The journal article is a uniquely effective case assignment for teaching technical communication students a central, work-world, writing demand faced by all professional writers: accurately defining and effectively writing to multiple, hierarchical audiences. The author examines how two technical communication students successfully construct journal articles based on research from analytical reports completed earlier in the term. The students analyze their target audience(s) and revise their reports into technical articles by assessing their purposes in writing the article; by selecting the most appropriate journal and audience for the article; and by adjusting the article's topical slant, organization, content, and style to fit both the target journal's editorial needs and the interests of its audience(s).< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

For pt.I see ibid., vol.33, no.1, p.19-22 (1990). It is noted that a job interview tests the congruence, or fit, of personalities, attitudes, and values between the candidate and the employer. Successful candidates treat themselves as a product that must be marketed. keys to the marketing process are researching the company's needs, engaging the interviewer's attention, communicating in a nonthreatening manner, asking relevant and incisive questions, envisioning for the interviewer the benefits of hiring the candidate, and enlisting the interviewer to act on the candidate's behalf.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Two reasons why the attempt to achieve gender-neutral writing has produced awkward writing and ill will are explored. The first is that it distracts the writer's attention from the main subject. The second is that a shift is taking place in the way we understand problems, so that the word 'he' actually means different things to different people. Ways for writers and editors to avoid the problems of gender-neutral writing are suggested.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author describes the design and creation of a task-oriented user guide for students doing computer-assisted writing at San Diego State University. The project incorporated prototyping and task analysis techniques borrowed from systems analysis. A database provided a task dictionary which described 35 characteristics for each of the 66 tasks identified as necessary to perform simple word processing. The author discusses definition of user needs, selection of the documentation format, prototyping as a method for documentation development, putting the prototyping approach to work, devising a method for task analysis, and implications of using database techniques to task analysis.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author outlines six stages of the position candidate interview process: preparation, the first few minutes, setting the structure, information-gathering, selling the position and company, and the close. Each stage is explored in detail, and strategies are provided to help the interviewer control each stage and derive maximum benefit from the interview.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

It is noted that existing editorial style sheets/guides do not address the unique needs encountered in developing computer-delivered information. The author presents guidelines that supplement the stylesheets/guides. These guidelines suggest ways to handle the organization and presentation of information, paragraphs, sentences, questions and responses, language, punctuation, and screen design.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The professional life of a writing/editing consultant is described and compared with that of a regularly employed counterpart. The author suggests ways to cope with both overload and dry spells and to compute the value of one's time.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A study of the time needed for each step in the editing and publishing of research reports at one laboratory revealed 16 steps that could benefit from efforts to speed up the publication process. Strategies for improving publishing times were reviewed after 3 to 5 years. Strategies applied by the editorial staff members to their own in-house operations were usually successful, whereas strategies applied to the operations of outside publishers were not. It is suggested the tailoring of management strategies to address specific slow procedures is the key to timely publication. Tighter deadlines and the monitoring of manuscripts through each step of the publication process led to significant reductions in the time required for publication.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author notes the unique needs of the graphic interface and the demands these needs make on the technical writer. Ten principles to help cope with writing for the graphic interface are presented, with emphasis on lexical, syntactic, and display issues. The principles are: (1) avoid verbal shortcuts; (2) keep the words simple and direct; (3) keep the syntax simple and direct; (4) keep the punctuation simple and direct; (5) keep the layout simple and direct; (6) keep the writing brief; (7) keep all dialogue and window text self-contained; (8) be absolutely consistent; (9) revise; and (10) always keep the user firmly in mind.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

