Communicating for Advantage in the Virtual Organization      

This paper looks at the virtual organization in an electronic market environment and the different models of communication and management that may be required. The authors begin by providing some clear definitions of virtual cultures and different models of virtuality that can exist within the electronic market. Degrees of virtuality can be seriously constrained by the extent to which organizations have predefined communication linkages in the marketplace and the extent to which these can be substituted by virtual ones, but also by the intensity of virtual linkages which support the virtual model. Six virtual organizational models are proposed within a dynamic framework of change. In order to realize strategic advantage, virtual organizations must align their management models and communication processes with their virtual culture.

Burn, Janice and Martin Barnett. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication (1988). Careers>Management>Online

Communication as the Foundation of Distance Education  

Communication plays a vital role in learning, not only with respect to expository and discussion methods of instruction, but at a more consequential level in the development of higher mental processes through acquiring and learning to manipulate symbols. This has been so at least since the early days of Greek society where education of the citizen primarily was concerned with the ability to express oneself in a thoughtful manner in order to develop a better society. Isocrates, one of the first Western educators, stressed the relevance of speech in sharpening thought and judgment; his emphasis on the relationship between education and speaking well became the standard throughout the ancient Western world.

Brooks, Robert F. Kairos (2002). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Online

Communication in the 21st Century: The Original Liberal Art in an Age of Science and Technology    

Communication is dramatically changed by new technologies. In the 20th century, we have seen the effects of the telephone, radio and television, film, high-speed printing, xerography, desk-top publishing, electronic mail. These communication technologies have changed our national political life, corporate management styles, family connections, individual work habits. Additional change in the next century is inevitable, as we adopt video conferencing, multimedia, and internet technologies. Many of the effects of new technologies are unpredictable: the predicted 'paperless office' has failed to materialize, for example, and word-processing software has transformed the labor of writing in a way that was never anticipated (and later was resisted) by computer developers. But some aspects of communication, both oral and written, have not changed. Communication is still the social glue that holds together nations, corporations, scientific disciplines, and families.

Miller, Carolyn R. North Carolina State University (1996). Articles>Communication>Online

The Communication Initiative Network

The Communication Initiative (The CI) network is an online space for sharing the experiences of, and building bridges between, the people and organisations engaged in or supporting communication as a fundamental strategy for economic and social development and change.

Communication Initiative Network, The. Resources>Business Communication>Communication>Online

Compaq QuickFind: The Editorial Process from Print to CD-ROM  

COMPAQ QuickFind is a CD-ROM database of COMPAQ product information. Available by subscription, QuickFind offers full-text search-and-retrieval functions and full-color graphics in a 350-megabyte database. QuickFind incorporates hard-copy information into an electronic format. The QuickFind editorial process (converting hard- copy information to searchable files) is the key to creating a valuable, centralized support tool for COMPAQ dealers, customers, and internal personnel.

Tacker, Susan and Susan L. Maloney. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Documentation>CD ROM>Online

Comparison of HTML Produced by Several Help Authoring Tools (HATs)

Recently, there was a lively discussion on the Help Authoring Tools and Techniques (HATT) mailing list about the relative compactness and efficiency of the HTML code produced by various Help authoring tools. As a result of these discussions, several industry consultants decided to collaborate on a project to compare the HTML, CSS, and CHM files produced by a variety of Help authoring tools.

Knopf Online. Articles>Documentation>Online>Help

A Comparison of Popular Online Fonts: Which is Best and When?

A general survey of the Web finds that a majority of sites use 12-point fonts (size= 3) for much, if not all of their written content. With this in mind, we examined the most popular font types at this size for differences in effective reading speed (accuracy/reading time), as well the perception of font legibility.

Bernard, Michael, Melissa Mills, Michelle Peterson and Kelsey Storrer. Usability News (2001). Design>Typography>Online

A Comparison of Two Computer Fonts: Serif versus Ornate Sans Serif

Fonts are described in terms of their face, style, size and color. There are two main types, namely, serif and sans serif. Serif fonts have small appendages at the top and bottom of the letter. Serif fonts are the preferred fonts for large blocks of text, since the serifs are thought to help to distinguish each letter and thus, make it easier to read strings of characters. Sans serif fonts consist of only primary line strokes and are therefore simpler in shape, e.g. Arial and Futura. In standard typography these fonts are used primarily for short phrases, e.g. headings. This study compares reading performance between an ornate sans serif font (Gigi) and Times New Roman. The traditional measures of reading speed, comprehensibility, and subjective preference were employed.

