Business and Management Communication : A Guide Book

Several years ago, our team of writing and speaking experts was assembled to teach a managerial communication course in our College of Business. The College was committed to providing students with preparation in both writing and speaking. We were given the challenge of accomplishing the task in a one-semester course.

Combined, our team has over 50 years of experience teaching communication. We have advanced degrees in both speaking and writing and have published research about both oral and written communication. In addition, we have experience in delivering writing and speaking seminars for managers. We have also professionally edited business documents.

Using our combined expertise, research, and trial and error, we determined the essentials for student success in writing and speaking. We called upon our combined experience to design a course that would cover essential writing and speaking knowledge and skills. However, we could not find a text that met our needs.

So, over several years, we developed our own set of readings that resulted in this text--one that addresses business communication concerns and that is ''fat free.'' That is, we get to the point quickly and provide essential guidelines.

The text was written with the assumption that successful communication is vital in business. We provide guidelines for developing messages and making them clear and acceptable to your business audience. We suggest ways to analyze your audience, organize your message, and make your message concise. Then, we provide specific guidelines for memos, letters, reports, résumés, and letters of application.

We show how to prepare speeches and present them effectively. We conclude the book by demonstrating how to communicate effectively in employment interviews. The appendices in the book provide conventions for grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and style. One appendix also shows you how to critique your own speech so that, when you view a video of yourself giving a speech, you have a basis for improvement.

Our students like the text. It covers issues that are important to them. The explanations are straightforward for success in writing documents or delivering speeches. We are confident that you will also find the text immediately useful.

This brief, inexpensive guide focuses on the ''need to know'' essentials of effective business writing and speaking. Loaded with examples and specific guidelines, it is designed to provide an immediate improvement in users' writing and speaking abilities. The Communication Process. Designing Communication Strategy. Organizing and Developing the Message. Instructing and Persuading. Designing Visual Aids. The Writing Process. Letter Style and Format. Types of Business Letters. Memos and E-mail. Short Reports. Long Reports. Resumes. Job Application Letters. The Speaking Process. Types of Presentations. Team Writing and Speaking. Communication Strategies for Securing Employment.

For anyone in business or management.

1. The Communication Process.
2. Designing Communication Strategies.
3. Organizing and Developing the Message.
4. Instructing and Persuading.
5. Designing Visual Aids.
6. The Writing Process.
7. Letter Style and Format.
8. Types of Business Letters.
9. Memos and E-mail.
10. Short Reports.
11. Long Reports.
12. Résumés.
13. Job Application Letters.
14. The Speaking Process.
15. Types of Presentations.
16. Team Writing and Speaking.
17. Communication Strategies for Seeking Employment.

Appendix A. Grammar.
Appendix B. Punctuation.
Appendix C. Mechanics.
Appendix D. Style.
Appendix E. APA Documentation.
Appendix F. Critiquing Presentations.

Index.