Moving on Up: Process Management in the Ever-Changing Real World  

This paper presents a case study of a technical publications department that tested the practicality of JoAnn Hackos’ process maturity model for a small team that experienced both resource cuts and increased workload pressures. The process of initial evaluation in terms of the model helped to identify management goals and actions that increased process maturity. The positive outcomes included both high quality, innovative work and also better structures for worker creativity, productivity, and satisfaction. This success story demonstrates the potential of the model and recommends it for consideration, even by publications groups facing critical challenges.

Rehling, Louise. STC Proceedings (2005). Careers>Management>TC>Case Studies

Mystery Fiction and the Technical Communicator: Audience Analysis, Foreshadowing, Research, Showing and Telling  

Mystery fiction and technical writing share certain requirements: audience analysis, foreshadowing, research, showing and telling. Without audience analysis, a mystery novel may startle would-be readers of a bloodless cozy with violence suited to a hard-boiled detective story. A technical document may use a “for dummies” approach when an expert approach is appropriate. Without foreshadowing, a mystery may fail to provide characters with logical precursors to subsequent behaviors. A technical document may fail to introduce basic terms before sophisticated ones. Both types of writing benefit from accurate research and from showing and telling.

Jennings, Ann S. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Audience Analysis

Mystery Fiction and the Technical Communicator: Emotion Separates Fiction from Fact   

Although technical documents and mysteries share certain characteristics, emotion separates the two types of writing. Mystery fiction may be popular among technical communicators because it engages both the analytical and the emotive parts of the readers' personality. This panel presentation describes techniques that mystery authors use to trigger readers' emotions. An awareness of these techniques can help technical communicators understand their affection for mysteries and stay clear about the purpose of their own work.

Jennings, Ann S. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Writing>TC>Emotions

Navigating Change in Turbulent Times  

This panel presents three different perspectives on change: Several forces are converging to change the field of technical communication; panelist predicts some of the skills needed to survive those changes. Panelist examines the toll that change exacts on the individual and suggests personal and professional strategies for managing that change. Panelist demonstrates that, in a tight economic market, technical communicators can learn to substitute the concept of a “portfolio careerâ€Ω for the traditional career ladder.

Cheirrett, Peg A., Mary L. Eschen, and Lori H. Fisher. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC

Navigating Change in Turbulent Times  

This panel presentation addresses three questions: What changes/forces are shaping technical communication? What skills will we need to meet the changes in technical communication? What strategies can we use to maintain a sense of balance as we move to meet these changes?

Cheirrett, Peg A., Debbie L. Scroggs and Mary L. Eschen. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>TC>History

Necessary Skills for Technical Communicators  

Under the direction of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) developed a list of key competencies. These competencies assure that students productively use resources, information, interpersonal skills, systems, and technology. The Commission also identified foundation skills focusing on basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities. Trends in labor, trends for technical communicators, and a description of skills set the stage for the development of the new Technical Communications curriculum at De Anza College, which now incorporates the skills industry demands.

Dowdney, Donna Lee. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Professionalism

The Need for a Design Lexicon:  Examining Minimalist, Performance-Centered, and User-Centered Design    

Explores and compares three key design strategies that underlie the development of EPSSs: minimalism, performance-centered design, and user-centered design. Closes with observations on how the three strategies are converging

Mackenzie, Colleen. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>User Centered Design>TC

The Need for Technical Communication in IT Departments

Although many would not believe such to be true, there is a vast amount of communication that must be done in the IT world. This is even truer when the IT organization is involved with a regulated industry (e.g., pharmaceutical). In general, procedures and practices that went into the development, installation, and use/maintenance of a system require documentation and the communication of outages to the user community are also important. Among the more specific areas are help documentation, user instructions, code comments, installation instructions, and maintenance procedures/schedules. When a problem arises, it is often necessary for the IT professional to explain exactly what happened and provide the resolution in a coherent, layman-termed method, whether it be verbal or written (or both). Unfortunately, not all IT professionals are capable of doing this.

