Designing Written Business Communication Along the Shifting Cultural Continuum: The New Face of Mexico    

The increasing significance of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) to the economy of the United States makes understanding Mexico important. Because the histories and cultures of the US and Mexico differ significantly, the written communication of each country also differs. Rhetorical strategies for written business communication in Mexico reflect the country's bloody, cyclical history and its resulting culture characterized by collectivism, high power distances, fatalism, and emphasis on building trust and relationships. Despite Mexico's economic problems, it is a country in transition. Because of the increasing presence of US business entities in Mexico, communication protocols are changing, as US technology and ways of doing business infuse the traditional Mexican culture. Understanding how to communicate effectively in Mexico requires an understanding of the country's history and culture as well as the changes occurring there. In addition to having a basic grasp of Mexico's history and culture, both old and new, US writers must know where any Mexican company is situated along this changing cultural continuum and how the continuum shapes the design of written business communication.

Tebeaux, Elizabeth. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (1999). Articles>Business Communication>Regional

Developing a Corporate Style Guide  

Developing corporate style guides helps documentation departments or any other group apply the same standards when writing documents for publication or presentation. Three types of style guides exist: static, dynamic, and multi-level. The information that goes into a style guide depends upon corporate and department guidelines. Publishing, promoting, and maintaining style guides are the responsibility of the responsible department. In many corporations this may be the technical documentation department, while for others it may be the corporate marketing or internal communications departments.

Damrau, Jackie. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Style Guides>Business Communication

Developing Business Plans for High-tech Companies  

Illustrates how technical communicators can add value to business plan projects.

Petersen, Judy H. Intercom (2000). Articles>Business Communication>Reports

Developing Internal Procedures Online: The HowWe Manuals Project at Suncorp  

The process of implementing on-line documentation for the first time is always a daunting task, particularly if the target company has had little exposure to PC based systems. This is the challenge we faced at SUNCORP. Many people doubted the value of having reference material on-line (particularly those in the IT areas). Just as many doubted whether it was possible to do at all. Throughout the project we came across many obstacles, some man made, others system made; however the end result shows our resolve and determination has paid off for the staff of SUNCORP.

Bell, Dean and Helen Smith. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Business Communication>Policies and Procedures>Case Studies

Developing Mission Statements, Objectives, and Goals  

This workshop will help managers develop a department mission statement, define long-term objectives, and develop a set of goals that define what needs to be done to meet the objectives.

Ruenzel, Charlotte J. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Business Communication>Planning

Developing Policies About Uncivil Workplace Behavior    

Workplace incivility, including aggression and bullying, is a troubling phenomenon. Uncivil behaviors not only harm individuals but also diminish employee performance and sometimes result in legal action against companies. Thus, it behooves organizations and management to become vigilant and responsive to such behaviors. Yet the evidence shows that with the recent exception of attempted legislation in Hawaii (Chiem, 2007), few companies or jurisdictions in the United State have policies and procedures aimed at addressing uncivil behavior. This article outlines some points to consider when developing policies to counteract uncivil behavior in the workplace. In the process, we incorporate the views of two corporate representatives (a diversity manager at Georgia Power, a human resource manager at PepsiCo) and an attorney with the U.S. military. Developing a Policy About Uncivil Behavior Any organization wishing to develop a policy about uncivil behavior should establish a task force or committee representing various categories of employees. These members may serve as liaisons to their units. Here are some points for the group to consider in creating the policy: Define Uncivil Behavior There will likely be much discussion as committee members try to develop a definition, but this is necessary to create a policy.

Bandow, Diane and Debra Hunter. Business Communication Quarterly (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Policies and Procedures>Workplace

The Development of Transitional Writers: The Role of Identification Strategies in Workplace Writing Competence  

Studies of transitional writers (between the classroom and workplace) in nonacademic settings.

Wegner, Diana. Rhetor (2004). Articles>Business Communication>Rhetoric

The Digital Debate: Should CEOs Blog?

A debate continues to rage about how important and influential media such as blogs, podcasts and social networking sites really are. At the heart of this debate is the question, Is the blogosphere really an appropriate place for executives and others in positions of power who have everything to lose?

Cody, Steve. Communication World Bulletin (2007). Articles>Management>Business Communication>Blogging

Divide a Sales Letter Into Hook, Line and Sinker

A writer/sales trainer tells how to structure effective sales letters and avoid common mistakes. Many sales letters fail not because of content but because of poor structure.

Writing that Works (2003). Articles>Business Communication>Correspondence

Do the Right Project!  

Offers an approach to achieving 'Quality of Service' that emphasizes the importance of understanding your customer's business problems, soliciting active customer involvement, and employing prototyping techniques to create cost-effective solutions. A new definition of quality has also emerged.

Zwaska, Bob. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Business Communication>Quality

Documentation for Sarbanes-Oxley

In the financial end of business, more work is being done with documentation, thanks to Sarbanes-Oxley and financial accountability.

KeyContent.org (2006). Articles>Business Communication>Documentation

Documentation Methods for AACSB Learning Assurances  

In 2003, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) redefined their accreditation and reaffirmation standards to move from a traditional outcome-based system to a systematic process-based review. Documentation is required to assure student learning in several core areas, including communication. This paper outlines the data collection procedures and documentation methods used to document one university’s business communication learning assurances.

