Notes from 45th International STC Conference
Anaheim, California, May 17-20, 1998

The Case of "Project Good-Bye, Dolly":
Analyzing and Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Technical Communication

Daniel W. Voss, Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles, Orlando, FL
Karen Bachmann, TRC, Tampa, FL

Karen Bachmann stood in for Lori Allen, Metropolitan State College at Denver, who was unable to attend.

Abstract: This workshop immerses participants in a maelstrom of value conflicts that swirl from bioethics to personal values. The presenters identify ten core values that underlie technical communication, explain value analysis, and lead role-playing to help focus on solutions.

Note: The session went quite well. Obviously, I do not have notes from it, since I was presenting. I do, however, have handouts available upon request:

• Workshop Description (from Proceedings)
• Workshop Guidelines
• Scenario, "The Case of 'Project Good-bye, Dolly'"
• Hard copies of visual aids used in presentation
• Ten Values in Technical Communication... with operational definitions
• Tech paper, "Use Your Fog Lights: Ten Ethical Values for Technical Communicators," Allen and Voss, 1998
• Tech paper, "A Slippery Slope: Using Value Analysis to Resolve Ethical Conflicts in Technical Communication," Voss, 1993
• Ethical Codes of Professional Associations
   
• Society for Technical Communication (STC)
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
• American Medical Writers Association (AMWA)
• Association of Professional Communication Consultants (APCC)
• Textbook: Ethics in Technical Communication: Shades of Gray, Allen and Voss, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., © 1997.