Mardekian, Beth. MetroVoice (2004). Articles>TC>Technology>Collaboration

Needs Assessment of Technical Communication as a Profession in China  

Is there a need for technical communication as a profession in China? This research aimed at answering the question through two surveys--one on the practice of technical communication in industries in China and the other on the opinions from users of technical documents. The survey results showed that there are problem areas that need to be addressed by professional technical communicators.

Cen, Wei and Yahui Zhang. STC Proceedings (2004). Careers>TC>Regional>China

Negotiating Skills for Technical Communicators  

Negotiating with vendors, business partners, peers, or employees can turn differences to mutual gain. The following paper along with the paper entitled 'Successful Contract Consulting' provides background for a panel on how to optimize your success as a consultant, contractor, or an organization.

Modrey, Laurie and Emily A. Sopensky. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>Business Communication>TC

Networking Opportunities

If you have all the work you can handle, your idea of networking might be showing up late to STC meetings, sitting in the back, and leaving before the speaker finishes talking. But, for the rest of us, networking requires a bigger investment of time and energy and a wider circle of contacts. As networking expert Kathy Condon points out, networking begins in our comfort zones-our neighborhoods, our offices, our STC groups. But to be effective, we have to search for other opportunities to meet people-groups and individuals beyond our usual contacts. Condon suggests attending meetings of professional and special interest organizations. Below, we've listed some groups to get you started. We include a Web address for each organization and a quote from their site.

Riley, Erin. STC Williamette Valley (2002). Careers>Collaboration>TC

Networking the World Over  

Technical communicators working in countries outside the U.S. share their thoughts on their profession.

Bouquet, Luc, Ken E. d'Albenas, Frederic R. Menezes, Alison Reynolds and Valerie Gilliotte. Intercom (2001). Articles>TC>International

Networking Your Way to Success

You don't have to spend hours making cold calls or squander money on invisible advertisements in order to find new clients. In fact, savvy businesspeople--technical writers included--know the best way to expand your client base is by leveraging the resources you already have. You might ask, "What resources?" Well, pull out your personal address book. This database of contacts--friends, relatives, and co-workers--is a gold mine when prospecting for business. By knowing how and who to ask, you can soon have as much business as you can handle!

Chroust Ehmann, Lain. TECHWR-L (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>Collaboration

NetWorks or, How to Make Professional Connections When You Live and Work in the "Sticks"

NetWorks is an association of people involved in public relations, technical/computer documentation, marketing, fund raising, planning and development, training, journalism, editing, video production and publishing. We have a common interest in sharing ideas, information and resources.

Olander, Karen Wise. Boston Broadside (1992). Articles>TC>Collaboration>STC

Review: New Essays in Technical and Scientific Communication: Research, Theory, Practice  

Anderson, Brockmann, and Miller have compiled an anthology of essays devoted to research in technical and scientific communication that should be read by any professional writing teacher who hopes to maintain a career in this field and by graduate students who are contemplating applied communication as an area of concentration. While the editors have not dealt with the pragmatic reasons for doing research (preferring to stress the scholarly motives), this anthology could well be subtitled “How to Write for Promotion and Tenure if You Teach Technical Writing in an English Department.” For technical writing teachers facing the publish or perish mandate in English departments, the essays exemplify the kinds of research that will help one survive amid literature-oriented colleagues who often think that technical writing teachers have nothing to publish or teach that has any depth or value. The essays, 12 in all, cover five currently popular main research areas in scientific and technical communication.

Tebeaux, Elizabeth. JAC (1983). Articles>Reviews>TC

New Media for Technical Communicators

For more than forty years, the Society for Technical Communication (STC) has helped its members explore new ways to communicate. The theme of the STC's 41st annual conference held recently in Minneapolis, 'Explore Communication,' was therefore apt. Participants at the conference discussed new ideas for communication via computer, and charted the beginnings of STC's foray into Internet-based scholarship.