Gueldenzoph, Lisa E. Association for Business Communication (2008). Articles>Documentation>Education>Business Communication

Does Time Equal Money in the Business Case?

The most frequently used calculation in business case analysis is the 'Time = Money' equation, where Benefits = (time saved) * (the cost of labor). Using this equation blindly, however, can result in seriously overstated benefits.

Solution Matrix (2005). Articles>Business Communication>Business Case

Does Your CEO Have Spokesperson Deficit Disorder (SDD)?

It's an all-too-common ailment, a not-so-silent killer of corporate reputation—often going undiagnosed even when the symptoms are evident. Early symptoms include negative or weak media coverage, "misquotes" and interviews that go off track. Although it can strike at any level within an organization, Spokesperson Deficit Disorder, or SDD, is perhaps most damaging if left untreated at the CEO level. So what can you do if your CEO suffers from this dreadful condition?

Gibson, Barbara. Communication World Bulletin (2007). Articles>Business Communication>Management

Doin' That Old Two-Step: A System for Getting Your Writing Right

Here's an awful question: "What is good writing?" When we run writing workshops for businesspeople, we often begin by asking for the characteristics of good writing versus bad writing. The first list typically contains words like simple, clear, accessible, concise, lively and conversational. The second list is on the flip side of the coin, with participants describing bad writing as complex, wordy, confusing, illogical, full of jargon and having no clear purpose.

Canavor, Natalie and Claire Meirowitz. Communication World Bulletin (2005). Articles>Business Communication>Writing

Dos and Don'ts of Branding

Corporate brands are built by countless interactions between people - customers and clients, suppliers and distributors, shareholders and communities, and one another. If your brand does not reflect your people in a way that makes them proud and passionate, they will not deliver the brand experience in the marketplace. Some do's and don'ts for corporate branding.

Riese, Tracey G. Communication World Bulletin (2003). Articles>Business Communication>Marketing

Dumbing Down vs. Simplicity

Never assume that describing something in basic, simple, fundamental terms will annoy your audience. Dumbing down is a form of distortion and possibly deception. Simplifying and clarifying are forms of altruistic communication. Find out more about the differences between "dumbing down" and simplifying and clarifying...and how to decide how simple an explanation should be.

Streight, Steven. Blogger.com (2004). Articles>Documentation>Writing>Business Communication

E-Mail is Dead

What did the kids say? Email is dead. It's hanging on as a mode of communication for adults (that's us) and within businesses. Kids will even use it to communicate with adults. But for the majority of kids, email has been replaced by two things: text messaging and social networks.

Lentz, Michelle. Write Technology (2007). Articles>Business Communication>Correspondence>Email

E-tiquette: Rules of the Road  

Hay-Roe presents nine rules for writing clear, concise e-mail messages.

Hay-Roe, Hugh. Intercom (2001). Articles>Business Communication>Correspondence>Email

Easy Public Relations with Online Tools

Shoestring-budget heroes, rejoice. The Internet offers many inexpensive opportunities to deliver better public relations results in our broadband-driven universe. No doubt, emerging concepts such as corporate blogging, podcasting or immersive web content (like "advergames") can produce their fair share of angst. But let's not forget to explore simple web-based tools available to large and small organizations alike.

Heule, Nandy. Communication World Bulletin (2006). Articles>Business Communication>Public Relations>Online

Edelman's Perfect (Blog) Storm

In early March, The New York Times ran a story with the headline "Wal-Mart enlists bloggers in PR campaign." While the story itself is of interest as an example of how some PR agencies increasingly see blogs as legitimate communication channels, it is of greater interest to look at what the Edelman PR agency did in this specific case acting on behalf of their client—what went right and, more important, what didn't.

Hobson, Neville. Communication World Bulletin (2006). Articles>Business Communication>Blogging>Case Studies

Editing the Baldridge Quality Award Application  

Editing the Baldrige award application requires unique plans for the writing, editing, reviewing, and publishing cycle. The editor’s role includes training nonwriters to write, establishing style guidelines, setting reasonable schedules, and editing each draft.

Hamilton, Delores I. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Business Communication>Style Guides

Editor as Teacher, Writer as Student: Building a Relationship for Corporate Writing Improvement  

Corporate writing skills deficits may be minimized by effective technical writer training programs. One way to effect long-term writing improvement is to cast a skilled technical editor in the role of resident writing teacher. The successful editor-as-writing-teacher must confront personal writing processes and attitudes, develop a positive and trusting relationship with clients, develop writing assessment skills, analyze and understand the corporate culture and language, and keep abreast of new techniques and tools in writing education. Acquistion of these attributes and skills is a realistic goal for a seasoned technical communicator.

Abbott, F. Thomas. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Education>Editing>Business Communication

Effective Internal Communication in Global Organizations

Today’s global marketplace teaches us that effective practices for internal communication in international corporations must be tuned to the cultural profiles of employees in their own countries. Internal communication departments are given the task of adapting company messages that effectively reach the organization’s global employee base. In order to ensure the effectiveness of these communications, organizations must first develop awareness, knowledge and intercultural skills within their internal communication teams.

Apud, Salvador and Talis Apud-Martinez. Communication World Bulletin (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Collaboration>International