Proceedings-1999; By Audrey Cielinski Kessler; Summary by Maria Christophel (2006)
This article narrates the scenario of a company that was left without the intelligence of the human resources expert. It describes the methods and strategies that the technical writer created to straighten out the mess. It provides insight as to questions the technical writer should ask for writing procedures that are organized and effective. Finally, it informs about the problems that arise when the processes are reviewed and especially when they are not reviewed.
Developing ISO 9000 Procedures
Proceedings-1996; By Ralph E. Robinson; Summary by Maria Christophel (2006)
This article discusses document and data control issues as the common causes of registration failure with ISO. It presents the reasons why companies need to comply with ISO requirements, and the ISO 9000 Quality System Concept. It explains the documentation structure, the main goal of documentation, its effect on the registration process, and the control requirements for documentation. The article also presents these ISO standards as career opportunities for raising the profile of technical writers within the organization.
Contracting and Consulting for Policies & Procedures Engagements
Proceedings-1999; By Raymond E. Urgo; Summary by Maria Christophel (2006)
This article states that employment reduction has resulted in a decrease of policy and procedures writers as employees, but it has increased the amount of opportunities for consultants and contractors. The article advices P&P writers seeking to engage their services for either consulting or contracting to be flexible and understand the three roles for leveraging services.
Choose More Than a Job… Choose How You Want to Work
Proceedings-2003; By Ronald Statt; Summary by Maria Christophel (2006)
This article describes the advantages and disadvantages of working as a consultant, a contractor, or a company employee. Benefits such a traveling, education, experience, job changes, income, project assignments are compared between these three types of working as a technical writer. The article also discusses the drawbacks of insurance, taxes, and legal issues that an independent contractor must face.
Policy and Procedure Communication and the Lone Writer
Proceedings-2002; By Susan Mason, Rich Maggiani, Julia Margulies, and Ralph E. Robinson; Summary by Maria Christophel (2006)
This article positions the Lone Writer as an important instrument in the various phases of the documentation and communication of policies and procedures. The four authors of the article provide insight in four topics: the tools for promoting and selling to a company the need for P&P documentation; recommendations for ways of extracting information from subject matter experts; techniques for establishing standards such as obtaining management/staff support and keeping in touch with user groups; and the effects of international standards in the development of P&P documentation.