Showing papers in "Business and Professional Communication Quarterly in 2014"
TL;DR: Current literature is reviewed, suggestions for further investigation are provided, and an approach to incorporate smartphone multitasking in the classroom to enhance learning is proposed.
Abstract: Although the concept of multitasking itself is under debate, smartphones do enable users to divert attention from the task at hand to nongermane matters. As smartphone use becomes pervasive, extending into our classrooms, educators are concerned that they are becoming a major distraction. Does multitasking with smartphones impede learning? Can they be used to enhance learning instead? This article reviews current literature, provides suggestions for further investigation, and proposes an approach to incorporate smartphone multitasking in the classroom to enhance learning.
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a study of 169 business communication instructors examines the following issues: (a) ideal and actual class sizes in business communication courses, (b) delivery modes of business com...
Abstract: This nationwide study of 169 business communication instructors examines the following issues: (a) ideal and actual class sizes in business communication courses, (b) delivery modes of business com...
30 citations
TL;DR: This paper showed how social media can significantly affect chief executive officers’ communication by encouraging boundary crossing and understanding the connections between the private versus public and personal versus professional rhetorical categories will help business communicators make wise choices as technology continues to introduce new social media and other channel options.
Abstract: When Chiquita Brands considered relocating its corporate headquarters, competing cities started Twitter campaigns to influence the decision by communicating directly with the chief executive officer. As he used the new microblogging channel, some of his previously private communication became public, some personal communication became professional, and some professional communication became personal. The case shows how social media can significantly affect chief executive officers’ communication by encouraging boundary crossing. Understanding the connections between the private versus public and personal versus professional rhetorical categories will help business communicators make wise choices as technology continues to introduce new social media and other channel options.
28 citations
TL;DR: This article investigates student behaviour on collaborative assignments, looking at the relationship between task type and interaction, and considers the implications for task design.
Abstract: This article investigates student behaviour on collaborative assignments, looking at the relationship between task type and interaction, and considers the implications for task design. Students rep...
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue for a dispositional approach to teaching critical thinking, rooted in cultivating a critical-thinking culture and suggest a two-pronged approach of clearly defining critical thinking and selecting an accessible model for applying it and integrating critical thinking consistently throughout the business curriculum.
Abstract: Critical thinking is an essential component of managerial literacy, yet business school graduates struggle to apply critical-thinking skills at work to the level that employers desire. This article argues for a dispositional approach to teaching critical thinking, rooted in cultivating a critical-thinking culture. We suggest a two-pronged approach of (a) clearly defining critical thinking and selecting an accessible model for applying it and (b) integrating critical thinking consistently throughout the business curriculum. We illustrate implementation of this strategy in our revised MBA curriculum and conclude by challenging others to consider adopting a cultural and dispositional approach.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors use social media to improve internal communication and show that such initiatives can have a dramatic impact on internal efficiency, team co-management, and team cohesion.
Abstract: Organizations are increasingly using social media to improve their internal communication. When successfully implemented, such initiatives can have a dramatic impact on internal efficiency, team co...
25 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the prevalence of social media use, possible legal liabilities thereof, and policies to consider in looking at business use of online social media, and discuss the possible legal consequences thereof.
Abstract: With the increase in the use of mobile devices in the workplace, both employer supplied and personally owned, and the major role social media has begun to play in today’s world, businesses face many new challenges with their employees. Social media may be seen by some employers as a virtual Pandora’s Box. Though it may seem to hold bountiful riches, employee posts can unleash a firestorm of unforeseen challenges and consequences ranging from financial, to legal, to ethical. In looking at business use of social media, this article will discuss the prevalence of social media use, possible legal liabilities thereof, and policies to consider.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors integrate research on the importance of teamwork, team development processes, and coteaching through examining a case study wherein cotaching was used as a means of conveying teamwork concepts to students.
Abstract: Business educators recognize the importance of developing teamwork as an employability skill. However, current methods used to teach teamwork have been met with mixed results from both students and educators. This article integrates research on the importance of teamwork, team development processes, and coteaching through examining a case study wherein coteaching was used as a means of conveying teamwork concepts to students. Coteaching is an alternate approach to teaching teamwork skills. In this case, the core competencies of shared values, complementary expertise, and the willingness to experiment were critical to forming and developing a functional teaching partnership.
22 citations
TL;DR: For example, this paper found that men nearly twice as much more likely to consider various mobile phone behaviors as acceptable in informal meetings than women, with significant differences by age, group, gender, region, and income level.
