Tools for Your Management Toolkit  

Includes innovative, creative, and original management principles, tasks, techniques, and concepts for newly promoted managers, managers new to a company, and for seasoned managers who want to add to their management toolkit to help to ensure success or continued success in people and project management.

Storey, Sandy. STC Proceedings (1999). Careers>Management

A Total Team Approach to Success  

We have had a very positive experience with a total team approach to accomplishing our business objectives. In our case, at the IBM Software Solutions Programming Laboratory (in Cary, NC, until March 1995, and now in Research Triangle Park), the business objectives are to produce successful software products. But the total team approach is not limited to a particular product or service. Total teams can help you improve the way multiple groups in your organization work together—to increase customer satisfaction through improved quality and speed of delivery, increase productivity, decreasc costs, and even improve morale.

Allen, Pam, Morris Dean, Sharon L. Hayes and Gina Poole. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>Management>Collaboration

Transforming Your Career: Contributing Strategically to Your Company or Client  

If the technology 'bubble' and the subsequent economic slowdown have demonstrated nothing else, we are more aware than ever of the need to change with the times, redefine ourselves, and ensure that we're demonstrating maximum value to our company and clients. In the context of the current economy, the more value you can demonstrate, the more likely you will be employed. This paper briefly describes a model for contribution within a technical communication career and provides specific and practical advice for moving toward the most valued, strategic contributions.

Ames, Andrea L. and Susan M. Jensen. STC Proceedings (2004). Careers>Collaboration>Management

Translation Company Owners: Do You Have a Job or a Business?

Since everyone has only one life to live; I would like mine to be an enjoyable one, enriched by interesting experiences and by meaningful relationships with the people that I care about. I want to have a lot of time for myself and experience other cultures from around the world. So how do I achieve this goal and still be highly effective at work--thus obtaining financial independence, as well as self satisfaction from work?

Iler, Huiping. WTB Language Group (2005). Careers>Management>Localization

Trends in Management: Observations of a SIG Manager  

Herr, the manager of STC's Management special interest group, shares some informal observations on several economic and social trends affecting technical communication managers, including telecommuting, outsourcing, contracting, offshoring, and virtual and face-to-face professional networking.

Herr, Judith M. Intercom (2004). Careers>Management>Outsourcing

The Truth About 'Useless' People  

What do you do about those intelligent and talented employees who are simply unable to finish anything? These are the people who are seemingly paralyzed by ambiguity and are incapable of moving forward until every possible question has been answered. Paul Glen has some advice.

Glen, Paul. TechRepublic (2005). Careers>Management

Twelve Weeks in the Life of New Manager  

A timeline for things to do when beginning a management position.

Williamson, Marty and JoAnn T. Hackos. ComTech Services (2002). Careers>Management

Understanding Workplace Dynamics

Building a team used to be simple. You assembled a number of people with the same tools, education, skills and experience, you told them what to do – and they went and did it. With the information revolution came new ways of working and managerial insights, and a complex minefield of individual competencies required to 'do the job.' Emma Hamer demonstrates how assessing and assigning team roles—determining how people will use their tools, and in particular how they will interact and work together towards a common end-goal—can improve the dynamic of a team.

Evans, Conni E., Emma C. Hamer, Rahel Anne Bailie and Elizabeth Babcock. Hamer Associates (2003). Careers>Management>Workplace

Usability in the Real World

Usability is not just about research and labs. It has a real impact on real projects in the real world. This section includes case studies, news stories, facts and examples to help make the case that usability is a critical part of any product development effort.

Usability Professionals Association. Careers>Management>Usability

Usability Is in Your Future  

Barnum discusses the importance of usability testing and suggests ways that managers of technical communication departments can convince their organizations to invest in usability.

Barnum, Carol M. Intercom (2003). Careers>Usability>Management

Usability Team Structures

There are two basic alternatives for structuring a usability/UCD group within an organization: members of the group can be centralized in a single department, or, members can be distributed among development teams.

Usability Body of Knowledge. Careers>Usability>Management

UsabilityNet: Manager Forum

A positive user experience is critical to the success of your business. Improving the usability of offerings is a sound business strategy, and by following good engineering practices, you can do this, delighting your users, differentiating yourselves from your competition, and enhancing your success.

UsabilityNet. Careers>Management>Usability

The Use of Role Profiles and Critical Requirements in Hiring Technical Communicators  

A role profile consists of four parts: strategy, accountabilities, critical requirements, and expected outcomes. Role profiles go a step beyond position descriptions by specifying the critical requirements you seek in a candidate and expectations around integration. Using a role profile in the hiring process can help ensure that you find the skills you are looking for in a new hire.

Mason, Catheryn L. STC Proceedings (2002). Careers>Management

User Experience Group Development and Integration

When a company wants to make a certain segment of the organization better, usually they 'throw more money at it' and hire more employees. The problem with doing this for a UX team is that people with overlapping skills and ideas usually end up hindering user-centered design rather than helping. Conflicting design decisions will soon turn into a design by committee situation that won't help the consumer nor expose individual expertise (Brown 2004). User experience groups need to be flexible, agile, and scalable, and should only expand if the projects they work on are sufficiently large. The following is an overview of skills and disciplines needed for a successful user experience group.