Morrison, Sarah and Jan Noyes. Usability News (2003). Design>Typography>Fonts>Online

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Writing Articles

So how do you get started? What do you write about? What do you actually DO with your articles once you've written them? It seems daunting, I know. I was petrified myself when I first started writing articles, I still get nervous every time I start submitting a new article all over the net.

Stewart, Anna-Marie. DevBay (2005). Articles>Writing>Publishing>Online

Computer Supported Collaborative Work

The rapid evolution of information and the new potentials for communication between people have been of great importance to the success of most organizations. Key aspects were the increased availability of computer networks and the trend towards team work. One of the main emphasis of the chair of Applied Informatics-Distributed Systems is on computer support for team work. Activities in that domain are known by the notions of groupware or computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW). Ellis defines groupware as 'computer-based systems that support groups of people engaged in a common task (or goal) and that provide an interface to a shared environment.' While groupware refers to real computer-based systems, means the notion CSCW the study of tools and techniques of groupware as well as their psychological, social and organizational effects. According to Wilson is 'CSCW a generic term which combines the understanding of the way people work in groups with the enabling technologies of computer networking, and associated hardware, software, services and techniques.'

CSCW. Organizations>Collaboration>Online

Computer-Based Training that Really Communicates  

To design and develop effective computer-based training screens, take advantage of visual psychological impact. Treated as a grid, the screen has high and low impact areas, Position the elements of the message to take advantage of these. Use visual cues to create planes and layers for emphasis. Decide on the content types which make up your message. These include concept, principle, process, procedure, and fact. Build screen sequences to make the purpose of the content clear to users. Add application Ievel questions to keep users involved.

Warlum, Michael E. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>Online>Cognitive Psychology

Computer-Mediated Communication

A collection of resources in computer-mediated communication.

Capps, Earl. American Communication Association. Resources>Directories>Communication>Online

Computer-Mediated Communication as a Component of Technical Communication Education  

Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) involves the application of compute r- based tools to transfer information among people over computer networks. CMC is becoming more prevalent with the rapid growth of the global network of networks known as the Internet. Because of this growth, the ability to communicate using CMC on the Internet is an important part of technical communication education. Communicating effectively using CMC involves appreciating the technical, social, and psychological factors of network use; gaining competence in using tools for Network Information Retrieval (NIR); and understanding how to communicate in CMC forums by analyzing audience, distribution medium, access methods, information-sharing practices, and social context. The rapid growth of computer and information technologies worldwide and their potential for advancing the functions of scientific and technical communication dramatizes the need for technical communicators who are competent in Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). In this paper, I first describe CMC as a means of communicant ion on the Internet. Then, I review reasons for teaching CMC as a part of technical communication education. Finally, I outline a skill set for CMC.

December, John A. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Education>TC>Online

Computer-Mediated Communication Platforms

Overview and reviews of resources, software, training environments, collaboration/conferencing software, and tools.

Montecino, Virginia. George Mason University (2003). Resources>Directories>Collaboration>Online

Computer-Mediated Conferencing: Teaching in a Virtual Classroom  

Asynchronous desktop conferencing, or computer-mediated interaction, is one of the new technologies in education. A videocourse with an interactive conferencing component was used successfully in a distance course for graduate students in technical communication. The technology allowed students to collaborate, peer review, and conference at their own pace without coming to campus. Computermediated conferencing has promise as a teaching tool for technical communication.

Coppola, Nancy W. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Online

A Computing Research Repository: Why Not Solve the Problems First?

The Computing Research Repository (CoRR) described by Halpern is potentially a powerful tool for researchers in computing science. In its current form, however, shortcomings exist that restrict its value and that, in the long term, might strongly undermine its usefulness. Important aspects that have insufficiently been taken care of are (1) the quality and consequently the reliability of the material stored, (2) the still restricted submission of material,which implies that other sources have to be consulted by researchers as well, (3) the still unsound financial basis of the project, and (4) the confusion that may easily arise when a preliminary version is stored in the CoRR, while a different final version is published in a journal.

van Loon, A.J. Journal of Computer Documentation (2000). Articles>Knowledge Management>Research>Online

Conditions for Viable Scholarly Electronic Journals: The Role of Digital Libraries

Three characteristics of hard-copy scholarly journals--visibility, immutability and longevity--which electronic journals might emulate to gain more acceptance and trust of potential authors and readers, are pointed out. The role of digital libraries in helping electronic journals in the emulation is also discussed.

