Intercom: July/August 2009
Intercom, the magazine of the Society for Technical Communication, is published to provide examples and applications of technical communication that will promote its readers' professional development.
No theme this issue.
Full Download
- The Complete July/August 2009 Issue
-
Feature Articles
- A Different Perspective on Measuring the Value of Technical Communication [ FREE! ]
- By: Ellis Pratt
- What is the value of user documentation from a non-technical communicator’s viewpoint? Pratt explores new ways to measure value focusing on a few key elements.
- Progressive User Adoption
- By: Michael Hughes, Associate Fellow
- Michael Hughes argues that user adoption doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision, as many technology companies believe, but that it can be adopted progressively, over time.
- Should Customers Pay for the Manual?
- By: Alan J. Porter, Member
- To charge or not to charge? That is the question Alan Porter discusses in this article. He looks at two fictional companies’ models of providing the manual, documentation included and documentation sold separately, and discusses which is the better approach.
- Technical Communication’s Value Proposition: Providing Value & Return on Investment
- By: Rahel Anne Bailie, Fellow
- Technical communicators have not always been the best at demonstrating the value of their work. Bailie discusses the many aspects of the value proposition, including examining what constitutes value and “content as asset.’
- Enhancing the Perceived Value of Your Technical Communication Department in Hard Times
- By: Hannah R. Kirk
- Intended for both managers and individuals, this article focuses on proving the value of technical communication to your coworkers and those in other departments. Kirk suggests opening the line of communication between departments and using creative tactics to show the worth of the technical communication department to the rest of the company.
- Measuring the Value of Technical Communication in Economic Terms
- By: George Slaughter, Senior Member
- Although many business leaders understand the value of technical communication, it can often be hard to quantify in profit-and-loss terms. By measuring the value in various terms, such as expansion or consolidation, technical communicators can begin to demonstrate the economic worth of their work.
- Take Control of Your Career!
- By: Jack Molisani, Associate Fellow
- In part three of his series on career development, Molisani discusses how technical writers can portray themselves as a commodity to their companies. By “focusing on what matters,” “increasing your sphere of influence,” and other helpful tips, you too can be proactive in adding value to your position.
Departments
- F.Y.I.
- F.Y.I.
-
- Check here for upcoming events of interest to technical communicators.
- Off Hours
- Words … Fabric … It’s All About Patterns
- By: Rhonda Bracey, Senior Member
- Do quilting and technical writing have anything in common? It may be hard to believe, but according to Rhonda Bracey, the two activities share some of the same basic tenets. Read about Rhonda’s passion for both.
Society Pages
- Society Pages [ FREE! ]
-
- Read about the 2008–2009 Community Award Winners, as well as information about STC Awards, including the Gould, Rainey, and Smith Awards. This section also includes information about exhibiting at the 2010 Summit and a short piece about the various STC members and entities that were recognized with this year’s APEX Awards.
Columns
- Business Matters
- Developing a Value Proposition for Technical Communication [ FREE! ]
- By: Thea Teich, Fellow
- Guest Columnist Thea Teich provides information on how to create a value proposition showing the strategic importance of technical communication to the overall success of an organization or company.
- Beyond the Bleeding Edge
- WinHelp Is the New COBOL
- By: Neil E. Perlin, Associate Fellow
- As WinHelp becomes seemingly more obsolete, Perlin takes a look at the ghosts of help authoring tools past and why and how they became obsolete.