It is observed that advances in information technology are drastically changing the profession of technical communication and the role of the technical communicator in developing and managing information. It is argued that educators must face the challenge posed by these advances to prepare students for the profession as it is now and as it will be in the future. It is suggested that one answer to this challenge is experiential learning theory, which places experience at the center of the learning process.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author presents a worksheet which helps authors facilitate writing projects by identifying important preliminary considerations, the potential readers of the document, relationships of the writer to the audience and the document, the purpose of the document, and strategies to achieve that purpose. Each of these categories is discussed in detail, in terms of the entries to be made on the form.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Typical spelling errors that the Japanese make when writing in English are discussed. An improved spelling checker for Japanese users that takes their linguistic idiosyncracies into consideration is described.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Many organizations hire new technical writers regularly as their business expands, or hire temporary technical writers to cope with a heavy workload period. Although it is assumed that such people are hired for their writing skills, they still must be trained quickly in four areas: how business is done in the organization, the process used to produce information, the style of writing preferred, and the technical tools available and how they are to be used. The author shows one way of structuring such a training program. It is based on an actual course developed over a period of three years. It is concluded that a good training program requires considerable forethought and subsequent modification to keep up with change, an organized coordinator, a dedicated set of teachers and a process that can be readily learned and modified again by others as turnover occurs.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

It is pointed out that it takes so much time and effort to organize material manually and revise it until it is clear that many writers give up before producing a clearly written speech. Writing in a modified outline form on a word processor helps solve this problem. The outline form, coupled with the simplicity and speed of making changes on a word processor, makes it easy to respond to the visual feedback of one's writing as one writes, almost forcing a well-organized, simple, and clear expression of ideas. For many writers, the speed and ease of the word processor is the only thing that makes repeated revision possible. One can experiment repeatedly with the visual display of the text and continue revising until the display-and the text-reflect the best organization of the material and the natural cadences of spoken language.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Analyzing proposals for evidence of enthusiasm verified a method of lexical analysis and substantiated the presence of enthusiasm in social science/humanities proposals but not in science/engineering proposals. Proposal evaluators, both experts and nonexperts, react to technical accuracy as well as subjective elements in the proposal document itself. A study of word usage identified a lexicon that reflected enthusiasm in proposals, then analyzed 1000-word samples of text for the presence of this vocabulary. Testing this method on government requests for proposals (RFPs) and business salesmanship texts determined a range of values for an enthusiasm index (EI). Subsequent analysis of fifteen technical proposals as a group revealed no significant difference between the RFPs and the proposals themselves. However, a breakdown by subject yielded a significant difference between those from social science/humanities and those from science/engineering. The successful proposals contained occurrences of enthusiastic lexicon, but the method only examined this one indicator of enthusiasm.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

An attempt is made to establish the view that any medium used to convey information is an interface. Knowing this, technical communicators should be able to make use of human-factors research and techniques that deal with user interfaces. The author discusses the human-factors principles of standardization, iteration and measurement, which all show promise when applied to technical communication.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Research into perceptual and cognitive processes has focused on how people process and understand information presented in maps and diagrams. The author examines why graphics function the way they do. The basic constitution of a graphic item, the sequence in which the mind processes those items, the strategies people use to encode and remember information in graphics, the conjoint encoding of verbal and visual forms and the encoding of clusters for items and their labels are addressed. The importance of configuration and discrimination in encoding, understanding, and retrieving information in graphics is demonstrated. It is suggested that the discovery of predictable relationships concerning how items and interitem relationships are shown in graphics, and encoding and retrieval performance can form the basis of a theory from which to conduct further research and on which to build prescriptions for graphic design.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Many well-written online documents fail because their visual design does not account for the many differences between the paper page and display screen, nor do they take advantage of the display power of the computer. The author provides guidelines for practitioners based on extensive research on computer display. It is concluded that the visual design of the online document should be crafted to match its use, ensuring displays that are scanned quickly and read reliably.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Many people who are interested in learning about usability testing have trouble finding an entry point into the literature in the field. This briefly annotated bibliography addresses their needs by identifying recent, reasonably accessible articles and books organized in the following categories: general introduction to usability testing; usability testing of documentation (the process and general methods and tools); print documentation (discussions and examples of tests); and online documentation (discussions and examples of tests); the human-machine interface (the process, general methods and tools, and discussions and examples of tests); and textbooks on research design.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Issues surrounding the ethics and social responsibility of public relations are addressed through a discussion of J. Grunig's (1987) distinction between asymmetrical and symmetric organizational communication. His development of a research tradition for public relations is examined with particular attention given to conceptualizing organizations as political systems and exploring the contrasting presuppositions of asymmetrical and symmetrical models. Symmetrical presuppositions are presented as an ethical and effective framework for public relations theory.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author focuses chiefly on the Code of Professional Standards for the Practice of Public Relations, analyzing two specific aspects of this or any professional code: implicit and explicit attitudes toward the public and toward the truth. He argues that professionals confronted by ethical dilemmas in these areas should be able to, but usually cannot, find clear direction in the official code. He suggests that to function truly as a legitimizing document, the code must be expository, analytical, and evaluational, constructed according to six recommendations offered.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

