Making connections between theory and practice in a digital, professional world.

Communication for Business introduces students to the core topics necessary for their undergraduate studies in business communication and is designed with the future professional in mind. It bridges academic theory and real-world business knowledge and provides lots of practical examples in the integrated online obook. It offers a fresh approach to the subject in the form of the three business communication principles: logic, clarity and courtesy in the way they frame the contents of the book.

Written by a combination of management, communication, ethics and journalism academics it presents information that is practical and interesting in a style that is theoretical and accessible.

Please note that this version does not contain the additional interactive components of the Communication for Business obook, which is packaged free with the printed textbook.

Features

• Provides students with an understanding of the importance of good communication skills to effective business practice.
• Includes additional activities, examples, videos and a business communication toolkit in the obook.
• Includes an entire chapter on ethics and communication.
• Pedagogical features have been designed to draw on and develop professional communication skills
• Learning Objectives are highlighted as margin notes at critical points throughout the text and hotlinked in the obook
• Case Studies with questions show students to situations and scenarios in the profession, and help to equip them with the skills and knowledge to deal with situations they will face out in the workforce. Questions accompany each case study to help challenge students and cause them to reflect upon issues and theories presented.
• Professional Practice Tips expose students to practical advice for communicating in the professional world.
• Example Box key examples are highlighted
• Revision Questions are included for students to test their knowledge and answers are provided in the obook for easy self-testing and for lecturers in the Instructors Resource Manual.
• Professional Practice Tasks: activities included at the end of each chapter to put the theory to practice and further reinforce the primary focus of the chapter.
• Contemporary Industry Example engaging examples arm students with a good knowledge of the current climate of business practice and why good communication skills are important to this.
• Key terms at the beginning of each chapter and margin notes throughout.
• Summary of Key Points (an audio summary is also included in the obook)
• Further Reading & Weblinks

Tertiary (wholly Australian) Teaching and Learning Resource Category winner - Educational Publishing Awards Australia 2014

1. Introduction: Foundations of Communication
Introduction: an overview of the essentials of business communication
What is communication?
Language as a unique human attribute
History of human communication
Communication in theory
Categories of communication
Purposeful language
The role of grammar, punctuation, usage and style
The interconnectedness of writing and thinking
Barriers to communication
A new approach to business communication
Jargon and weasel words

2. Fundamentals of Written Communication
Introduction: the power of words
What will you need to write?
Writing in plain English
Writing for your reader
Practical grammar
Common problems with sentence structure
Active and passive voice
Stylish and consistent writing
Writing for academic purposes
The art of editing
Style guides

3. Interpersonal Communication
Introduction: the influence of interpersonal communication
Understanding interpersonal business communication
Distinctive features of interpersonal business communication
Effective interpersonal communication
Interpersonal communication competence
Positive interpersonal environments
Advantages and purposes of understanding communication models
The use of specialist language in the business setting
Managing interference
Positive communication climates
Emotions and emotional intelligence in business communications
Factors in effective interpersonal communication
Communication in the professional context
Networking and hierarchies in interpersonal business communication
Understanding and diffusing the dark side of interpersonal business communications

4. Nonverbal Communication
Introduction: the role of noverbal communication in creating meaning
Do actions speak louder than words?
The science of nonverbal communication
Channels of nonverbal communication
Functions of nonverbal communication
The complexities of nonverbal communication
Developing stronger business communication skills through an appreciation of nonverbal communication
Specific applications of nonverbal communication for business professionals

5. Communicating Across Cultures and in Groups
Introduction: culture, communication and competence
Culture
Individualist versus collectivist cultures
Individualism versus individuality
Intercultural communication: self-fulfilling prophecies
East versus West
Colourful communication: cultural codes and symbols
Groups and grooming groupies
Models of group development
Group task roles
Formal and informal tasks
Leading groups
Shared or co-leadership

6. The Ethics of Business Communication
Introduction: the fundamental place of ethics in business communication
What is public morality? How is it different from private morality?
Ethical relativism
Relativism in business
Deception
Mandatory reporting
New technologies and ethics
Whistleblowing

7. Persuasion, Argumentation and Reasoning: Critical Thinking
Introduction: making business communication logical
What is logic?
Persuasion and argument
Underpinnings of logical thinking: the ancient Greeks
Skilful business writing
Writing persuasively
Structuring for argument, logic and persuasion
Critical thinking
Deductive and inductive reasoning
IDEAS: a practical tool

8. Organisational Communication: Internal
Introduction: what is internal communication?
How internal communication happens
The costs of poor communication
Roles of the internal communication team
The informal network: gossip, scuttlebutt, hearsay and the grapevine
How to improve internal communication
Interpersonal communication solutions for leadership

9. Organisational Communication: External
Introduction: appearances are everything
Communicating with the media
The corporate communication practitioner
Media releases
Difficulties and pitfalls: both sides of the fence
Rules of engagement
The challenges of perception
Special events
Proactive and reactive external communication
Foreseeing the future and planning for the worst
Media training for spokespeople

10. Electronic Communication
Introduction: development and acceptance of non-print communication
Communication and electronic media
What makes electronic communication different?
Key considerations for electronic communications
Interpersonal relationships
The cognitive factors
Handling the volume and the immediacy
Cultural and technical issues

11. Fundamentals of Oral Communication
Introduction: oral presentations
Analysing the situation and audience
Structuring presentations
Using visual aids
Designing a PowerPoint presentation
The presentation
Team-based presentations
Special-occasion presentations
Organising and managing meetings
Communicating by telephone

Conclusion: Onwards and Upwards
Introduction: project-managing your brand
Chapter questions
Creating an effective resumé
Your employment application cover letter
Your brand under scrutiny: the job interview

Liz Tynan is Senior Lecturer in the Graduate Research School at James Cook University

The late David Wolstencroft taught Public Relations in the School of Humanities, Communication and Social Science at Monash University

Beth Edmondson is Senior Lecturer in the School of Applied Media and Social Sciences at Monash University

Donald J. Swanson is Lecturer in the School of Management and Marketing at Deakin University

Angela Martin is Senior Lecturer in the School of Management at the University of Tasmania

Damian Grace is Honorary Associate in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney

Andrew Creed is Lecturer in Management and Organisational Behaviour at Deakin University

Contributors

Mike Fazey: University of Notre Dame
Howard Gelman: Macquarie University
Carolyn Meyer: Ryerson University

The following resources will be available for students using Communication for Business:

• Weblinks and further reading suggestions

The following resources are available for lecturers who prescribe Communication for Business for their course:

• Testbank of multiple choice and short answer questions
• Instructor's Resource Manual containing lecture outlines, answers to revision questions, tutorial activities and discussion questions 
• Imagebank
• PowerPoint slides

For more information about the resources for Communication for Business, please contact your Oxford Territory Manager.

Read a sample chapter from Communication in Business

Chapter 1: Introduction: Foundations of Communication