Publisher's Synopsis
A guide to untangling the knotty ethical issues confronting technical communication professionals in the Information Age
Ultimately, the goal of any profession should be to do what is right to achieve what is good. But how do you juggle, among other things, consumer needs, budget constraints and the profit incentive, personal advancement, and the desire to be socially responsible? There are just no easy answers. But this book does offer you a sophisticated approach to understanding and systematically dealing with most ethical issues that may arise in the course of your professional life.
In a lively, thoroughly engaging text peppered with pithy quotes from such far–flung sources as Shakespeare and Star Trek, Lori Allen and Dan Voss probe the theoretical and philosophical foundations of professional ethics in the Information Age. With the help of many scenarios, examples, and exercises, they clearly address such crucial topics as copyright, patents, intellectual property, software licensing, nondisclosure agreements, privacy, billable time, confidentiality, and use of clients′ equipment and facilities. They also offer practical guidance and powerful tools for analyzing and resolving most ethical dilemmas encountered by technical communicators.
And, through the use of nine chapter–length, real–world case studies, they explore the 10 core values that experience has taught them are central to the technical communication profession. These include honesty, legality, privacy, quality teamwork, avoiding conflicts of interest, cultural sensitivity, social responsibility, professional growth, and the advancement of the profession.
Ethics in Technical Communication is a vital resource that no technical communication professional should be without.