To achieve advances in the pharmaceutical industry rapidly in a public climate of good will, effective communication is imperative between the laboratory scientist and lay person, between the scientist and business person, and between the business and its various consistencies. One of public relations' functions is to plan and execute a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance. The job of a corporate public relations director involves, in part, informing the public about products, ideas, and services and bringing together the scientist, business manager, and lay public to enhance communication, understanding, and cooperation among these diverse individual groups. In addition to portraying the pharmaceuticals and drug-delivery technologies of a company's research and development, public relations is assuming a more active role in explaining, photographing, and illustrating arcane science and developing strategies to win public understanding and support.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Communication during emergencies is examined. Relevant studies and theories from public relations, psychology, sociology, and management are identified and analyzed as they apply to organizational emergency communication situations. Strategies and tactics from these theoretical perspectives are suggested as a necessary supplement to those already available from first-hand experience. The framework used is strategic factors in the choice of a model of public relations, which suggests that the specific model(s) of public relations and organization practices is determined by the interactions of environmental independencies, organizational culture, power holders, schema for public relations, public relations potential, and the choice of strategic publics. It is suggested that these same strategic factors determine the type(s) of emergency communication response an organization makes. Theoretical constructs relevant to emergency communications within each factor are identified and examined.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A rationale and description are presented for an approach to teaching ethics, as a process rather than a product, in a technical writing course. The students carry out a series of related assignments based on the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). The intent is that by writing and speaking about SDI technologies, students will develop the ability to form responsible value judgments in addition to doing factual reporting. To develop their sense of ethical reasoning, they are encouraged to use generalizations that evaluate the subject rather than just describe it. It is suggested that this method of raising ethical awareness could easily be adapted for use in professional seminars.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The phrase 'public relations' (PR) is often misunderstood in the business world, and the inaccuracy can be traced back to the evolution of PR. It is argued that companies may prefer to have their PR executives function in roles that are decades out of date, namely, as press agents (phase I) or as publicity agents (phase II) rather than as PR counselors (phase III). The result is that problems that could be solved when they are small grow into crises unnecessarily. The effective phase III PR counselor functions as an 'early-warning system' by following a five-step process to improve the flow of communication between an organization and its many publics.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

