http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Articles/Writing/Policies-and-Procedures A listing of the most recently indexed works about Articles and Writing and Policies and Procedures in the field of technical communication (and technical writing). en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Articles/Writing/Policies-and-Procedures http://tc.eserver.org/35026.html http://tc.eserver.org/35026.html The health care reform bill now under consideration in the House of Representatives includes a proposal that certain disclosures in insurance policies be made in “plain language.” Another piece of legislation now being considered by both houses of Congress would likewise require uniform and simplified coverage information, much like what’s required on nutritional labels. These are excellent proposals, but they do not go far enough. Plain-language disclosures of some policy information and consumer-friendly labels are no substitutes for making an entire policy readable. http://tc.eserver.org/33857.html http://tc.eserver.org/33857.html Who should you contract to update an outdated policies and procedures manual–subject matter expert or a policy and procedure writer? http://tc.eserver.org/30811.html http://tc.eserver.org/30811.html Procedures are the meat and potatoes of technical writing. They help users get the job done. Follow these tips for writing clear and useful procedures that your users will appreciate. http://tc.eserver.org/30201.html http://tc.eserver.org/30201.html A large collection of articles, tips and useful information on writing policies and procedures and improving business processes. http://tc.eserver.org/29272.html http://tc.eserver.org/29272.html This is an informational site dedicated to topics relevant to writing and publishing business process knowledge, especially policies and procedures. The objective of this site is to openly share information about writing and publishing policies and procedures and other forms of business knowledge. http://tc.eserver.org/24689.html http://tc.eserver.org/24689.html This session is intended for those interested in (a) policies and procedures as a subject, (b) networking with others concerned with policies and procedures, (c) learning about this PIC, (d) influencing the direction of this PIC, or (e) listening, commenting, or volunteering. The first portion of the meeting will briefly review the PIC's history, mission, membership, budget, teams, goals, and progress. The second portion will be open to discuss new business. http://tc.eserver.org/24660.html http://tc.eserver.org/24660.html With the nation intensifying its homeland security and industry focusing on computer security, the experienced technical communicator can assist with documenting procedures. http://tc.eserver.org/21322.html http://tc.eserver.org/21322.html The recent rash of high-profile computer viruses and attacks has further exposed troubling weaknesses in computer security. The media and even some computer security experts would have us believe that hackers are the primary culprits against whom individuals and organizations must protect themselves. This article provides guidance for technical communicators tasked with planning, creating, and implementing computer security policy for their organizations. http://tc.eserver.org/20760.html http://tc.eserver.org/20760.html As the number of persons employed by some U.S. organizations declined since the late 1980s, so have employment opportunities for Policies & Procedures (P&P) practitioners. During this period, the number of contractors and consultants has increased to meet the needs of newly changed organizations. A useful way for P&P practitioners to learn how they can provide contracting and consulting services is to understand three roles in leveraging such services: an extra pair of hands, expert, and collaborator. http://tc.eserver.org/20134.html http://tc.eserver.org/20134.html While ‘quality’ is no longer the most popular buzz-word, there is still a need for thorough understanding of what it means to document a quality program. In preparing for ISO 9000 certification, I developed useful techniques which can be used to improve quality in other documentation tasks. Even if you're not involved in ISO 9000, it can serve as a good general model for documentation management. This paper briefly describes the ISO 9000 standard and the process of certification, how documentation in a quality program is different than usual technical documentation. and some of the useful tools and techniques. http://tc.eserver.org/19587.html http://tc.eserver.org/19587.html Peter Zvalo looks at the plain language movement, its promoters and its critics. http://tc.eserver.org/13926.html http://tc.eserver.org/13926.html This study explores two cases of professional communication among U.S. and South American personnel in one multinational organizaton in Quito, Ecuador.  The results suggest that implicit in U.S. rhetorics of professional communication are valorizations of writing as a mechanism of regulating behavior; of universalism and individual reference points as rhetorical strategies; and of common-law or precedent-setting logic as compositional and interpretive strategies.  However, many South American personnel seem predisposed to think of personal interactions as a mechanism of regulating behavior; of particular and collective reference points as rhetorical strategies; and of civil law logic as compositional and interpretive strategies.  Thus, widespread claims about the roles of writing to construct, mediate, or regulate organizational behavior need to be contextualized in the predominant rhetorical values of the organizational context. http://tc.eserver.org/13918.html http://tc.eserver.org/13918.html Practical experience teaches the difficulty and the messiness of democratic public policy processes. A discourse analytic perspective on rhetorical action in the institutional settings of policy work reveals the dynamics of effective agency. By simulating practical experience and by developing a discourse analytic perspective, academic instruction in professional and technical communication can show students what elected officials, governmental staff, and non-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs) do to make or to implement policy.