Business and Technical Communication - Lecture 1

Jul 9, 2024

Business and Technical Communication - Lecture 1

Introduction

  • Instructor: Askarias
  • Course on business and technical communication
  • Objective: Equip students with skills for clear, concise communication in business settings
  • Contact: Email for questions

Course Objectives

  • Communicate clearly and concisely
  • Importance of planning and organizing written messages
  • Develop logical arguments
  • Appropriate message formats

Course Structure

  • Sections: Written Communication and Oral Communication
  • Written Communication:
    • Skills: Planning, structure, stylistic elements
    • Types: Memos and letters, proposals, short/long reports, procedures, policy documents
    • Editing and revising
  • Oral Communication:
    • Planning and conducting meetings
    • Role of meetings in business scenarios

Course Details

  • Lectures: 45
  • Assignments:
    • Report (general, not technical): 10% of grade
    • Technical research paper: 10% of grade
  • Exams:
    • Midterm: 20% of grade
    • Final Exam: 30% of grade
    • Assignments + Exams = Total 100%

Course Materials

  • Mayfield Handbook for Technical Writing
  • Course website for additional resources

Modules

  1. Basics of Effective & Technical Communication
  2. Forms of Written Communication
    • Reports, proposals, letters, memos, applications, resumes, instructions, specification documents
  3. Research and Writing
    • Constructing and writing research papers
  4. Oral Communication
    • Presentations, effective meetings

Roles in Business Communication

  • Specialist: Generate useful ideas
  • Communicator: Share results with coworkers, customers, and colleagues

Effective Communication Example: Nyla, Newly Hired Dietitian

  • Importance of effectively communicating ideas
  • Example: Proposing changes to hospital kitchen
  • Effective writing can influence implementation of ideas

Importance of Writing Skills

  • Essential for student and professional success
  • Writing time: ~20% of work time
  • Benefits: Recognition, self-esteem, eligibility for raises and promotions
  • Employers value writing ability for career advancement

Writing at Work vs School

  • Purpose:
    • School: Educational
    • Work: Instrumental - achieve practical business objectives
  • Audience:
    • School: Single instructor
    • Work: Diverse audience with different backgrounds and purposes
  • Ownership of Work:
    • School: Belongs to student
    • Work: Belongs to employer, department

Effective Communication Considerations

  • Keep reader's perspective in mind
  • Aim to create personal and direct communication
  • Reduce confusion and frustration
  • Diverse writing skills required for business communication

Collaborative and Delegated Writing

  • Committee work
  • Writing under someone elseā€™s name

Preparing Effective Communication

  • Key Strategies:
    • Consider readersā€™ responses and purposes
    • Ensure clarity and relevance of information
    • Address potential objections
    • Develop engaging, persuasive content
  • Critical for successful communication in professional environments

Task Assignments

  1. Imagine and describe two job-related writing scenarios with purposes for writer and reader.
  2. Find and analyze a piece of writing from desired job role, discussing writing strategies.
  3. Analyze an ineffective piece of writing: Explain why it is ineffective. Also analyze an effective piece of writing: Describe key moments of interaction.

Conclusion

  • End of introductory lecture
  • Overview of what to expect in the course
  • Encouragement for engagement and questions
  • Looking forward to next lectures
  • Allah Hafiz