#19842
Baby Steps Can Lead To Giant Leaps In the Way Your Organization Approaches Usability 
Until recently, Landmark Graphics’ UNIX Documentation Group had written user documentation based upon information that was gleaned from surveys, fellow workers, and personal experience. We had little contact with our users and little opportunity to see how our users worked. Last year, we expanded our efforts. We talked to User Groups, supervised a booth at the company’s trade show, and began to visit our clients on site. But we didn’t stop there... we reported the results of our study at our yearly developer’s conference, and we developed a company-wide Usability SIG (Special Interest Group). This paper focuses on our experiences.
Stark, Mary Jo and Mary Rio. STC Proceedings (2000). Articles>Usability
#31537
As Leadership Community Resource (LCR) volunteers, we constantly receive requests to help a community with volunteer burnout. In the worst cases, we have seen entire councils walk away from communities, one volunteer doing all four elected positions, overworked volunteers snapping at each other, and many communities run by officers who have been in the same position for years. We want to help community leaders understand volunteer burnout and provide ways to help prevent it.
Stark, Mary Jo and Jackie Damrau. Tieline (2008). Articles>Management>Community Building>STC
#20264
Weathering Transition: New Kid on the Block
This panel discusses three perspectives of transitions upon selecting, changing, and starting a job or career in the technical communication field. Beginning a new job or changing careers is stressful. It involves selecting a corporate culture in which you-feel comfortable so you can successfully contribute to the company while maintaining your self-esteem. After working as a geophysicistfor 20 years, obtaining a new degree in technical communication, and being ar my current job for three years, I will present insightful hints on choosing and starting a new job while keeping your self-esteem.
Stark, Mary Jo. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>TC