As technologies continue to be developed for audiovisual (AV) communications at a rapid rate, their use or adoption is determined not only by factors such as cost, quality and graphic capability of the available systems, but also by economical factors. The level of confidence of the presenter in his or her ability to control the presentation is critical in the decision on adopting a technology. Anecdotal field research is presented to substantiate these claims. A theory of technology adoption is then developed that takes into account the domination of the decision-making process by emotional factors that exist within each level of the corporate decision-making process for purchasing AV equipment.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author discusses the meaning of corporate culture. He describes the circumstances leading to the adoption, in 1985, of Warner-Lambert's corporate creed. He reproduces the creed, which is a statement of the company's responsibilities to its customers, employees, shareholders, and suppliers and to society, in its entirety. He then examines the corporate activities that it has motivated.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author suggests that those interested in creating or refining corporate communication policies should consider ethnographic analysis-observation, interviewing, and collecting situational data-to understand the complex web of meanings that make up organizational culture. She maintains that such an analysis can provide diagnoses of organizational policies and procedures as well as deeper understanding of communication behavior in organizations. As such, ethnographic analysis can promote beneficial change in policy issues.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The so-called computer explosion has had a number of undesirable effects on corporate communications. One of these is that well-established and integrated communication systems have been replaced by poorly designed and mismatched computer systems. This has caused a number of communication functions to be performed and administered by amateur communicators rather than by communication professionals. The effects on people and output have been drastic, even affecting management credibility. Professional communicators are exhorted to reestablish themselves as the experts on corporate communications so that the undesirable effects due to the computer explosion and the amateur communicators can be corrected. Computers can then assume their proper role in corporate communications.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The US Federal Securities Laws extensively regulate disclosure by publicly traded companies. Overregulation has sometimes hindered management's ability to develop effective and timely communications. The author discusses how two recent developments have returned some degree of flexibility and control over the communication process to management. In January 1986, the commission approved the use of the summary annual report. Unlike conventional glossy annual reports, summary reports are subject to substantially less regulation. Companies largely have a free hand to determine the contents of the reports, raising the prospect of shorter, more readable, and more effective documents. The Commission also adopted rules providing companies with access to lists of shareholders holding stock in street name and nominee accounts. With the information, companies can mail corporate communications directly to beneficial owners. Direct communications will permit more frequent communications at reduced costs.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The authors maintain that proposals are typically overwritten, poorly researched documents that force recipients to search for ideas of pertinent concern and rarely accomplish their objectives. They suggest that short proposals, introduced early in the negotiation process, can act as replacements for formal proposals or as interim documents leading to more productive, persuasive formal proposals. They explain why many long proposals fail and short proposals succeed.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The use of a table as a tool to arrange technical data in a meaningful way is examined. A good table is identified as one that avoids the unnecessary repetition of unit symbols, test conditions, or other data compressible into stub, column, or spanner heads. Characteristics of good tables and pitfalls in constructing them are discussed.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The above mentioned paper (W.A. Kennedy, ibid., vol.PC-31, no.3, p.130-4, Sept. 1988) put forth a case for using speaking assignments in the technical classroom as a means of addressing deficiencies in the oral communication skills of graduates of technical programs. In an introduction to this initial article, readers were asked to submit their critical comments and observations in order to provide the basis for a followup dialogue. The author summarizes and discusses the ensuing comments. He explores areas of general agreement with the suggestions contained in the initial article and areas of concern, and he offers some general conclusions and recommendations.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Storyboarding is presented as an efficient technique that provides proposal managers and writers with a disciplined, yet flexible, framework for planning, developing, and reviewing proposal text incrementally and sequentially. The technique facilitates intragroup communication so that all team members are aware of the message being developed to sell an approach to a customer's problem. It is suggested that a major benefit of storyboarding to proposal teams is that it encourages consistency which, in turn, ensures that the proposal complies with the customer's requirements and the bidder's strategy.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A description is given of the cloze procedure, which has been used to measure the readability of many different types of written materials such as textbooks and works of literature. It assesses readability by measuring readers' success in supplying deleted words that have been replaced by blanks. The procedure was used to test the readability of an IEEE standard, and the results are compared with readability scores for the same work computed by other formulas.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Compliance with unrealistic proposal preparation instructions and instructions to offerers often prevents preparation of proposals that respond effectively to the solicitation and that are easy to read and evaluate. Typical requirements are examined in the form of questions from those who write proposals about why certain preparation instructions are issued. A simple solution is proposed that should make it easy for those who write instructions and those who write proposals to achieve their common objectives.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The growing use of acronyms in technical and nontechnical communications is addressed. It is shown that acronyms can hinder communication. Their use is analyzed and classified. Suggestions are given on how to use acronyms effectively.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The introduction of reports in the form of structured, retrievable technical memorandums in a medium-sized to large-sized engineering company increases the esteem of workers while decreasing the reinvention process and minimizing the time spent by supervision for training and evaluation. The primary value of the technical memo is seen as that of thought clarification, which in turn requires clear writing. The implementation of such a system is discussed. The memorandum format is shown by example.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

