Business and Professional Communication

Description

New and updated content reflects important developments in the field

 

 

Chapter 1: The Role of Communication in Business and the Professions

• The introduction has been recast to focus on employee engagement and collaboration. The concept of “empathy” is introduced into the discussion of feedback.

 

Chapter 2: Listening and Feedback in Organizational Relationships

• A new definition of empathic listening is provided, and the importance of empathic listening in relationships and organizational teams is discussed.

 

Chapter 3: Communicating in Organizational Groups and Teams

• The discussion of team membership competencies has been redesigned to emphasize working knowledge, empathy, and conversational turn-taking.
• An entirely new discussion of group collaboration channels discusses the ease of use, effectiveness of verbal and nonverbal communication, and optimal uses of message boards, e-mail, text messages, memos, formal letters, voice mail, video conferencing, and face-to-face meetings.
• A new Technology Brief covers the use of popular VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocols) for conducting video conferences.

 

Chapter 4: Interpersonal Dynamics in Organizations

• A discussion on creating political power includes new information on the importance of under-promising and over-delivering, and the fine line between grandiosity and narcissism.
• An updated section focuses on helping women build informal network ties, including individual preferences for similarity and a “labyrinth of challenges” that includes “Prove-it-Again,” “The Tightrope,” and “The Maternal Wall.”
• Many new suggestions for overcoming the labyrinth, including e-mentoring and adopting both masculine and feminine communication patterns, are discussed.
• An expanded section on the Leader Member Exchange model of superior/subordinate relationships is also included.

 

Chapter 5: Professional Interviews

• An expanded section on cultivating opportunities using interpersonal networks, LinkedIn, and online job posting and search engine boards is included.
• An updated discussion of industry-specific job posting and search engine boards is provided.
• An updated unit discusses male and female dress standards for interviews.
• A new Technology Brief covers doing job interviews over VoIP and other online platforms.
• The section on verbal interviews has been entirely rewritten to cover both traditional and behavioral job interviews.
• There is an updated discussion of salary negotiation.

 

Chapter 6: Considering Audience Feedback

• A new section helps students develop open- and closed-ended questions for specific audiences and how to avoid faulty questions, double-barreled questions, and loaded questions.
• A new Technology Brief shows how to use online survey platforms such as Survey Monkey and Google Forms.

 

Chapter 7: Preparing and Delivering Presentations

• The unit on Internet research has been thoroughly updated to include the strengths and weaknesses of various search engines, how Google search results are prioritized, and various specialized search engines.
• There is an updated section on assessing the reliability of Internet search results.
• A new Technology Brief explains how to conduct a Web of Knowledge search.

 

Chapter 8: Creating and Using Visual Aids

• There is a new unit on Prezi presentations.

 

Chapter 9: Technical Presentations

• There is a new section on gaining and holding the audience’s attention during technical presentations.

 

Chapter 10: Proposal Presentations

• The chapter includes updated examples throughout.

 

Chapter 11: Sales Communication

• The chapter has been entirely reorganized to emphasize sales communication.
• A new unit on building the sales relationship emphasizes asking questions, empathy, building trust, listening to metaphors, and adapting to different decision styles.

 

Chapter 12: Risk Communication

• Examples have been updated to reflect current risk assessments.

 

Chapter 13: Crisis Communication

• Every example in the chapter has been updated and many reflect crisis communication in large sports organizations, such as the National Football League and the National Hockey League.
• The typology of organizational crisis types has been simplified.
• A new Technology Brief explains how to use social media to manage organizational crises.
• A new section describes the tactics that are most likely to restore the organization’s image in the eyes of the audience.

1. The Role of Communication in Business and the Professions

 

PART I – DYADIC AND GROUP COMMUNICATION
2. Listening and Feedback in Organizational Relationships
3. Communicating in Organizational Groups and Teams
4. Interpersonal Politics and Power in Communication
5. Professional Interviews

 

PART II – CREATING A PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION
6. Considering Audience Feedback
7. Preparing and Delivering Presentations
8. Creating and Using Visual Aids

 

PART III – TYPES OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
9. Technical Presentations
10. Proposal Presentations
11. Sales Presentations
12. Risk Communication
13. Crisis Communication

For courses in Business and Professional Communication

 

Real business examples and fundamental skill building
Business and Professional Communication places a strong emphasis on presentations in business settings to better prepare students for the realities of daily career life. Jim DiSanza and Nancy Legge’s comprehensive topic coverage offers clear guidance for all communication practices in businesses and organizations. Centered on the notion that business communication can influence the interpretation of issues and events, the Sixth Edition provides students with practical tips, contemporary applications, and a survey of the relevant contexts for business and professional communication.
 
NOTE: This ISBN is for a Pearson Books a la Carte edition: a convenient, three-hole-punched, loose-leaf text. In addition to the flexibility offered by this format, Books a la Carte editions offer students great value, as they cost significantly less than a bound textbook.

Hallmark features emphasize real examples, technology updates, and skill building.

• The text provides a “here’s what you should do” approach to business and professional communication, by presenting clear and specific suggestions.
• Unique chapters and topics – such as technical, risk, and crisis communication; organizational power and politics; sales presentations; teams; team creativity; and sexual harassment – add a contemporary, real-world orientation to the text.
• “Technology Briefs” update students on how particular technologies – including virtual conferencing, social media and the job search, creating customer databases, and crisis communication on the Web – can be used in the professional environment.
• “Ethics Briefs,” with problems and criteria, stimulate classroom discussion and encourage students to make sound ethical decisions.
• Highlights interviews with practicing business professionals provide a real-world focus and firsthand insight for students.
• Five detailed sample speech outlines are offered in the chapters on technical and crisis communication, making it easier for professors to create assignments and offer models for student use.
• The issues of managing and persuading diverse audiences are addressed, so students are better prepared to adapt as speakers.
• Up-to-date training in the use of PowerPoint^® is provided.
• Employee engagement readings inform students about this vital topic for organizations trying to survive and prosper in difficult economic times.
• Chapter 8’s discussion of text visuals includes a complete sample slide make-over and the use of proper templates, fonts, and graphics for computer-generated slides.
• Chapter 12 reflects the latest research advancements in the practice of risk communication, including a discussion of the different levels of public involvement possible, three different kinds of risk communication, and a discussion of best practices in risk communication.

