Business Communication

10 Questions

What is the primary purpose of communication at work?

To help your employer achieve practical business objectives

Why should you avoid including extra information in your workplace communications?

It clogs the reader's path to what they need, resulting in decreased efficiency and increased frustration

Who is the typical audience for your writing at school?

Only one person, the instructor

What is an important consideration when writing for a diverse audience at work?

The audience's familiarity with the subject

What is the primary difference between writing at school and writing at work?

The purpose of the writing

Who might be part of the audience for Naila's report on improving the hospital kitchen?

All of the above

What skill is required when writing for a diverse audience at work?

The ability to tailor your writing to different audiences

Why is it important to consider your audience's background when writing at work?

So you can tailor your writing to their needs

What is a key difference between writing for an instructor and writing at work?

The purpose of the writing

What should you consider when writing for a diverse audience at work?

Their familiarity with the subject, the use they will make of your information, and their professional and personal concerns

Study Notes

Types of Communications

In a workplace, people write different types of communications, such as memos, business letters, instructions, project proposals, and progress reports.
Each type of communication has its own conventions.

Ownership

In a workplace, ownership of a writer's work belongs partly to the employer.
What you write at work represents not only you but also your department or employer.
Examples of ownership include:
- A letter or report to a customer is viewed as an official communication from the employer.
- A proposal submitted to a client may result in the employer getting or losing the contract.

Collaborative Writing

In a workplace, employees often work on committees that write reports, proposals, and other documents collaboratively.
The final version of a collaborative document cannot be attributed to only one individual.
Departmental reports are often signed by the Head of Department, even though they are written by staff members.

Writing for Readers

To succeed on the job, you need to learn to write with the understanding that your employer claims ownership of your communications.
It is essential to think constantly about your readers, including:
- What they want from you
- Why they want it
- How they will react to what you have to say
- How you want to affect them

Business and Technical Communication Course

The main objective of the course is to equip students with skills to communicate clearly and concisely in diverse business situations.
The course covers two sections: written communication and oral communication.
Written communication topics include:
- Planning and structure
- Stylistic issues
- Writing memos, letters, proposals, and reports
- Editing and revising complex information
Oral communication topics include:
- Planning and executing effective presentations
- Group behavior
- Planning and conducting effective meetings

Instrumental Purposes

As an employee, you communicate for instrumental purposes to help your employer achieve practical business objectives.
Your communications should only include the information your readers need, avoiding extra information that can decrease efficiency and increase frustration.

Audience

In a workplace, you will often create communications that address a wide variety of people with different backgrounds, including:
- Different levels of familiarity with your subject
- Different uses of your information
- Different professional and personal concerns
Example: A report on improving a hospital kitchen's recommendations may be read by various stakeholders, including supervisors, finance, purchasing, and personnel directors, and kitchen staff.