Cross-Cultural User-Experience Design: What? So What? Now What...  

Applying culture to user-experience design theory and practice.

Marcus, Aaron. University of California Berkeley (2005). Presentations>User Centered Design>User Experience>International

Cultural Differences And Research  

Before conducting research beyond your own country’s borders, it’s important to consider a number of cultural differences that have significant implications for the success of the research. Angela Sinickas outlines some potential issues to consider.

Sinickas, Angela D. Sinickas Communications (2005). Articles>Research>International>Cultural Theory

Review: Culture, Technology, Communication: Towards an Intercultural Global Village  

The Internet is continually changing how we think about "the office." Online media now allow us to exchange information with overseas colleagues almost as quickly and as easily as we can with coworkers located across the hallway from our workstations. This new degree of access, however, means that cultural differences could affect workplace interactions.

St. Amant, Kirk R. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Collaboration>International

Current Research: An International Perspective  

Research provides the basis for technical communication practices. Such research, conducted in the United States, is readily available to STC members through the Proceedings, Technical Communication, and other technical communication journals. However, research being performed in other countries is not so readily available to those in this country who may need it.

Warren, Thomas L. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>TC>Research>International

A Curriculum for the Research and Practice of International Technical Communication  

It is no secret that businesses around the world need to compete globally in order to survive. What is a secret is that technical communicators in every county in the world are untrained to deal with the issues, deadlines, standards, and quality measures necessary to address the needs of global businesses. This paper offers some ideas and justification for a curriculum in international technical communication.

Hoft, Nancy L. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>International

Designing Products for Offshore Development

Although as an Interaction Designer I'm not involved in the actual development of the products I design, I find it increasingly clear that outsourcing creates a significant impact on the entire software design and construction process. Offshore development is in its infancy, but will continue to evolve to become an increasingly effective way to go about certain kinds of software construction. Based on recent project work, this article describes a number of observations worth considering as you ponder how outsourcing and offshore development may fit into your plans.

Cronin, Dave. Cooper Interaction Design (2004). Design>Usability>International>Offshoring

Designing Products for the International Environment – a Practical Guide  

Most companies are moving quickly beyond their local market to succeed on a large global market. Companies are developing mass market products instead of products for a single customer. All this poises new challenges to everyone in the company. This panel will address the following.

Vatovec, Bogo, Carol Peterson, James V. Romano and Allen Strand. STC Proceedings (1999). Design>User Interface>International

Developing a Resource for Multinational Writing at Xerox Corporation    

Documentation and training developers at Xerox Corporation have been creating materials for worldwide distribution for many years. MC&SE - the Multinational Customer and Service Education organization - has included a translation department since 1978. A system of writing for both machine and manual translation had been in place since then. The supporting materials for this writing system had become scattered and, in some cases, obsolete. When MC&SE created an Employee Development System, two skills that pertain to global communication were identified: 'Writing for Translatability' and 'Global Design'. Many of the resources that had been used in support of multinational document creation were pertinent to the development of these skills. The article describes the development of an updated set of training aids to assist authors in developing their global communication competency.

Adams, Ann H., Gail W. Austin and Melissa Taylor. Technical Communication Online (1999). Articles>Writing>International

El Diseño Estratégico de Competencias  

Sería necio de mi parte pensar que yo inicio aquí lo dicho con mis palabras. Esta charla ha empezado en ustedes mucho antes que mi intervención. Existe ya en el reconocimiento del formato 'Congreso' sentidos asociados, y por todos nosotros sostenidos, y expectativas en relación a lo que es, o debe ser, una 'ponencia' en general y en este medio ámbito en particular. Estructuras y estilos asociadas a 'Ser ponencia en Congreso de diseño' en las que todos nos incluimos, para confirmar, una vez más, aquella promesa de que este espacio social es lo que todos nosotros esperamos.

Pujol, Mónica. University of Alberta (2003). (Spanish) Design>User Centered Design>International

Do Technical Writers Need an International Standard for English-Language Spelling?

He demonstrates how ministers of state who speak different languages often choose English as the most convenient language of communication. He cites the 11-nation European Central Bank in Frankfurt as a typical organization that works only in English. And he notes that many of the journals published by respected international organizations such as the Pasteur Institute also are published in English. TC-Forum is another example.

Blicq, Ronald S. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Style Guides>International>Technical Writing

Documentation for Global Markets: Some Practical Considerations  

This panel will discuss the development of documentation for global markets. Many practical tips will be offered for discussion.

Bolton, David, Ralph F. Calistro and Laurel R. Simmons. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>International

Does Globalization Spell Trouble for Technical Writers?

The nature of work for traditionally white-collar professions such as technical writing, is also changing. While a growing number of professional writers is opting for the life of the freelancer, and enjoying the freedom and earning potential that this lifestyle can provide, many permanent full-time writing positions are being eliminated when work is delegated to temporary or contract workers.

