Workplace communication : process and product / Sharon J. Gerson, Steven M. Gerson.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 322-325) and index.

Chapter 1. An Introduction to Workplace Communication -- What is Workplace Communication? -- Using Different Communication Channels -- Why is Workplace Communication Important? -- The Importance of Workplace Communication When Operating a Business -- The Amount of Time Communicating on the Job -- The Cost of Communicating -- The Importance of Building Interpersonal and Business Relationships -- The Use of Workplace Communication to Develop a Corporate Image and Accountability -- The Importance of Collaboration in the Workplace -- Why Teamwork Is Important -- Strategies for Successful Collaboration -- How Can You Communicate Effectively in the Workplace? -- The Writing Process: An Overview -- Prewriting -- Writing -- Rewriting -- The Writing Process at Work -- Prewriting -- Writing -- Rewriting -- Writing Process Checklist -- Chapter 2. Essential Goals of Successful Workplace Communication -- Adding Information to Achieve Clarity -- Answering the Reporter's Questions -- Providing Specificity -- Deleting Dead Words and Phrases to Achieve Conciseness -- Limiting Sentence Length -- Deleting "Be" Verbs -- Using Active Voice Versus Passive Voice -- Deleting the Expletive Pattern -- Omitting Redundancy -- Avoiding Shun Words -- Avoiding Camouflaged Words -- Limiting Prepositional Phrases -- Simplifying Words for Conciseness and Easier Understanding -- Achieving Accuracy in Workplace Communication -- Proofreading Your Workplace Communication -- Achieving Audience Recognition and Involvement -- Knowledge of the Subject Matter -- Defining Terms for Different Audiences -- Achieving Successful Written Communication in a Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Environment -- Define Acronyms and Abbreviations -- Distinguish Nouns from Verbs -- Watch for Cultural Biases and Expectations -- Avoid Humor and funs -- Avoid Figurative Language -- Be Careful with Numbers, Measurements, Dates, and Time -- Avoiding Biased Language -- Ageist Language -- Biased Language about People with Disabilities -- Sexist Language -- Achieving Audience Involvement -- Involve Your Audience with "You Usage" -- Audience Checklist -- Achieving Ethical Communication in the Workplace -- Why Business Ethics Are Important -- Strategies for Ethical Workplace Communication -- Chapter 3. Visual Communication: Page Layout and Graphics -- The Importance of Visual Communication -- The Workplace Communication Context -- Clarity of Content -- Damages and Dangers -- Corporate Identity -- Achieving Effective Page Layout -- Headings and Talking Headings -- Chunking -- Order -- Access -- Variety -- Communicating with Graphics -- The Importance of Graphics -- Conciseness -- Clarity -- Traits of Effective Visual Aids -- Types of Graphics -- Criteria for Effective Tables -- Criteria for Effective Figures -- Page Layout and Graphics Checklist -- Chapter 4. Correspondence: Memos and Letters -- The Differences Between Memos and Letters -- Memos -- Reasons for Writing Memos -- Criteria for Writing Memos -- Sample Memos -- Memo Checklist -- Letters -- Reasons for Writing Letters -- Essential Components of Letters -- Optional Components of Letters -- Formatting Letters -- Criteria for Different Types of Letters -- Letter of Inquiry -- Cover (Transmittal) Letters -- Complaint Letters -- Adjustment Letters -- Sales Letters -- Letters Checklist -- The Writing Process at Work -- Prewriting -- Writing -- Rewriting -- Chapter 5. Electronic Communication -- Overview: The Importance of Electronic Communication -- The Characteristics of Online Communication -- Why is E-Mail Important? -- Techniques for Writing Effective E-Mail Messages -- Organizing and Writing E-Mail Messages -- Samples of E-Mail Messages -- E-Mail Checklist -- Instant Messaging -- Benefits of Instant Messaging -- Challenges of Instant Messaging -- Techniques for Successful Instant Messaging -- Blogging for Business -- Blogging: A Definition -- Ten Reasons for Blogging -- Ten Guidelines for Effective Corporate Blogging -- Criteria for a Successful Web Site -- Web Site Usability Checklist -- Online Help -- Online Help: A Definition -- Techniques for Writing Effective Online Help -- The Writing Process at Work -- Prewriting -- Writing -- Rewriting -- Chapter 6. Short Reports -- Reasons for Writing Short Reports -- Criteria for Writing Short Reports -- Organizing Short Reports -- Types of Short Reports -- Trip Report -- Progress Report -- Feasibility/Recommendation Report -- Incident Report -- Short Report Checklist -- The Writing Process at Work -- Prewriting -- Writing -- Rewriting -- Chapter 7. Proposals and Long Reports -- Long Reports -- Types of Proposals -- Internal Proposals -- External Proposals -- Common Proposal Terms -- Components of a Proposal -- Title Page -- Cover Letter (or Memo) -- Proposal Checklist -- Researching Information for Long Reports and Proposals -- Periodicals -- Indexes to General, Popular Periodicals -- Indexes to Specialized, Scholarly, or Technical Periodicals -- The Internet -- Directories -- Search Engines -- Metasearch Engines -- Possible Problems with Internet Research -- Ethics and Plagiarism -- Citing Sources -- Parenthetical Source Citations -- The Writing Process at Work -- Prewriting -- Writing -- Rewriting -- Sample Internal Proposal -- Chapter 8. Technical Applications -- Purpose of Technical Descriptions and Instructions -- Criteria for Writing Technical Descriptions -- Title -- Overall Organization -- Internal Organization -- Development -- Word Usage -- Uses of Technical Descriptions -- User Manuals -- Product Demand Specifications -- Study Report -- Sales Literature -- Technical Description Checklist -- Reasons for Writing Instructions -- Criteria for Writing Instructions -- Title Your Instructions -- Organize Your Instructions -- Use Graphics to Highlight Steps -- Techniques for Writing Effective Instructions -- Sample Instructions -- Instructions Checklist -- The Writing Process at Work -- Prewriting -- Writing -- Rewriting -- Chapter 9. The Job Search -- How to Find Job Openings -- Visit Your College or University Job Placement Center -- Attend a Job Fair -- Talk to Your Instructors -- Network with Friends and Past Employers -- Check Your Professional Affiliations and Publications -- Read the Want Ads -- Get Involved in Your Community -- Read Newspaper or Business Journal Articles to Find Growing Businesses/Business Sectors -- Take a "Temp" Job -- Get an Internship -- Job Shadow -- Set Up an Informational Interview -- Research the Internet -- Criteria for Effective Resumes -- Reverse Chronological Resume -- Functional Resume -- Key Resume Components -- Identification and Contact Information -- Career Objectives -- Summary of Qualifications -- Employment -- Education -- Professional Skills -- Military Experience -- Professional Affiliations -- Portfolios -- Resume Style -- Methods of Delivery -- Mail Version -- E-Mail Resume -- Scannable Resume -- Criteria for Effective Letters of Application -- Essential Components -- E-Mail Cover Message -- Online Application Etiquette -- Techniques for Interviewing Effectively -- Criteria for Effective Follow-Up Correspondence -- Chapter 10. Oral Communication -- Types of Oral Communication -- Everyday Oral Communication -- Telephone and Voice Mail -- Ten Tips for Telephone and Voice-Mail Etiquette -- Informal Oral Presentations -- Video- and Teleconferences -- Ten Tips for Video- and Teleconferences -- Web Conferencing -- Tips for Web Conferencing -- Formal Oral Presentations -- Parts of a Formal Oral Presentation -- Using Visual Aids in Oral Presentations -- Advantages and Disadvantages of Visual Aids -- Powerpoint Presentations -- Benefits of PowerPoint.

"Workplace Communication: Process and Product provides you with the tools you will need to communicate effectively in the workplace in both written and oral formats. The text includes: Thorough Coverage of Communication Topics: All major communication channels, such as memos, letters, short reports, long reports/proposals, instructions, technical descriptions, resumes, and emerging electronic communication options, Issues of audience diversity, multiculturalism, and ethics, Strategies for everyday oral communication, informal oral presentations, and formal oral presentations, including PowerPoint use, Standards for APA and MLA documentation. Special Chapter Features: Communication at Work scenarios, Writer's Insight boxes, The Writing Process at Work features, Before and After examples, Document and Process checklists, Developing Workplace Skills exercises. Book jacket."--Jacket.