as being “intrusive” into the product development process, particularly during the Implementation Phase of the PLC. Communicating a technical publications pLC to these organizations early in the PLC eliminates this misperception.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Documentation>Project Management

Documentation Metrics: What Do You Really Want to Measure?  

Examines several metrics--systems for measuring production and production standards--to determine their value to technical communicators. He argues that qualitative metrics are more meaningful than quantitative ones.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. Intercom (2000). Articles>Documentation>Assessment>Heuristic Evaluation

An eCommerce Primer for Technical Communicators  

The burgeoning eCommerce industry has redefined not only traditional business processes, but the technology required to impart them. Roles are being created or redefined, where programmers, systems analysts, and engineers now have to have almost as much knowledge of business process development as they do of their technical specialty. The same can be said for technical communicators. Technical communicators involved in eCommerce today need to have an understanding of the major issues involved in eCommerce. This paper addresses five of these major eCommerce areas: the statistics behind eCommerce issues, eCommerce infrastructure providers, managed electronic commerce, business object technology, and data mining.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Web Design>E Commerce

Internet Technology and Intellectual Property  

This article outlines the complex legal environment surrounding the Internet, copyright law, and intellectual property.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. Intercom (2000). Articles>Technology>Intellectual Property

Resumes: You Can't Escape  

Lists ten common mistakes in resumes and ten suggestions for improvement based on his experience as a hiring manager. The article includes a sidebar on how to write effective cover letters.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. Intercom (2000). Careers>Resumes

Understanding Data Flow Diagrams  

Data flow diagrams (DFDs) reveal relationships among and between the various components in a program or system.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Graphic Design>Charts and Graphs

Using JavaScript to Develop Interactive Self-Assessments  

Interactive self-assessments are effective tools for a variety of audiences; from determining one’s Myers- Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or personality characteristics to self-scoring quizzes of all types for online training. Many Web sites contain such selfassessments that help customers select from among other offerings the type of product or service that meets their requirements. The strategic design and development of interactive self-assessments can also help steer customers to your specific product line or service, or even help them make the decision to buy or award a contract. This paper looks at the effectiveness of self-assessments as a business tool and the use of JavaScript for supporting the interactive elements.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Web Design>Interaction Design>JavaScript

Writing Killer eCommerce/IT Proposals that Win New Business  

Winning new eCommerce/IT business depends on many factors, not the least of which is a requirements-focused, bloat-free proposal that prospects and customers will read. But to get to that point, proposal development must be tied to a business development process that will guide a qualified opportunity toward becoming a business proposal, and ultimately, a sustainable or repeatable business deal. Before committing resources to proposal development, a Needs Analysis/Return on Investment (ROI) study (billable service) for the prospect or customer should be necessary. Such a study not only shows the prospect how well your organization knows its business, it helps steer a prospect to your organization’s process. The Needs Analysis/ROI study results provide a head start on proposal development, where the proposal turnaround time can be as short as one day.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Business Communication>Proposals

Writing Software Requirements Specifications

For technical writers who haven't had the experience of designing software requirements specifications (SRSs, also known as software functional specifications or system specifications) templates or even writing SRSs, they might assume that being given the opportunity to do so is either a reward or punishment for something they did (or failed to do) on a previous project. Actually, SRSs are ideal projects for technical writers to be involved with because they lay out the foundation for the development of a new product and for the types of user documentation and media that will be required later in the project development life cycle. It also doesn't hurt that you'd be playing a visible role in contributing to the success of the project.

Le Vie, Donald S., Jr. TECHWR-L (2000). Articles>Writing>Specifications>Technical Writing