Archive

Business Words

• A New Generation Wants Employers to Show Them the Money
  Will the materialistic desires of today’s 20-somethings drive up salaries? Peter Zvalo looks at the workplace priorities of the “millennial” generation.
• Calling All Thrill Seekers
  Your mission: rescue your kidnapped CEO from the evil competitors. Peter Zvalo looks at the latest trend in office teambuilding activities.
• Why We Need Office Bloopers and Other Laughing Matters
  Peter Zvalo reminds us that down in the office trenches, a little humour can go a long way to relieving work stress.
• Corporate Writers — Being Invisible Has Its Advantages
  Corporate writers are the creative force behind much of the written material that companies and government organizations produce, but they rarely receive published credit for their work. Peter Zvalo explores the notion of “authorship” in the context of corporate writing, as well as the benefits of being “invisible.”
• Requests for Proposal — A Call for Standardization
  Anyone who has written a proposal knows that it sometimes takes a lot of work to make work. Peter Zvalo makes some suggestions on how to improve the Canadian federal government’s unnecessarily confounding requests for proposals.
• Plain Language Writing: From a Good Idea Emerges Good Public Policy
  Peter Zvalo looks at the plain language movement, its promoters and its critics.
• Understanding the Importance of Style Guides
  Style guides describe conventions for virtually every aspect of writing, ranging from such things as spelling, punctuation, and word usage, to structural and formatting issues. Peter Zvalo highlights various established style guides and emphasizes the importance of becoming familiar with them.
• Schmoozing for Profit
  Two short years after the fortunes of many high-tech companies have all but dried up, Peter Zvalo discusses how schmoozing can ease the challenge of marketing technical documentation services.
• Technical Writer Wanted
  Peter Zvalo recommends considering the importance of  how the answers you give to job interview questions will be perceived as much as what you are saying.
• Official Bilingualism Has Its Costs—And Opportunities
  Peter Zvalo looks at Canada's lucrative French translation industry.
• Into the Looking Glass: Shifting Language Is a Reflection of Our Times
  Our renewed focus on security, terrorism, and the potential for global war means less time for the niceties of language. Can political correctness survive our post September 11th reality?
• Does Globalization Spell Trouble for Technical Writers?
  Peter Zvalo considers the potential effect of globalization on technical writers.
• Online Vs. Hard-Copy Marketing Material
  In the world of promotional materials, hard-copy brochures and corporate web sites co-exist because they are intended to fulfill distinct, non-competing objectives.
• Résumés—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
  Refresher tips on building a more effective resumé.
• The Division of Labour in the New Economy: Looking to the Past for Future Solutions
  Spurred by the desire of companies to reduce costs, and enabled by information technology tools, the division of responsibility among many knowledge workers has become increasingly blurred. Can lessons from the past help us to create future solutions?
• The Quest for Work
  Keeping your eyes and ears open will go a long way toward keeping you busy.
• Writer and Subject-Matter Expert — Establishing a Positive Relationship
  Successful writers must hone their interpersonal skills as well as their writing ability in order to develop positive relationships with subject-matter experts.
• Becoming Your Own Corporation — Boon or Bust?
  Even if you're not in the writing business, clear, unambiguous communication is important in any job.
• Communications Is Everyone's Business
  Even if you're not in the writing business, clear, unambiguous communication is important in any job.
• Putting the Horse Before the Cart
  Contributing editor Peter Zvalo discusses the benefits of planning communications initiatives and the pitfalls of failing to do so.
• Pricing a Documentation Project Is Part Science, Part Art
  There is no secret formula to pricing a documentation project — learn how to scope your work effort to come up with a fair and realistic price for documentation services.
• Why Every Creative Enterprise Needs Redundant Employees
  Learn how hiring redundant employees can benefit your organization.
• The Benefits of Not Having a Sick-leave "Policy"
  Large organizations may suffer from absenteeism resulting from the abuse of sick leave. Peter Zvalo argues the benefits of a discretionary sick-leave policy.
• Ho Hum, Not Another Meeting
  Business Word is revived with a look at how one company made its corporate meetings more exciting.
• One Step Ahead
  Business Word gets lost in the shuffle.
• Finding the Time
  Professional people today work longer and harder than ever before. Find out how to make the most of a scarce resource — time.
• The Juggling Act: A Manager's Artform
  Good managers are expected to keep many balls in the air at once. Three key abilities help them do this.
• Good Communication Is More than Just Good Writing
  Writers can be good at writing, but lousy at communicating verbally. These tips will help you communicate better with your clients — and instill clients with confidence in your real strengths.
• First Impressions
  Helpful hints on how writers can create a positive first impression with clients.
• Reviewing a Technical Writer's Performance
  Helpful tips for managers on reviewing the work of a technical writer.
• Making the Grade
  If you are a manager of a team of writers, you know that conducting employee performance reviews can sometimes be a harrowing experience. It needn’t be — if you follow this practical advice.
• Calling for Backup
  Professional writers already know the importance of backing up electronic files. But what about backing up the writer?
• Breaking the News
  How to tell your client the truth even when a project isn't working out as planned.
• What They Want Is What They Need
  Sound advice on what to do when the customer is not always right.