Communication in International Virtual Offices  

Advances in communication technologies mean that colleagues from different parts of the world can work together in the same online space. In some cases, that space is an e-mail exchange, text messaging, or a shared corporate intranet site; in other cases, it is an electronic bulletin board or chat room related to a project. These shared online work spaces—or international virtual offices (IVOs)—provide a level of interaction that can reduce production costs and shorten production cycles.

St. Amant, Kirk R. Intercom (2003). Careers>Telecommuting>Collaboration>Workplace

Go Home! An Introduction to Virtual Officing  

The information and technology wave of the 1990s has brought with it a new way of working: virtual officing. A May 1991 survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 21.8 million nonagricultural home workers, including 20 million who worked at home for their primary job. When considering a virtual arrangement, you need to decide if you and your work are right for virtual officing. Once you decide to work virtually, you need to know how to present your idea to your employer or customer and how to arrange your work environment and schedule for optimum performance.

Wolfe Sharp, Flo. STC Proceedings (1999). Careers>Telecommuting

Have Modem, Won't Travel: Telecommuting as a Career Enabler for Technical Communicators with Disabilities  

The detailed Mission Plan for the Special Needs Special Interest Group (SIG) of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) has an objective to extend the availability of online technical communication resources and a strategy for achieving that objective. Specifically, Strategy 1.5, reads as follows: Encourage Special Needs SIG members to research and report on the use of telecommuting in the field of technical communication and study the viability of telecommunication as a means of increasing the employability of practitioners with special needs.

Marty, Helen A. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Telecommuting>Accessibility

Home Office Advantage  

Working at home can be an option for you in the hectic atmosphere of the 90's. If you create an effective work environment, your work can be more productive while being in the comfort of your own home.

Hoffman, Sandi. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Telecommuting

How Do You Walk the Line Between Work and Home? Share Your Best Practices With ALA

At $4.14 a gallon in the United States, $5.29 a gallon in Canada, and $8.70 a gallon in the U.K., the price of gas is just one reason many web workers now commute from the bed to the basement as part of a conscious choice to work from home.

List Apart, A. Careers>Advice>Telecommuting

Managing by Remote Control  

Langhoff discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the growing practice of telecommuting, and issues that managers face when their staffs telecommute.

Langhoff, June. Intercom (2001). Careers>Telecommuting

Managing the Virtual Worker/Telecommuter  

Heikes presents guidelines for managers of telecommuters that suggest how to make the most of this increasingly popular work arrangement.

Heikes, Peter C. Intercom (2002). Careers>Telecommuting

Managing the Virtual Worker/Telecommuter  

Virtual workers/telecommuters are employees who perform assigned duties at an alternative site (usually home) during some or all of their scheduled work hours. With the number of full-time virtual workers expected to exceed 13.5 million in the U.S. within the next two years and 130 million worldwide by 2003, managers are more often being confronted with a new type of employee. As a result, we need to make adjustments in how we manage them, when compared to the on-site employee. We need to learn how to screen and select viable candidates, develop new guidelines (e.g., state expectations clearly, manage by results, communicate often, plan ahead for meetings, and consider special needs such as administrative support), learn what goes into a work agreement, and consider technology impacts.

Heikes, Peter C. STC Proceedings (2001). Careers>Management>Telecommuting

Managing Today’s Commuters Across the Miles  

The Technical Communication Department at Allen-Bradley, a sustaining member of STC, is located in Highland Heights, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This reporting structure alone has forced telecommuting between the managerial and supervisory levels, with management located in Ohio and supervisors in Wisconsin. Additionally, the department has telecommuting communicators located throughout Ohio, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Bottoms, Charles W., Linda Gomez, Jean M. Jahnke and Greg D. Kroeze. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>Telecommuting>Management

Revisiting the Webcam  

Considers the current state of webcam technology.

Archee, Raymond K. Intercom (2004). Articles>Technology>Telecommuting>Video

Rural Telecommuting: Making It Work for You  

Employees and independent contractors working at home are freed from the need for proximity to their company by modern communications tools. The path is open to consider locating your home office away from urban areas. This workshop describes some of the many issues one person considered and faced while moving to a rural office-home three years ago. Find out what worked, what didn’t work, what the surprises were, and how to evaluate and plan for your move.

Johnson, Norton R. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Telecommuting>Consulting

So Near and Yet So Far: Tips for Working With, Managing, or Working as a Remote Resource  

The use of remote resources who work from a home office has potential advantages, such as enhanced productivity and motivation, cost savings, and personal and organizational flexibility. It also has potential disadvantages such as isolation, lack of direct supervision and communication, and increased travel expenditures. Constructing a win-win solution for remote resources, their managers, and their co-workers involves consistently using imaginative solutions to maximize the advantages of the situation and to minimize its disadvantages. Examples include using differences in work schedules and time zones to create a 'second shift.' Successful outcomes also require an increased emphasis on structured two-way communication.