An empirical study was conducted to explore text editing performance in an actual work environment. The text editing performance of 12 experts and 24 novices was studied across several benchmark tasks using either a command-driven, PC-based or hard-wired text editing system. Experts were tested for performance and functionality; novices were tested for learning. Additionally, the keystroke-level model was applied to the performance tasks and the results compared to actual observations. The results indicated that the methodology of T. Roberts (unpub. Ph.D. thesis, Stanford Univ., CA, USA, 1980) could be easily applied to a work environment and provided useful information for the evaluation of text editing systems. The study identified several areas of the keystroke-level model that could be modified to provide a more accurate assessment of text editing performance.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author suggests a method for turning confrontation between a speaker and a hostile audience into engagement of common concerns. It involves effective use of eye contact as well as vocabulary related to the audience's perceptive style.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Some elements of writing technical papers for publication within a technical corporate environment are discussed. Major incentives and barriers to publishing are outlined, and suggestions are offered for addressing the barriers from both the authors' viewpoint and that of management. A workshop designed to encourage technical professionals to write for publication is described.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The author examines the fundamental conflict between controlling the dissemination of scientific and technical data and promoting openness and peer review of the data. She focuses on the control of unclassified scientific and technical data for national security purposes. She explains the reasons for such controls, the federal government's policies, and how some foreign governments deal with this problem. She summarizes and evaluates the arguments for and against controls and presents some recommendations for the current administration.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The authors introduce the concept of hypertext and focus on how hypertext can facilitate writing activities. A survey of the capabilities of existing hypertext systems and current research activities is included.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Retrieval of bibliographic information from literature searches is now moving from the use of comprehensive centralized databases into specialized PC-mounted databases. To be effective, a personal database must take account of the structure of the literature it contains, as well as provide easy access for record entry and searching. The author describes how to design and compile a database for bibliographic engineering records. Emphasis is given to keyword selection, data record form design, and report format. Database versatility is demonstrated by an analysis of railway engineering literature, which examines the structure, sources, and locations of pertinent bibliographic material.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

An important part of the Certificate in Technical Communication Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering is the technical communication internship, which integrates on-the-job experience with classroom experience. The certificate program requirements and the internship are described. Students who plan careers both in technical writing and in engineering report that they have found the internship valuable.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Usability evaluation and usability testing are defined and distinguished, and the role of expert evaluation in defining audience groups, constructing usage scenarios, and performing task breakdowns is pointed out. Usability evaluation is viewed as comparable to the work of an expert editor, and the background that a usability specialist should have is described. Other methods besides testing that can supplement expert evaluation are briefly discussed.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

When the professional who teaches technical communication uses quality control techniques that are common in industry, technical reports and presentations show continual improvement. These techniques emphasize participative management, which in the classroom means student involvement in improving the process of writing a technical paper or making a technical presentation. Another effective technique derived from industrial management is applying quality control at checkpoints during the process instead of relying on control points at its end. A third improvement technique used by successful Japanese managers encourages and rewards suggestions to an extent unmatched even by the best US programs. The author describes the application of these industrial management techniques in the technical communication classroom. She reports that these techniques help create a strong classroom culture that helps students improve the quality of their work.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The authors argue that while usability testers have drawn on demonstrated practices from a variety of the social and clinical sciences in developing their methods, they have not concerned themselves with the reliability and validity of the data produced. The authors suggest that the concepts of reliability and validity are relevant to usability testing and that a concern for reliability and validity will enhance the credibility and effectiveness of usability testers.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The multidimensional nature of usability (including tradeoffs between dimensions) is described, stressing the linkage of the concept to the effective use of documentation by a particular group of readers in performing a certain set of software-related tasks under realistic environmental constraints. Major issues in the evaluation and design of usability are examined. It is argued that the sampling of realistic tasks and target readers is often very difficult, particularly in a laboratory setting, and that additional emphasis must be placed on using multiple observation periods, standardized measures and materials, and multimethod assessments of usability.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Six steps that are very much like those used in the planning phase of a software product are listed. It is shown, with the help of an extended illustration, how these same steps apply to the planning of an information product. The result is a set of measurable objectives that actually prescribes the appropriate usability testing for the documentation.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>