Abstract: We report our survey research about what American business professionals consider appropriate or civil mobile phone behavior during formal and informal meetings. The findings come from two of our recent research studies: an open-ended survey of 204 employees at a beverage distributor on the East Coast and a nationwide, random-sample survey of 350 business professionals in the United States. There were significant differences by age, group, gender, region, and income level. The differences between women and men were quite striking, with men nearly twice as likely to consider various mobile phone behaviors as acceptable in informal meetings.
21 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a clear strategy for communicating with employees through change, as employee expectations for open and honest communication are increased in times of shift and uncertainty, is presented, which is essential to keeping employees motivated and productive.
Abstract: Employees often perceive periods of change—no matter how warranted or beneficial—as crises, exhibiting both cognitive and emotional reactions including feelings of insecurity and uncertainty, even fear, chaos, stress, betrayal, grief, and anger. Management must have a clear strategy for communicating with employees through change, as employee expectations for open and honest communication are increased in times of shift and uncertainty. Open, honest, and regular communication is essential to keeping employees motivated and productive. Benefits of effective communication in times of change include higher employee satisfaction and engagement, lower turnover, and stronger long-term commitment. Solid internal relationships also strengthen ethics-related outcomes such as fraud reduction and reputation management.
18 citations
TL;DR: In this article, another evaluation approach is proposed for assessing student learning, which is not based on conventional testing methods for assessing students' performance in higher education, but instead is based on a test-based evaluation approach.
Abstract: Business, like many other fields in higher education, continues to rely largely on conventional testing methods for assessing student learning. In the current article, another evaluation approach—t...
TL;DR: The author concludes that change agents and early adopters already in the company, not new hires, will effect a change in communication media that will involve new technology such as smartphones.
Abstract: Following Rogers’s theory of the diffusion of innovations, the author questions whether youth entering the workforce will act as change agents to evolve primary business communication channels from email to text-messaging. Expanding on research performed in 2009, the author investigates three communication scenarios: scheduling meetings, exchanging information in the workplace, and keeping in contact with family and friends. Follow-up research also gathers information about communication hardware trends. The author concludes that change agents and early adopters already in the company, not new hires, will effect a change in communication media that will involve new technology such as smartphones.
TL;DR: In this paper, an impromptu speech assignment for business communication courses is presented, where students are asked to write a presentation about a business communication course assignment, which they use to hone their skills in writing compared with speaking.
Abstract: Typical business communication courses provide significantly more opportunities for students to hone their skills in writing compared with speaking. This article outlines an impromptu speech assign...
TL;DR: The intercultural divides in values, perceptions, and interpretations of concepts have been studied extensively by international business and intercultural communication scholars as discussed by the authors, and they have been investigated extensively by International Business and Intercultural Communication scholars.
Abstract: The intercultural divides in values, perceptions, and interpretations of concepts have been studied extensively by international business and intercultural communication scholars. Consequentially, ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors study employees' discursive construction of disparate survivor responses and reveal how employees position themselves simultaneously within different types of survivors' responses, and how they construct their responses.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to study employees’ discursive construction of disparate survivor responses. The analysis reveals how employees position themselves simultaneously within different types ...
TL;DR: In this paper, student motivations to collaborate with both peer teams and community partners in a service learning co-learning co-training setting were explored. But, the case study focused on a case study, an example of teaching and learning (SoTL) research.
Abstract: This case study, an example of scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) research, explores student motivations to collaborate with both peer teams and community partners in a service-learning co...
TL;DR: In this paper, the pressing need to bridge the gap between workplace communicative needs and curriculum development of business English courses has been documented in the literature through a questionnaire surveying workers.
Abstract: The pressing need to bridge the gap between workplace communicative needs and curriculum development of business English courses has been documented in the literature. Through a questionnaire surve...
TL;DR: In this article, a relatively innovative teaching/learning approach in the Arabian Gulf region, in general, and in Oman, in particular, project-based learning requires progressive amendments and adaptations to t...
Abstract: As a relatively innovative teaching/learning approach in the Arabian Gulf region, in general, and in Oman, in particular, project-based learning requires progressive amendments and adaptations to t...
TL;DR: One business school addressed the "zeitgeist" of the financial crisis by introducing in its inaugural seminar the cultural and ethical values too often absent from the types of transactions students are trained to manage as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: One business school addressed the “zeitgeist” of the financial crisis by introducing in its inaugural seminar the cultural and ethical values too often absent from the types of transactions students are trained to manage. Drawing from cross-cultural and communication studies, the author tested “serious games”—cultural situations and personal development exercises aimed at rewarding rule-based cooperation, interpersonal communication, and cultural empathy. Observations made during the games fostered curriculum reform by integrating humanistic concerns considered vital for international finance careers. Linking such training to business learning objectives enhances accountability, rule-based action, and cultural awareness reform.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a project in which undergraduate business seniors at a university in the Arabian Gulf created or evaluated the chapters of an iBook as part of their final course in bus...
