The author describes how having a writer on the development team helps the developers, the company, the customer, and the writer. In addition, she presents some suggestions for writers who want to be an effective part of a development team. She notes that, at most large companies today, technical writers are clustered into a publications group. In years past, such groups have been necessary so writers could share scarce resources, such as expensive printers, illustrators, and computers. With the tools available today, however, a multitalented technical communicator can write, design, format, and illustrate a technical document. It is concluded that putting a writer on the development team clearly has advantages for everyone concerned in a development project: the company shortens its development cycles, the developers spend their time developing, the customer receives a better product, and writers get to explore new territory and broaden their skills.<>
{"title":"Out of the ivory tower and into the trenches: the writer joins the development team","authors":"J. Greenleaf","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24004","url":null,"abstract":"The author describes how having a writer on the development team helps the developers, the company, the customer, and the writer. In addition, she presents some suggestions for writers who want to be an effective part of a development team. She notes that, at most large companies today, technical writers are clustered into a publications group. In years past, such groups have been necessary so writers could share scarce resources, such as expensive printers, illustrators, and computers. With the tools available today, however, a multitalented technical communicator can write, design, format, and illustrate a technical document. It is concluded that putting a writer on the development team clearly has advantages for everyone concerned in a development project: the company shortens its development cycles, the developers spend their time developing, the customer receives a better product, and writers get to explore new territory and broaden their skills.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124310333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The author examines some of the causes of ineffective communication interactions, and proposes a pattern of problem-solving skills designed to overcome them. This pattern is based on techniques familiar to technical writers in their work. Special attention is given to the difficulties which arise when two cultures or languages meet.<>
{"title":"Problem-solving communication skills","authors":"M. Magyar","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24071","url":null,"abstract":"The author examines some of the causes of ineffective communication interactions, and proposes a pattern of problem-solving skills designed to overcome them. This pattern is based on techniques familiar to technical writers in their work. Special attention is given to the difficulties which arise when two cultures or languages meet.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125589843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
When technical communicators move into management, they soon realize that their success is directly linked to the quality of their staff. 'Greasing the wheels' properly requires not only appropriate recognition but career planning, coaching, counseling, and regular, specific feedback-including correcting performance, when needed. Participative management methods ensure that all of these activities are carried out. It is concluded that the successful manager quickly learns that the choice of an effective, consistent management style means the difference between success and failure.<>
{"title":"Grease the wheels that make you go around (technical communications)","authors":"W. Whitehead","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24056","url":null,"abstract":"When technical communicators move into management, they soon realize that their success is directly linked to the quality of their staff. 'Greasing the wheels' properly requires not only appropriate recognition but career planning, coaching, counseling, and regular, specific feedback-including correcting performance, when needed. Participative management methods ensure that all of these activities are carried out. It is concluded that the successful manager quickly learns that the choice of an effective, consistent management style means the difference between success and failure.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114113529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The focus is limited to the academic and the industrial job training of engineers' communication skills. The first step in the effort was to recap the assessments of current research in the area of communication training needs of engineers. Some of the more pertinent areas of consideration for improvement of communication skills training for engineers include analysis of current offerings, coordination of in-house training with colleges, extension of college services to the industrial site, attendance of professional conferences, establishment of a forum between colleges and the community, and internship programs in technical communications.<>
{"title":"Improving communication training for engineers","authors":"M. Dakich","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24049","url":null,"abstract":"The focus is limited to the academic and the industrial job training of engineers' communication skills. The first step in the effort was to recap the assessments of current research in the area of communication training needs of engineers. Some of the more pertinent areas of consideration for improvement of communication skills training for engineers include analysis of current offerings, coordination of in-house training with colleges, extension of college services to the industrial site, attendance of professional conferences, establishment of a forum between colleges and the community, and internship programs in technical communications.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117185324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A study is described in which technical writing students completed two in-class writing assignments, one on the Macintosh and one using pen and paper. Results indicate that they produced longer papers and that they made more format revisions on the Macintosh. Although the students believe that they write better using the Macintosh, the study suggests that the Macintosh itself did not significantly improve the quality of their writing.<>
{"title":"Word processing and writing: effects of the Macintosh on the drafting and revising of technical writing assignments","authors":"A. Friedlander, M. Markel","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24024","url":null,"abstract":"A study is described in which technical writing students completed two in-class writing assignments, one on the Macintosh and one using pen and paper. Results indicate that they produced longer papers and that they made more format revisions on the Macintosh. Although the students believe that they write better using the Macintosh, the study suggests that the Macintosh itself did not significantly improve the quality of their writing.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"116 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126035403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The author offers a theoretical basis for diversity in group problem-solving activities and draws the conclusion that a nontechnical person can be, and should be, a fully functioning member of the software development team. By 'fully functioning', the author means that the technical communicator should be involved, from the beginning, in the problem-solving, idea-generating efforts of the design team. The author's research shows that including the technical communicator in the software development community can improve the design and development process, as well as the quality of both the product and the documentation that supports it.<>