 

 

 

New and updated content reflects important developments in the field

 

Chapter 1: The Role of Communication in Business and the Professions

• The introduction has been recast to focus on employee engagement and collaboration. The concept of “empathy” is introduced into the discussion of feedback.

 

Chapter 2: Listening and Feedback in Organizational Relationships

• A new definition of empathic listening is provided, and the importance of empathic listening in relationships and organizational teams is discussed.

 

Chapter 3: Communicating in Organizational Groups and Teams

• The discussion of team membership competencies has been redesigned to emphasize working knowledge, empathy, and conversational turn-taking.
• An entirely new discussion of group collaboration channels discusses the ease of use, effectiveness of verbal and nonverbal communication, and optimal uses of message boards, e-mail, text messages, memos, formal letters, voice mail, video conferencing, and face-to-face meetings.
• A new Technology Brief covers the use of popular VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocols) for conducting video conferences.

 

Chapter 4: Interpersonal Dynamics in Organizations

• A discussion on creating political power includes new information on the importance of under-promising and over-delivering, and the fine line between grandiosity and narcissism.
• An updated section focuses on helping women build informal network ties, including individual preferences for similarity and a “labyrinth of challenges” that includes “Prove-it-Again,” “The Tightrope,” and “The Maternal Wall.”
• Many new suggestions for overcoming the labyrinth, including e-mentoring and adopting both masculine and feminine communication patterns, are discussed.
• An expanded section on the Leader Member Exchange model of superior/subordinate relationships is also included.

 

Chapter 5: Professional Interviews

• An expanded section on cultivating opportunities using interpersonal networks, LinkedIn, and online job posting and search engine boards is included.
• An updated discussion of industry-specific job posting and search engine boards is provided.
• An updated unit discusses male and female dress standards for interviews.
• A new Technology Brief covers doing job interviews over VoIP and other online platforms.
• The section on verbal interviews has been entirely rewritten to cover both traditional and behavioral job interviews.
• There is an updated discussion of salary negotiation.

 

Chapter 6: Considering Audience Feedback   

• A new section helps students develop open- and closed-ended questions for specific audiences and how to avoid faulty questions, double-barreled questions, and loaded questions.
• A new Technology Brief shows how to use online survey platforms such as Survey Monkey and Google Forms.

 

Chapter 7: Preparing and Delivering Presentations

• The unit on Internet research has been thoroughly updated to include the strengths and weaknesses of various search engines, how Google search results are prioritized, and various specialized search engines.
• There is an updated section on assessing the reliability of Internet search results.
• A new Technology Brief explains how to conduct a Web of Knowledge search.

 

Chapter 8: Creating and Using Visual Aids                 

• There is a new unit on Prezi presentations.

 

Chapter 9: Technical Presentations

• There is a new section on gaining and holding the audience’s attention during technical presentations.

 

Chapter 10: Proposal Presentations

• The chapter includes updated examples throughout.

 

Chapter 11: Sales Communication

• The chapter has been entirely reorganized to emphasize sales communication.
• A new unit on building the sales relationship emphasizes asking questions, empathy, building trust, listening to metaphors, and adapting to different decision styles.

 

Chapter 12: Risk Communication

• Examples have been updated to reflect current risk assessments.

 

Chapter 13: Crisis Communication

• Every example in the chapter has been updated and many reflect crisis communication in large sports organizations, such as the National Football League and the National Hockey League.
• The typology of organizational crisis types has been simplified.
• A new Technology Brief explains how to use social media to manage organizational crises.
• A new section describes the tactics that are most likely to restore the organization’s image in the eyes of the audience.

 

James R. DiSanza received his Ph.D. from Penn State University and is currently Chair of the James E. Rogers Department of Communication, Media, and Persuasion at Idaho State University. Dr. DiSanza teaches courses in leadership, business and professional communication, conflict management, and management communication. His research interests are in persuasive attack and image repair communication. 

 

Nancy J. Legge received her Ph.D. from Penn State University and is currently a professor in the James E. Rogers Department of Communication, Media, and Persuasion at Idaho State University. Dr. Legge teaches courses in image management, persuasion, the rhetoric of popular culture, and rhetorical criticism. She is the Editor of Relevant Rhetoric: A New Journal of Rhetorical Studies. Her research interests are in persuasive attack, image repair, and the rhetoric of popular culture.

For courses in Business and Professional Communication

 

Real business examples and fundamental skill building

Business and Professional Communication places a strong emphasis on presentations in business settings to better prepare students for the realities of daily career life. Jim DiSanza and Nancy Legge’s comprehensive topic coverage offers clear guidance for all communication practices in businesses and organizations. Centered on the notion that business communication can influence the interpretation of issues and events, the Sixth Edition provides students with practical tips, contemporary applications, and a survey of the relevant contexts for business and professional communication.

 

NOTE: This ISBN is for a Pearson Books a la Carte edition: a convenient, three-hole-punched, loose-leaf text. In addition to the flexibility offered by this format, Books a la Carte editions offer students great value, as they cost significantly less than a bound textbook.