December, John A. Computer-Mediated Communication (1995). Articles>TC>Multimedia

A New Phenomenon: Industry Demands Industry Knowledge  

The need for excellent technical communication has pervaded almost every nook and cranny of business, industry and government. As computers have become as common as telephones and typewriters, the ability to use them is almost assumed. Now a new, more pervasive need is appearing - the need to know about the business and application. Technical communicators are being called upon to have knowledge of and familiarity with the terms and practices of specific industries.

Katzin, Emanuel. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>TC

New Roles for Technical Writers: Technical Marketing Communication  

Technical software marketing is a specialty that calls upon skills technical writers already possess. Clear, accurate product information is essential in today’s complex market; decision-makers need to know how your software will fulfill their business needs. In making the shift from documentation to marketing writing, it is necessary to broaden your sense of the writing’s purposes, and prepare for different ways of working with your material. However, many key aspects of the two specialities are the same, such as the need to uphold a consistent, well-defined tone and organization, and above all to strive for consistency and clarity.

Earle, Ralph. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>TC>Marketing>Software

The New STC Ethical Guidelines: A Practical Interpretation  

Technical communicators with less than 3 years of experience face a special challenge: not only must they continue to assimilate technological change at a dizzying rate, but they must begin to effectively chart a course toward professional growth. Having established (or having faith in) their ability to survive in the profession, new and intermediate communicators must move beyond survival and begin to pursue success. This three-hour workshop is based on the premise that it's not enough to be a good writer with a strong technical background. You must possess multi-disciplinary skills to excel as a technical communicator and as a business person focused on the value you bring to your company.

Benson, Nancy C., Nancy L. Hoft, Janice M. King, Karen A. Steele and Mary Zoll. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Ethics

New Ways to Access Old Skills  

How technical communicators in Canada’s second largest bank promoted their skills, developed an intranet site on a shoestring budget, and established themselves as one of CIBC’s pre-eminent online publishers.

Tunbridge, Marie and Stephanie Copp. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Web Design

New Zealand Technical Writers Association

A society for the benefit of people who are involved in the field of documentation.

Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand. Organizations>TC>Regional>New Zealand

Newbie Tech Writer

This site is a compilation of advice and resources for those who are new to technical communication and want to know what it takes to break into the field. What this site is not: It is not an introduction to the field. It is not an authoritative reference. It is not a guarantee of employment.

Dunham, Paul. Newbie Tech Writer (1999). Resources>Directories>TC

A Newsletter Competition Where Everyone Wins  

A competition where everyone wins—is it too good to be true? Not if the STC Newsletter Competition Committee (STCNCC) has anything to say about it.

Ames, Andrea L., Cheryl Disch and Helen T. Hegelheimer. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Collaboration>Community Building>STC

Nielsen Media Research: Must-See TV  

The author shares her experiences working as a technical writer at Nielsen Media Research in Dunedin, Florida.

Passmore, Denise Annette. Intercom (2000). Careers>Workplace>TC

Non-Rule Environmental Policy: A Case Study of a Foundry Sand Land Disposal NPD    

This historical case study of a non-rule policy document (NPD) adopted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management describes an emerging genre in environmental discourse. The NPD standardizes environmental public policy for land disposal of foundry sand, a solid waste. The collaborative writing process took six months with industry input, and the NPD was presented to two environmental boards. Two contrasts, in process and format, distinguish NPDs from rules. The NPD is an entirely new kind of writing which includes guidance for implementing statutes. The writing process in the case involves government writers and industry representatives, although it does not include other public input such as public hearings. Instead, the staff of the pollution control agency simply presents the NPD to the appropriate environmental policy boards and arranges for its publication. This article adds to the body of knowledge about technical writing in government, specifically environmental policy and non-academic genres.

Griggs, Karen. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2007). Articles>TC>Government>Policies and Procedures