Rundle, Mike. uiGarden (2007). Careers>Project Management>User Experience

Using the Internet for Competitive Intelligence

Competitive intelligence (CI) is a key discipline for IS managers who recognize the importance of information content as well as information technology. CI is both a product and a process. The productis actionable information -- information that is used as the basis for a specific action (e.g. acquiring another company). The process is the systematic acquisition, analysis, and evaluation of information about known and potential competitors. As a competitive intelligence resource, the Internet is both an additional source of information and a cost effective means of sharing and disseminating information to decision makers. The Internet is also a major force reshaping the business environment -- giving rise to new kinds of revenue opportunities, creating incentives for collaboration with existing competitors, and providing niches for new kinds of competitors.

Montague Institute Review (1995). Careers>Management>Journalism

Using the SWOT Analysis as an Organizational Planning Tool  

Many technical communicators and managers find themselves in organizations that have undergone significant reorganization, acquisitions, or mergers. Many of us also work in teams that are distributed worldwide. In such a dynamic, fast-paced environment, we found the SWOT analysis to be a simple, cost-effective tool for gaining insight into the workings of our organization. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Whether you are a manager, an individual contributor, or someone who wants to improve how your company’s Tech Pubs organization works, you can use SWOT analysis for organizational planning.

Kunz, Larry and Mohna Dhomse. STC Proceedings (2004). Careers>Management>Planning

Using Total Quality Management to Manage Technical Reviews  

The purpose of this workshop is to introduce attendees to Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques and practices. TQM offers common-sense guidance in the quest for quality. Using the example of an out-of-control technical review cycle, the workshop shows attendees how to better manage the technical review process, resulting in accurate, high-quality documents.

Fisher, Charles D., Jr. and Kurt Gustafson. STC Proceedings (1993). Careers>Management>Editing>SMEs

Vendors as Allies: How to Evaluate Viability, Service, and Commitment

When you're using enterprise software to help run your organization, the software vendor becomes a key ally--and the right relationship may be as important as features or price. Steve Lancman and Steve Heye recommend methods for comparing the intangible aspects of vendor services.

Heye, Steve and Steve Lancman. IdealWare (2007). Careers>Management

Vitalize Your People  

Organizations can do many things to vitalize their people. The Information Development organization at the IBM Corporation in Cary, NC, uses a closed-loop process in which we evaluate employee satisfaction, identify problems, and attempt to correct the problems (then reevaluate and so on). Your organization too can use this process to improve your employees' participation, involvement in your quality program, and morale.

Dean, Morris, Marva L. Richey, and Karl D. von Gunten. STC Proceedings (1993). Careers>Management>Collaboration

What DOES a Manager Do Anyway?  

Historically, the only career path communicators had was into management. Today, other options are available such as human factors specialists, usability specialists, instructional designers, and multi-media designers. Understanding the manager S role is key before focusing on that path. Unfortunately, too many communicators take the management path and decide it's not for them. When this happens, it may be too late to refocus on other career options in the ever-changing technological environment.

Coffee, Mary K., Jean M. Jahnke and Sarah C. Yeo. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>Management>TC

What DOES a Manager Do Anyway?  

Historically, the only career path communicators had was into management. Today, other options are available such, as human factors specialists, usability specialists, instructional designers, and multi-media designers. Understanding the manager’s role is key before focusing on that path. Unfortunately, too many communicators take the management path and decide it's not for them. When this happens, it may be too late to refocus on other career options in the ever-changing technological environment.

Coffee, Mary K., Jean M. Jahnke and Sarah C. Yeo. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Management>TC

What Does Reengineering Mean?  

In their book Reengineering the Corporation, Michael Hammer and James Champy describe reengineering as 'the radical redesign of a company’s processes, organization and culture.' This presentation describes the conceptual framework of reengineering, relates reengineering to the work of technical communicators and calls on technical communicators to take leading roles in reengineering their own organizations.

Janicko, Raymond P. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>TC>Management

What Does a Manager Do Anyway?  

Historically, the only career path communicators had was into management. Today, other options are available such as human factors specialists, usability specialists, instructional designers, and multi-media designers. Understanding the manager’s role is key before focusing on that path. Unfortunately, too many communicators take the management path and decide it’s not for them. When this happens, it may be too late to refocus on other career options in the ever-changing technological environment.

Coffee, Mary K., Jean M. Jahnke and Sarah C. Yeo. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>Management>TC

What's to Become of the Tech Pubs Department? Technical Communication and Content Management  

As technical publications groups are finding themselves thrust upon the main stage of the global economy, they face new demands such as reconstituting themselves internally and resituating themselves in their wider organizations. Read on for ideas about how to incorporate content management (CM) into the process.

Boiko, Bob. Intercom (2007). Careers>TC>Management>Content Management

When You and Your Employee Clash: Clarifying Expectations

Will you have to fire this employee? Maybe. First make sure that she understands your expectations and the requirements of the position. Start fresh, and give her the opportunity to perform the duties you define to the level you require. Set specific, measurable goals for her to accomplish, and set a date to evaluate her progress. If she still doesn't meet your expectations, accept the fact that this was simply not a good match and give her — as an applicant once described his termination — 'the green light to pursue other opportunities.'

Cormier, Robin A. Editorial Eye, The (1998). Careers>Management