#21241
Managing Chapter Newsletters: Shooting for Best of Show 
Newsletter editor is one of the most challenging and visible positions in your chapter. Now that you've accepted the job what should you accomplish over the next year? Never mind that, what are you supposed to do?! And how do you make sure this 'part-time, volunteer' experience doesn't n take over your life?
Disch, Cheryl and Cheryl Lockett Zubak. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Community Building>Newsletters
#24358
Managing the Communication Between Writers and SMEs
The development of a modern software product is a complex process involving a variety of disciplines, including that of the technical writer. It is essential that the writers establish close relationships with all other groups in the process and that they build effective and efficient systems of communication between them. The job of the writing manager is to ensure that the writing team obtains the information it needs in a timely manner and that the group interacts effectively with other groups in the process. This can be achieved by a blend of intergroup communication, background research, documentation and schedule planning and a well organized documentation review process.
Morgan, Sharon. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Collaboration>SMEs
#24942
Managing the Competition: Strive, Thrive, Survive
Audience members and competition veterans exchanged known as 'the matrix' lists each of the many activities tips, suggestions, opinions, and war stories in this informal panel discussion. Some topics discussed are summarized here.
Collins, Martha D., Susan J. Grodsky, Lawrence J. MacDonald, Laura M. Ramsey, Carla Salvador and Corinne Stefanick. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC
#29661
Managing the Monster, Managing the Zoo
Every technical communicator, whether controlling a single large project or a dozen small ones, must develop a set of management skills appropriate to the task in order to remain a qualified member of the communication team. This calls for being part diplomat, part technical expert, part salesman, and part rhinoceros.
Wise, Daniel E. and Elizabeth Bailey. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Project Management>TC
#26619
Mapping Good Practices in and through Creative Praxis
The notion of 'good practice' was one of the most controversial we encountered in our attempts to create a set of helpful guidelines for the making and sharing of new media tools by and for artists.
Goodman, Lizbeth. AHDS Performing Arts (2006). Articles>TC>Workflow
#21237
The Marathon of Chapter Presidency
This panel discussion takes shape as the audience molds it. Each panelist is a past STC chapter president. Issues are audience-dependent but may include topics such as handling volunteers, managing money, recruiting members, and so forth. Join this informal discussion to share ideas, quandaries, and solutions for successfully leading a chapter.
Blankinship, Ann, Barbara B. Brogan, LaVonna F. Funkhouser, Gary L. Higgins and Gary M. Smith. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#15166
March 1, 2000, through June 30, 2000
This report covers specifications, standards, and amendments received from March 1, 2000, through June 30, 2000.
Bach, Claudia. Intercom (2000). Articles>History>TC
#15167
March 1, 2001, through July 15, 2001
This report covers specifications, standards, and amendments received from March 1, 2001, through July 15, 2001.
Bach, Claudia. Intercom (2001). Articles>History>TC
#19712
Marketing Communication and Technical Communication: Not So Strange Bedfellows 
What is the difference between marketing communication and technical communication? What are the purposes of each, and how different are those purposes? What results do you look for to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing communication? Of technical communication? Is one more 'creative' than the other? In various guises over the years, I’ve handled marketing communications for technical products, services, and subjects as part of whatever income-generating position I’ve held. I’ve learned it really doesn’t matter what marketing communication materials we’re talking about. Everything from brochures to direct mail to e-commerce Websites can and should be approached the same way.
Teich, Thea. STC Central Iowa (2000). Articles>TC>Marketing
#19818
Marketing Technical Communication Services Effectively
During 1993 and 1994, three Western Canadian chapters of the STC collaborated on a research project, funded by Western Economic Diversification and the STC, to discover how clients and practitioners view technical communication. As one of the final products, we commissioned a half-hour presentation designed to market technical communication services. At this session, we describe the project and deliver the half-hour presentation. We invite the audience to evaluate the presentation as a marketing tool.
Conklin, John James and Sheila C. Jones. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Marketing>Canada
#23421
As a technical communicator you know that the work you do adds value to the final product, but how do you demonstrate this to management? Research that I have undertaken recently focused on how technical communicators add value to the development of software, particularly information systems. What is presented here are some examples of how I found technical communicators added value and how I measured the value.
Fisher, Julie L. TC-FORUM (2000). Articles>TC>Assessment
#13765
Measuring the Value Added by Professional Technical Communicators 
Many organizations underestimate what technical communicators do for them. This article studies how to quantify the measure of return on investment in TC.
Ramey, Judith A. and Janice C. 'Ginny' Redish. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication (1993). Articles>TC>Assessment
#21511
Measuring the Value Added by Professional Technical Communicators: Results of a Study
For the past year, we have been studying how to measure the value that technical communicators add to organizations. We have been investigating questions like these: How can technical communicators show that they add value? How much difference do technical communicators make in specific cases? In this panel, we report on results.