Yamamoto, Takeo. ISRDP in Digital Libraries (1997). Articles>Publishing>Online

Conducting a Productive Web Search

There are two main types of indexes: those that are hierarchical (i.e. that lead one from a general topic to a more specific one) and those that list sources in some sort of order (most commonly alphabetical).  The first type of index often contains a broad range of topics while the second are usually sources designed to address a particular topic or concern.

Purdue University (1998). Academic>Course Materials>Online>Search

Conducting Technical Communication Research via the Internet: Guidelines for Privacy, Permissions, and Ownership in Educational Research     

udies.

Kastman, Lee-Ann M. and Laura J. Gurak. Technical Communication Online (1999). Academic>Research>Ethics>Online

Conflict in Virtual Communication

Conflict is an "expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources and interference from the other parties in achieving their goals." We'll look at each of the components in this definition.

Kandath, Krishna, John Oetzel, Everett Rogers and Ann Mayer-Guell. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Communication>Online

Consideration in Indexing Online Documents

Printed indexes were the precursors to hypertext links. If you have good indexing skills, you can apply those skills to writing indexes for either printed books or online documents. Although locator systems are different in electronic media than in printed books, the basic principles of indexing apply to both online documents and back-of-the-book (b-o-b) indexes. Most online indexes look very much like b-o-b indexes; however, because online information is not linear, the biggest difference is that hypertext links in online documents serve the same purpose as See and See also cross-references in b-o-b indexes. Another difference is that most indexes for online documents use just one or, at the most, two levels of index entries--that is, main headings and subentries, but no sub-subentries.

Lathrop, Lori M. Boulder Writers Alliance (1996). Articles>Indexing>Online

Consortia vs. Reform: Creating Congruence  

Margaret Landesman, the head of collection development at the Marriott Library, University of Utah, and Johann van Reenen, assistant professor and director of the Centennial Science and Engineering Library, University of New Mexico, discovered that two of the most popular solutions to the serials crisis may cancel one another out.

Landesman, Margaret and Johann Van Reenen. Journal of Electronic Publishing (2000). Academic>Publishing>Online

Constructing a One-Stop "Answer Station" for Software Users  

The web allows us to easily provide updated documentation to our users, but why stop there? There is more to making users successful quickly than just providing documentation. By creating a complete "Answer Station" that is accessible from the application or product, we can not only direct users to that updated documentation, but we can also provide information about technical support, consulting, training, sales, etc. This paper discusses writing a proposal for an Answer Station, determining content, working with other departments to gather information, designing the site, making that design work with an existing corporate website, dealing with tool issues, and finally, going live.

Bleiel, Nicoletta A. and Beth A. Williams. STC Proceedings (2004). Articles>Documentation>Help>Online

Continuing eBook Classroom Studies

Acceptance of eBooks improves at Ball State University. Improvement of visual quality and 'no testing' helps a higher percentage of graduate students recommend eBooks for further classroom use. Many students found reading text material "satisfying & easy." More studies planned for the K-12 population.

Wiggenhorn, Susan. Usability Professionals Association (2003). Articles>Education>Online>eBooks

Conversation by Blog: Expanding Personal Technology into the Academic Community  

In the last two years, individuals on the Web have begun to maintain personal Web sites which are referred to as Weblogs (blogs). A blog is distinct from other forms of electronic documentation in that it functions as a public, electronic diary, consisting of short, frequently-updated personal reflections and reports of activity. A typical blog is composed of daily entries of no more than a paragraph. Blogs are often accompanied by and supplemented with image galleries, curricula vitae, and archives of past postings. Blogs are also subject to trends: for example, many blogs in December include Christmas wish lists. Like e-mail and unlike other traditional forms of publication, blogs often include a comments feature which allows the reader to engage in discussion with the blog's writer and other readers by directly attaching a posting to the daily or topical entry. Although this approach to Web site design has been widely adopted by technophiles under the age of thirty, it also holds promise as a mechanism for a conversational form of knowledge development that previous technologies have not readily facilitated. This paper outlines the potential expansion of the blog as a venue for professional and philosophical discussion by the visual communication design community and other similar professional groups.

Radzikowska, Milena. University of Alberta (2003). Articles>Writing>Online>Blogging