Zvalo, Peter. Writer's Block (2001). Careers>Writing>International

E-Globalization

Globalization involves the process to adapt a company's product and message to meet the varied expectations of markets around the world.

Govindarajan, Sharmila M. Carolina Communique (2006). Articles>TC>International

Economic and Constitutional Influences on Copyright Law in the United States

Despite the many signs of convergence of European and U.S. copyright laws, this article contends that copyright law in the United States will continue to differ in two significant respects from authors' rights laws of member states of the European Union.

Samuelson, Pamela. University of California Berkeley (2000). Articles>Intellectual Property>Copyright>International

Editing for International Audiences    

To remain competitive, companies must increase content reuse and multilingual usability while reducing volume and eliminating culturally sensitive language. Rushanan shows how editors can increase their value to their employers by functioning as leaders in the translation and localization process.

Rushanan, Valerie. Intercom (2007). Articles>Editing>Localization>International

Editing on a Global Scale  

An interview with Seth Beckerman, a freelance editor with many international clients, reveals the challenges and rewards of working with writers around the globe.

Ketelaar, Carolee C. Intercom (2001). Articles>Editing>International

The Effect of Text Structure on Text Comprehension of Japanese and American Readers  

This paper presents the preliminary findings from a study that sought to determine whether Japanese and American readers’ comprehension of expository text is similarly affected by text organization. Results are presented and discussed with regard to their implications for technical communicators.

Spyridakis, Jan H. and Waka Fukuoka. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Language>International>Writing

Effective Internal Communication in Global Organizations

Today’s global marketplace teaches us that effective practices for internal communication in international corporations must be tuned to the cultural profiles of employees in their own countries. Internal communication departments are given the task of adapting company messages that effectively reach the organization’s global employee base. In order to ensure the effectiveness of these communications, organizations must first develop awareness, knowledge and intercultural skills within their internal communication teams.

Apud, Salvador and Talis Apud-Martinez. Communication World Bulletin (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Collaboration>International

English in Technical Communication - Global Language, Global Culture?  

English is used in global communication even between people who do not speak English as their mother tongue. Even though we may feel there are world wide subcultures such as modern technology we should note how much culture affects communication from the surface level of language to the more deeper level of our 'mental programming'. Keeping this in mind we should ask who actually owns the English language, if those who have it as mother tongue talk with people who have different mental models and their own culture as the background for the communicative event.

Kuusto, Marjo. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Language>International

Enterprise Content Management in an Offshoring Context

Many companies outsource content management implementations to systems integrators, but what if the implementers are based half-way around the world? Wipro's Apoorv Durga offers some good advice for enterprises considering taking their next ECM project offshore. As this map suggests, the view is quite different from India.

Durga, Apoorv. CMSwatch (2006). Articles>Content Management>International>Offshoring

Etiquette for Globetrotters

Ever wonder why your last business trip abroad was a bust? Maybe it was something you didn't say. Learn what not to do when travelling in a foreign country.

Hansson, Tomas. Writer's Block (1999). Articles>Business Communication>International

FACE Considerations in Upward Influencing in an Indian Workplace  

This study is a first attempt at using Speech Act Theory (SAT), as a way to analyze and explain how upward influence (UI) strategies are performed. Based on SAT and considerations of face, as explained by Brown and Levinson (1987), this study tries to explain UI strategies used by members within an Indian workplace. We carefully selected six examples of UI to demonstrate how SAT can be useful in analyzing UI strategies. We found that even the slightest change in the anticipated degree of willingness or receptivity of the receiver necessitates a change in the strategy to be adopted. Violations of sincerity conditions and/ or inappropriate threats to face create infelicitous conditions and may lead to failed attempts at UI.

Kaul, Asha and Charlotte D. Brammer. Association for Business Communication (2005). Careers>Management>International>India

Finnish and Italian Communication Strategies for the EU Information  

In the contemporary democracy the information to the citizens about the procedures and acts related to the public policies elaborated and implemented by the different government systems is having more and more importance. Also the European Union has felt this need of transparency and of information, and since 2001 it has started its new framework for co-operation on activities concerning the information and communication policy of the European Union. In this paper I will discuss the main characteristics of EU communication actions and its persuasive methodologies, taking into consideration the role of two Member States, Finland and Italy, as means of EU information diffusion. The strategies of these two countries will be compared in order to see which position these two Member States are taking in relations to EU legislation on communication and information, which communication strategies they are adopting and finally the different effects of EU campaigning on their citizens.

Valentini, Chiara. Chiara Valentini Communication Management (2005). Articles>Communication>International>Europe

Five Facets of Successful Global Communication

Managing internal communication across a global organization is an exciting and challenging task. How this task is approached will vary widely depending on the culture and structure of the particular organization, as well as the location of its headquarters.

Samuels, Paul. Communication World Bulletin (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Collaboration>International