http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Telecommuting A listing of the most recently indexed works about Telecommuting in the field of technical communication. 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/Telecommuting http://tc.eserver.org/34977.html http://tc.eserver.org/34977.html For the freelance writer on the go, there are some items that are essential for what they're doing. This post looks at the gear that one writer uses when working away from the home office. http://tc.eserver.org/34812.html http://tc.eserver.org/34812.html Years of experience with far-flung organizations have taught me more about the limits of telecommuting than about its advantages. I firmly believe that you should expect employees to show up for work, whenever possible, no matter what kind of company. The reasons for this have nothing to do with checking that people are actually working. It's about efficient communications, building company culture and camaraderie, and sharing the daily bits of work and personal experiences that create a shared sense of purpose. http://tc.eserver.org/34813.html http://tc.eserver.org/34813.html In the year 2007, higher-ups and bigwigs in Corporate America still believe that telecommuting is not a good activity for their workers' long-term career plans. Trends@Work data revealed that 61 percent of surveyed execs believe that telecommuters are less likely to advance in their careers when compared with employees who work in the traditional office setting. That's almost two-thirds of the 1,320 respondents. http://tc.eserver.org/34814.html http://tc.eserver.org/34814.html Sure, telecommuting is great. Until you realize you've got nothing but moldy cheese in the refrigerator for lunch, you're way out of the gossip loop and you never get the Friday afternoon back-slaps. http://tc.eserver.org/34318.html http://tc.eserver.org/34318.html When you’re working with clients remotely it can sometimes be difficult to keep everyone happy and your project on track. Without the benefit of face-to-face meetings, it’s easy for a client to feel neglected or out of the loop. The key to successful remote work relationships is frequent and honest communication and trust between both parties. The tips below will help improve your everyday interactions with clients, no matter how far away they may be. http://tc.eserver.org/34319.html http://tc.eserver.org/34319.html Collaborating with clients you never meet face-to-face has become normal for most web workers. Ours is an industry where working remotely poses very few real obstacles — nearly every part of the web design process can be done from the comfort of a home office or coffee shop. We’re lucky to have this flexibility, especially in tough economic times when a swanky office doesn’t fit in the business budget. Even if you do have an office, chances are you will land a few clients who aren’t located around the block. But you quickly discover that working remotely has its downsides. Without face-to-face interaction it’s easy for major communication issues to develop… often without you knowing until it’s too late. Avoid a major meltdown with these simple tips. http://tc.eserver.org/34103.html http://tc.eserver.org/34103.html Part of the promise of working independently is to able to live and work where ever you choose. Getting away from the big city sounds great, but can you really work remotely from a small town? Can the technology support it? http://tc.eserver.org/33700.html http://tc.eserver.org/33700.html In this article, I will identify some of the tools we have used to bring together contractors, writers, and clients for our projects. Often, to determine a tool’s value, I will use a trial version. Some tools are very valuable but cost more, while others are functional and free. Although I cannot recommend which tools are best for your organization, I do recommend trying those tools that might fit your needs. http://tc.eserver.org/33367.html http://tc.eserver.org/33367.html It will always be easier to rally a group of people who work in the same building, but you can accomplish just as much (or more) with a motivated remote team. Getting team members motivated in the first place and holding their interest are your goals. Here are fifteen quick and useful tips to get you started. http://tc.eserver.org/32538.html http://tc.eserver.org/32538.html Telecommuting benefits companies: it lowers costs and saves space –no rental of your office space; it lowers absenteeism –You don’t have to take time off as much as the next worker; it increases productivity – fewer distractions. http://tc.eserver.org/31826.html http://tc.eserver.org/31826.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/31824.html http://tc.eserver.org/31824.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/31042.html http://tc.eserver.org/31042.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/30119.html http://tc.eserver.org/30119.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/24880.html http://tc.eserver.org/24880.html Considers the current state of webcam technology. http://tc.eserver.org/24762.html http://tc.eserver.org/24762.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/24688.html http://tc.eserver.org/24688.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/24021.html http://tc.eserver.org/24021.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/23785.html http://tc.eserver.org/23785.html 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? http://tc.eserver.org/23664.html http://tc.eserver.org/23664.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/22731.html http://tc.eserver.org/22731.html Good graphical user interface (GUI) design is more important than ever, given the proliferation of software applications and Web sites. GUI design principles were first defined for desktop-oriented software applications, when the Internet was barely known by most software users. Those GUI design principles were later adopted and modified for use in Web design. This article reviews some basic rules of good GUI design in the desktop environment, explores why those rules might differ in the Web environment, and, finally, summarizes the similarities and differences in good GUI design for both environments. http://tc.eserver.org/22173.html http://tc.eserver.org/22173.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/21667.html http://tc.eserver.org/21667.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/21265.html http://tc.eserver.org/21265.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/20718.html http://tc.eserver.org/20718.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/20451.html http://tc.eserver.org/20451.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/20384.html http://tc.eserver.org/20384.html Work preparing documents is increasingly being done by diverse, geographically separated project teams. This essay describes some of the characteristics of such collaboration and applies them to a case study involving a team composing a mission statement. The group succeeded in their task, even though shortcomings inherent in asynchronous, distributed collaboration did lead to some problems. http://tc.eserver.org/20269.html http://tc.eserver.org/20269.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/20109.html http://tc.eserver.org/20109.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/19890.html http://tc.eserver.org/19890.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/19688.html http://tc.eserver.org/19688.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/18873.html http://tc.eserver.org/18873.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/14680.html http://tc.eserver.org/14680.html Langhoff discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the growing practice of telecommuting, and issues that managers face when their staffs telecommute. http://tc.eserver.org/14776.html http://tc.eserver.org/14776.html Heikes presents guidelines for managers of telecommuters that suggest how to make the most of this increasingly popular work arrangement. http://tc.eserver.org/13197.html http://tc.eserver.org/13197.html 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.