{"title":"Collaboration as innovation: why technical communicators should be members of the software development team","authors":"K. Zeidenstein","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24003","url":null,"abstract":"The author offers a theoretical basis for diversity in group problem-solving activities and draws the conclusion that a nontechnical person can be, and should be, a fully functioning member of the software development team. By 'fully functioning', the author means that the technical communicator should be involved, from the beginning, in the problem-solving, idea-generating efforts of the design team. The author's research shows that including the technical communicator in the software development community can improve the design and development process, as well as the quality of both the product and the documentation that supports it.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134014679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Microsoft Excel's experience with the design of a new alphabetic reference is described. It was found that superimposing a carefully thought-out hierarchy on the top-level topics allows for better, more flexible ways of presenting information sequentially. A few key devices that contribute to the effectiveness of the alphabetical/hierarchical organization of the Microsoft Excel Reference are highlighted. These are the visual cross-reference device, the minimalist procedure, and the smart cross-referencing system.<>
{"title":"Paradigm revisited: the documentation odyssey of Microsoft Excel","authors":"J. Slivinski","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.23987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.23987","url":null,"abstract":"Microsoft Excel's experience with the design of a new alphabetic reference is described. It was found that superimposing a carefully thought-out hierarchy on the top-level topics allows for better, more flexible ways of presenting information sequentially. A few key devices that contribute to the effectiveness of the alphabetical/hierarchical organization of the Microsoft Excel Reference are highlighted. These are the visual cross-reference device, the minimalist procedure, and the smart cross-referencing system.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"120 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123104953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The experiences of technical communicators with workstations and electronic publishing methods are reviewed with reference to the areas of technical illustration, writing, and editing and production. It is concluded that, for technical communicators, the synergistic combination of workstations and electronic publishing methods brings substantial change to the traditional methods of presenting technical information. These tools substantially reduce or eliminate many of the low-level tasks that consumed the communicators' time. It is further concluded that the sheer power of these technologies gives opportunities for developing entirely new kinds of information products, and for adding greater value to existing products.<>
{"title":"Workstation technology and technical communication: new power and new responsibility","authors":"A. Reiner, R. Bartlett, A. McGonigle, D. Ruppert","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24052","url":null,"abstract":"The experiences of technical communicators with workstations and electronic publishing methods are reviewed with reference to the areas of technical illustration, writing, and editing and production. It is concluded that, for technical communicators, the synergistic combination of workstations and electronic publishing methods brings substantial change to the traditional methods of presenting technical information. These tools substantially reduce or eliminate many of the low-level tasks that consumed the communicators' time. It is further concluded that the sheer power of these technologies gives opportunities for developing entirely new kinds of information products, and for adding greater value to existing products.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130725584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The author discusses how international communications skills can be enhanced so that misunderstandings, misinformation, and bad feelings are avoided. He also considers how common communications methods can be utilized so that views and ideas are presented effectively and efficiently. Finally he discusses the 'do's' and 'don'ts' for transferring information.<>
{"title":"Do's and don'ts of inter-cultural communications","authors":"G. Baker","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24010","url":null,"abstract":"The author discusses how international communications skills can be enhanced so that misunderstandings, misinformation, and bad feelings are avoided. He also considers how common communications methods can be utilized so that views and ideas are presented effectively and efficiently. Finally he discusses the 'do's' and 'don'ts' for transferring information.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"21 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134287722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The elements of a design approach to technical presentations are elaborated. Aspects considered are the laying of the presentation groundwork, the necessity of clean organization, the use of visuals to aid retention, delivery, and planning for questions and answers. It is concluded that, to be effective, technical presentations must be carefully designed in every aspect-purpose, objectives, organization, visuals and delivery.<>
{"title":"The technical presentation-a design approach","authors":"J. A. Shaw, A. McMakin","doi":"10.1109/IPCC.1988.24042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/IPCC.1988.24042","url":null,"abstract":"The elements of a design approach to technical presentations are elaborated. Aspects considered are the laying of the presentation groundwork, the necessity of clean organization, the use of visuals to aid retention, delivery, and planning for questions and answers. It is concluded that, to be effective, technical presentations must be carefully designed in every aspect-purpose, objectives, organization, visuals and delivery.<<ETX>>","PeriodicalId":374472,"journal":{"name":"IPCC '88 Conference Record 'On the Edge: A Pacific Rim Conference on Professional Technical Communication'.","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1988-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133530169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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