Abstract: In this article, we describe a project in which undergraduate business seniors at a university in the Arabian Gulf created or evaluated the chapters of an iBook as part of their final course in bus...
TL;DR: The crisis has affected businesses worldwide as mentioned in this paper, and many international corporations must cope with this turmoil, which affects their economic liability. Firms express their actual financial situation in the financial statements.
Abstract: Crisis has affected businesses worldwide. Many international corporations must cope with this turmoil, which affects their economic liability. Firms express their actual financial situation in the ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore how rhetorical myth can be used as a tool for persuading employees to accept change and to maintain consensus during the process and define rhetorical myth using three concep...
Abstract: This article explores how rhetorical myth can be used as a tool for persuading employees to accept change and to maintain consensus during the process. It defines rhetorical myth using three concep...
TL;DR: There is universal agreement among educators in the academy and managers in the workplace that critical thinking skills are essential for success at all levels as discussed by the authors and that education is our only guarantee against delusion, deception, superstition, and misapprehension of ourselves and our earthly circumstances.
Abstract: There is universal agreement among educators in the academy and managers in the workplace that critical thinking skills are essential for success at all levels. Over a century ago, the American sociologist William Graham Sumner defined what we now call critical thinking as “the examination and test of propositions of any kind which are offered for acceptance, in order to find out whether they correspond to reality or not.” He further argued that “it is our only guarantee against delusion, deception, superstition, and misapprehension of ourselves and our earthly circumstances,” and education “teaches us to act by judgment” (Sumner, 1906, pp. 632-633). Hiring managers have long recognized how important critical thinking is in their talent searches. Wall Street Journal reporter Marisa Taylor (2010) argued that “while the ability to think critically is, well, critical in the workplace, employers have long complained that many of the young college graduates they hire seem to lack this skill.” Taylor continued by noting that
TL;DR: This issue of Business and Professional Communication Quarterly inaugurates its new name, which recognizes the multitransand interdisciplinary nature of the fields that now represent business and professional communication.
Abstract: Many of you will have already noticed our new cover when you receive your print copy, or if you are an electronic subscriber, you will have noticed our new logo. This issue of Business and Professional Communication Quarterly inaugurates our new name. We are very excited about this transformation, as it recognizes the multitransand interdisciplinary nature of the fields that now represent business and professional communication. I have reproduced below our revised “Aims and Scope”:
TL;DR: Business and Professional Communication Quarterly’s new title presents additional opportunities to investigate the theories, practices, and goals of communicators in fields that strive to meet needs in ever-changing business and social ecologies.
Abstract: With a new name come new opportunities. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly retains its long legacy of publishing scholarly articles that examine writing and communication in professional settings, as well as pedagogies that prepare students to succeed in the workplace. As the nature of business and professional communication continues to evolve, the new title presents additional opportunities to investigate the theories, practices, and goals of communicators in fields that strive to meet needs in ever-changing business and social ecologies. Health communication is one such field that is working to increase public health across cultures and through communication channels ranging from pamphlets to virtual online communities. This article represents the first in what we hope will be a series of book review essays exploring relevant topics for our readers. Among the chief aims of health communication is promoting health literacy. The American Medical Association (2013) defines health literacy as “a patient’s ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions and follow instructions for treatment” (n.p.). A systematic review of literature concerning health literacy skills revealed that 80 million Americans currently have limited health literacy, which diminishes their access to health care and increases their risk for poorer health outcomes (Berkman, Sheridan, Donahue, Halpern, & Crotty, 2011). It also found that older adults, members of minority groups, and people with less than a high school education experience the lowest rates of health literacy (Berkman et al., 2011), thus making them key demographics for health communicators to educate. The challenge to health communicators in the United States
TL;DR: The first part of a two-part series, cataloging teaching innovations presented at the 2013 Association for Business Communication (ABC) Annual Convention, New Orleans as mentioned in this paper, catalogs teaching innovations that were presented during the My Favorite Assignment session.
Abstract: This article, the first of a two-part series, catalogs teaching innovations presented at the 2013 Association for Business Communication (ABC) Annual Convention, New Orleans. They were presented during the My Favorite Assignment session. The 11 Favorite Assignments featured here offer the reader a variety of learning experiences including collaborative team work, debate, budgets, cross-cultural communication, report writing, persuasion, nonprofit organizations, client communication, and writing funding proposals. Additional teaching materials—including instructions to students, stimulus materials, slides, grading rubrics, frequently asked questions, and sample student projects—are posted on the Association for Business Communication webpage http://businesscommunication.org/assignments.