#14686
Essentials of Successful Cooperation 
Brys discusses ways that technical communicators can lay foundations for good working relationships with subject matter experts.
Brys, Catherine M. Intercom (2001). Careers>Workplace>Collaboration>SMEs
#15130
Estimating Documentation Projects
Outlines a system for estimating the costs, in time and money, of a documentation project.
#18537
Describes a detailed process for estimating the time and costs of online communication projects.
Drakeley, Caroline A. Intercom (2003). Careers>Web Design>Consulting
#24169
Are the ethical issues affected by a vendor's status as an offshore operation? By the prospect of Internet gambling becoming illegal in the U.S. (bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives)? By the presumption of shady morals in the gambling industry? Should one's choices be affected by his/her rocky employment history?
Bryan, John G. Intercom (2004). Articles>Business Communication>Ethics
#15131
Assesses three methods of evaluating Web sites: guest books, hit counters, and log analyzers.
Archee, Raymond K. Intercom (2001). Design>Web Design>Assessment
#28276
What if a disclaimer seems to be more than just a disclaimer? Readers are invited to consider the fictitious case presented and to share their thoughts for publication in an upcoming issue of Intercom.
Bryan, John G. Intercom (2006). Articles>TC>Ethics>Case Studies
#14733
Exploring the World of User-Centered Design
Gribbons discusses trends in the marketplace that challenge the traditional view of technical communication and offer valuable opportunities for technical communicators in user-centered design.
Gribbons, William M. Intercom (2002). Articles>User Centered Design
#19666
A revolution is under way in software development, revolving around agile methodologies that allow more room for design changes based on input from customers during development. One popular agile methodology is eXtreme Programming (XP).
Nuckols, Carl E. Intercom (2003). Articles>Documentation>Agile>Extreme Documentation
#24640
A comprehensive overview of computer-based training for technical communicators new to the subject.
Wokosin, Linda. Intercom (2004). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Online
#14684
Faster, Better, and Cheaper: The Software Development Life Cycle
Block shows how a technical writer's involvement in each stage of software development can lead to higher quality software products.
Block, Barbara M. Intercom (2001). Design>User Centered Design>Software
#24197
I labeled wordiness the most obvious fault in technical writing. In retrospect, I think I was wrong. I believe the greatest fault our writing can have is vacuity, or lack of substance. We too often write words that say nothing.
Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2004). Articles>Editing>Technical Editing>Technical Writing
#19638
A Field Guide to Technical SMEs
Although not rare birds in urban high-tech environments, technical subject matter experts (SMEs) are a fascinating species to observe—and a challenging breed for corporate communicators to manage. This tongue-in-cheek field guide identifies four common sub-species, and explains how to spot each by its distinctive markings and how to cope with its behaviors for companionable nesting.
Lange, Penny L. Intercom (2003). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing>SMEs
#15132
File-Exchange and Workflow Issues
Suggests ways that editors can organize multiple versions of articles and avoid the pitfalls of transferring electronic files over the Internet.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2000). Articles>Editing>Online
#15133
Finding Proposal Money for Nonprofits
Offers tips on how nonprofit organizations can search for and attain funding.
Munger, Roger H. Intercom (2001). Careers>Business Communication>Proposals
#15134
Offers suggestions on finding work in technical communication for recent college graduates, professionals in other fields, and those who want to add documentation duties to their current jobs.
Block, Barbara M. Intercom (2001). Careers>Interviewing>TC
#14767
Finding What You Want on the Web
Fugate reviews a number of Web sites, search engines, and databases that self-employed technical communicators could use to track down information.
Fugate, Alice E. Intercom (2002). Articles>TC>Online
#28369
It's not easy to find rewarding work. Hart describes three steps you can take to help the process go more smoothly when searching for that new job.
Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2006). Careers>TC
#14778
Fire Up Your Frozen Job Search
Graden analyzes the reasons why job searches sometimes stall and suggests how technical communicators looking for employment can regain momentum.
#15135
This article presents a brief history of the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, one of STC's parent organizations.
Rutkowski, Ed. Intercom (2001). Articles>History>TC
#31077
The key to efficient and effective user support is an intranet site that supports employees in performing their tasks. However, most intranet sites offer an overload of information that users often must interpret on their own. Van Mansom outlines a useful approach to creating corporate intranet sites.
van Mansom, Kees. Intercom (2008). Articles>Web Design>Intranets
#24165
Flexing Your Marketing Muscles: Tactics for the Reluctant Marketer
I don’t like to market myself. Sometimes I think, 'Heck, I’m good at what I do. I've been doing this for thirty years. Why don’t people come to me?' Then I get over it, consult my marketing plan, and get on with it. (See my previous column, 'Building a Marketing Plan,' in the May 2004 issue of Intercom.) I don't like to market my services, but I like to have marketedmy services. And I keep one thought foremost in the process: 'Marketing is like swimming: If you stop, you sink!'
Frick, Elizabeth G. 'Bette'. Intercom (2004). Articles>Business Communication>Marketing
#14625
In this ethics case, O'Neill presents a fictional scenario in which a technical communicator is asked to modify copyrighted materials from a training program. Readers are asked to forward their opinions concerning the scenario to be published in a later issue of Intercom.
O'Neill, Michael T. Intercom (2000). Articles>Workplace>Ethics
#15136
Four Tips for Professional Development
Discusses how technical communicators can keep themselves marketable at a time when technologies and work environments are rapidly changing.
Dimick, Sharlyn A. Intercom (2002). Careers>Education>Continuing
#28368
Free or Open-Source Tools for Technical Communicators, Part 1: The Software
This article takes a look at some of the most successful free and open-source products available for technical communicators and their clients.
Curley, Charles. Intercom (2006). Articles>TC>Software>Open Source