Cassidy, George and Pete Larson. STC Proceedings (2002). Careers>Telecommuting>Management

Successful Management Strategies for Nontraditional Work Environments  

As the reengineering of organizations, advances in technology, and the growing popularity of telecommuting continue to provide enormous challenges to managers and project leaders, we must identify effective strategies for dealing with the inevitable results of such rapid, ongoing change.

Henderson, D.L., Bonnie J. Davis and Genie Vidal. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Telecommuting>Management

Successful Telecommuting  

The information and technology wave of the 1990s has brought with it a new way of working: telecommuting. A May 1991 survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 21.8 million nonagricultural home workers, including 20 million who worked at home for their primary job. When considering this type of work arrangement, you need to decide if you and your work are right for telecommuting. Once you decide to telecommute, you need to know how to present your idea to your employer or customer and how to arrange your work environment and schedule for optimum performance.

Wolfe Sharp, Flo. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>Telecommuting>TC

Telecommuting Perspectives: Home Sweet Off Ice?  

Telecommuting is becoming increasingly acceptable and prevalent. Software developers were reportedly the first large group of technical professionals to leave the company environment for their offices at home. Now, large numbers of technical communicators are joining the trend. T&y are sharing their workspace at their places of employment and are converting area-s of their homes to offices. Our panel presentation will discuss the benefits of telecommuting to both management and to the telecommuter. 5%ere are also drawbacks for the telecommuter. These include effects of isolation - i.e., having no one to confer with OF to exchange comments with about work-related concerns.

McGuire, Mildred E., James M. Moran, Lee Anne Center, Mary K. Tetreau and Tina M. McGuire. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>Telecommuting

Telecommuting Workers and Policies: Managing Change in the 90s  

Telecommuting brings a major change to the work habits of millions of employees. More than just working from your home, telecommuting includes all vital links that maintain communications with your fellow workers. Implementing, managing, and adapting to this major change in our work lives requires innovative skills and increased flexibility in traditional roles. Successful telecommuting policies also require support and open minds throughout the corporate support structure and a higher level of responsibility from the worker.

McCoy, Frank. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>Telecommuting

Telecommuting: Eight Tips for Success  

Shares tips with new telecommuters on setting up a home office, maintaining work discipline, staying connected with colleagues and clients, and easing a doubting manager's anxieties.

Steiner, Rob. Intercom (2007). Careers>Telecommuting

Telecommuting: Facing Reality in the Virtual Off Ice  

Managers and Telecommuters experienced in telecommuting discuss the pros and cons of this nontraditional work environment. From planning and productivity measures to day-to-day management, the panelists discuss and debate the realities of working in a virtual office.

Davis, Bonnie J. STC Proceedings (1997). Careers>Telecommuting

Telecommuting: Practical Option or Management Nightmare?

Telecommuting can be a wonderful benefit for your editors and can save your department money -- as long as you set clear terms and carefully monitor the results. It doesn't have to be the management nightmare you may be imagining.

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

The Virtual Business Analyst

As a Business Analyst in today's working environment, it's important to understand the dynamics, challenges and best practices of the classic office and how they compare with those of the virtual office.

Tavis, Yvonne Hontanosas. BA Collective (2007). Articles>Business Communication>Telecommuting>Online

Walking the Line When You Work from Home

Working from home, whether as a freelance contractor or remote employee, can be a great thing, particularly if you live alone. But what if you have a spouse and/or children at home with you while you work? Every work environment offers distractions, but those who work from home with their families face a unique set of issues—and need equally unique ways of dealing with them.

Jost, Natalie. List Apart, A (2008). Careers>Advice>Telecommuting

When No One's Home: Being a Remote Writer on Distributed Teams  

Technology has permanently shifted communication, making remote interaction commonplace. Lack of face-to-face contact can be a disorienting experience for any communicator. Project teams that are spread across multiple time zones have no guarantee of successful teamwork. Are the rules different for remote teams? Integrating as technical writers on remotely distributed teams requires special behaviors. How should remote writers avoid misunderstandings? How can they produce quality documentation under these circumstances? How can they prepare to cope the next time they are thrown into a remote team situation? How would a possible best practice function?

Larbi, Nancy E. and Susan Springfield. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Telecommuting

When No One's Home: Being a Writer on Remote Project Teams    

Asserts that technology has made remote interaction commonplace but that lack of face-to-face contact can be disorienting. Explores rules for remote teams and special behaviors needed to integrate members on those teams.

Larbi, Nancy E. and Susan Springfield. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Writing>Telecommuting>Technical Writing