Blackwell, C. Al, Reva F. Daniel, Denise D. Pieratti, Judith A. Ramey, Janice C. 'Ginny' Redish and Cathy J. Spencer. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>TC>Assessment
#10355
Measuring the Value Added by Technical Documentation: A Review of Research and Practice 
Like any business activity, technical documentation must add value to a company’s product or service. This article reviews the principles by which the value of technical documentation can be measured, as shown by recent research in technical communication and other fields. Documentation value is the relationship of the cost of documentation to the total monetary value returned. Cost can be established through careful benchmarking. Monetary value can be returned in one or more of three fundamental ways: reducing internal investment; directly improving return on investment through increased sales; and reducing after-sales costs, such as support. While studies exist showing value added in all three categories, the second category, direct translation of increased documentation investment into increased sales, deserves the closest attention. Further, increased research in this area will lead to an improved understanding of information as the product itself, rather than simply a supporting component. Finally, doc
Mead, Jay. Technical Communication Online (1998). Articles>TC>Assessment
#23575
Meet the Editors of the Technical Communication Journals
Description of each journal in the field, written by its editor or editors, then edited for length by Mike Markel.
Carson, David L., Thomas Kent, Mary Lay Mike Markel, Frank R. Smith and Billie Wahlstrom. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>TC>Publishing
#30282
Meeting The Challenge Of Change, Sharing Ideas For The STC 42nd Annual Conference
In this panel discussion, the program manager and stem managers for the 42nd STC Annual Conference (scheduled for April 23 through 26,1995, in Washington, D. C.) will be available to share their ideas for the upcoming conference program and to hear your suggestions and ideas for meeting the challenge of change. Only issues related to the program will be discussed.
Armbruster, David L., Deborah L. Baxley Cynthia J. Brock, Steven M. Cascone, Constance L. Kiernan, Deirdre A. Murr, Linda L. Oestreich, Tom Wall and Carolyn L. Watt. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>TC>Presentations>STC
#23697
Many chapters have membership drives in the Fall. Not a big deal, something we’ve always done. However, today membership drives can play an important role in sustaining STC.
Baker, Jonathan W. MetroVoice (2002). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
#23571
This update shares the organizational model developed in five key areas to determine what the 'ideal state' of STC might look like in the future.
STC Transformation (2004). Articles>TC>Planning
#14255
This article first reviews the current literature that addresses the value of the technical communicator. Whereas those discussions focus on what is delivered to the user (reader), this article examines the value the technical communicator adds by creating organization (internal) knowledge. The article then examines the philosophical underpinnings that support any discussion of knowledge and defines the role of technical communicators as creators of knowledge. Finally, it offers an expanded value proposition for technical communicators and examines its practical implications.
Hughes, Michael A. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>TC>Assessment
#25301
Moving In from the Periphery: Exploring the Disciplinary Labyrinth
Once you discover or identify work that you can be passionate about, use that as both a driving force and as a method of developing your place within the profession.
Eyman, Douglas. Michigan State University (2004). Articles>TC>Professionalism
#24354
Mystery fiction and technical writing share certain requirements: audience analysis, foreshadowing, research, showing and telling. Without audience analysis, a mystery novel may startle would-be readers of a bloodless cozy with violence suited to a hard-boiled detective story. A technical document may use a “for dummies” approach when an expert approach is appropriate. Without foreshadowing, a mystery may fail to provide characters with logical precursors to subsequent behaviors. A technical document may fail to introduce basic terms before sophisticated ones. Both types of writing benefit from accurate research and from showing and telling.
Jennings, Ann S. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Audience Analysis
#30089
Mystery Fiction and the Technical Communicator: Emotion Separates Fiction from Fact
Although technical documents and mysteries share certain characteristics, emotion separates the two types of writing. Mystery fiction may be popular among technical communicators because it engages both the analytical and the emotive parts of the readers' personality. This panel presentation describes techniques that mystery authors use to trigger readers' emotions. An awareness of these techniques can help technical communicators understand their affection for mysteries and stay clear about the purpose of their own work.
Jennings, Ann S. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Writing>TC>Emotions
#21670
Navigating Change in Turbulent Times
This panel presentation addresses three questions: What changes/forces are shaping technical communication? What skills will we need to meet the changes in technical communication? What strategies can we use to maintain a sense of balance as we move to meet these changes?
Cheirrett, Peg A., Debbie L. Scroggs and Mary L. Eschen. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>TC>History
#24347
Necessary Skills for Technical Communicators
Under the direction of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) developed a list of key competencies. These competencies assure that students productively use resources, information, interpersonal skills, systems, and technology. The Commission also identified foundation skills focusing on basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities. Trends in labor, trends for technical communicators, and a description of skills set the stage for the development of the new Technical Communications curriculum at De Anza College, which now incorporates the skills industry demands.
Dowdney, Donna Lee. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Professionalism
#14224
The Need for a Design Lexicon: Examining Minimalist, Performance-Centered, and User-Centered Design
Explores and compares three key design strategies that underlie the development of EPSSs: minimalism, performance-centered design, and user-centered design. Closes with observations on how the three strategies are converging
Mackenzie, Colleen. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>User Centered Design>TC
